12v Battery dead for 3rd time... How do I move forward?

[TJS AZ]

I received my Rivian RS1 the last week of June 2023. Two weeks later the car seemed to be completely dead randomly due to 12v dying. Rivian sent tech out to replace. Almost exactly 2 weeks after that, it randomly was dead again. Each time the main battery on the car was over 50% charge, so its not like we weren't regularly charging it. For this 2nd time, they decided to tow it to shop to replace battery and see whats causing it. 10 days later we got the car back with new 12v battery but still no explanation of why it was draining and dying and how to prevent it going forward. Fast forward 3 more weeks, it is dead yet again. They are coming on Monday to tow it, but at this point i have zero trust in the car and not sure what to do? Would this be considered a lemon and should I be asking Rivian to take it back? At this point, I rather not keep the car, but don't feel right selling it on secondary market to someone if they are going to have to deal with the same issue. Anyone have experience with Rivian being willing to take the car back as a return or would something like this not fall under lemon laws?

Sponsored

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

I don't blame you for not trusting it after three successive failures. Sounds to me like there is a short somewhere. Up to you if you want them to buy it back but they will likely not replace it. If you want another you would need to buy at current MSRP.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Yeah they will fix it eventually, of that I have no doubt. I can understand your position though and wouldn't blame you for turning in the car. I don't think you would get a new one though.

 

[Mobius1]

I received my Rivian RS1 the last week of June 2023. Two weeks later the car seemed to be completely dead randomly due to 12v dying. Rivian sent tech out to replace. Almost exactly 2 weeks after that, it randomly was dead again. Each time the main battery on the car was over 50% charge, so its not like we weren't regularly charging it. For this 2nd time, they decided to tow it to shop to replace battery and see whats causing it. 10 days later we got the car back with new 12v battery but still no explanation of why it was draining and dying and how to prevent it going forward. Fast forward 3 more weeks, it is dead yet again. They are coming on Monday to tow it, but at this point i have zero trust in the car and not sure what to do? Would this be considered a lemon and should I be asking Rivian to take it back? At this point, I rather not keep the car, but don't feel right selling it on secondary market to someone if they are going to have to deal with the same issue. Anyone have experience with Rivian being willing to take the car back as a return or would something like this not fall under lemon laws?

I’m CA, the purchase contract states that after 4th repair of the same, the lemon law kicks in. Check yours and refer to your state laws. Problem is, they might take it back but then you gotta pay full price for another.

 

[Riviot]

This sounds like a DC-DC inverter failure. Mention that to the next tech you talk to, ask (kindly and friendly) if they've tested that yet.

 

[iansriv]

Sorry to hear mate. I would do two things in parallel. First, continue to work with the SC and second document the snot out of everything. My tolerance for issues with cars is high and I always go out of my way to be nice to people, but if anyone gives me trouble/attitude I pay it back in spades. Only you know what your tolerance level is. If it's high continue with the first path and if not work towards the other path of returning/exchanging the car. I hope you stay with us. All the best!

 

[tcole]

Looks like under AZ lemon law they get 4 tries or a total of 30 days to try to fix it.

after that they have to either buy it back or give you a new one. It’s not clear to me who gets to choose which remedy.

There is a limit on the number of times a consumer must allow the manufacturer to repair the car and the amount of time the car can be out of service. If during the covered period, the manufacturer fails to successfully repair the defect after four attempts, or the car is out of service by reason of repair for a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days, the manufacturer must accept return of the car or replace the car with a new car.

From: https://www.azag.gov/consumer/auto

 

[PeterSK]

My R1S delivered in late June bricked due to 12v. It took them a few days but they eventually traced the problem to a “loose master ground wire” and once that was addressed, no problems since. Someone didn’t do their job right in the factory in June - maybe you have the same problem?

 

[TJS AZ]

I’m sure this is possible. I would think after the first 2 times in a matter of a few weeks they would have done some diagnosing and figured out if it was something like that, but who knows. Maybe 3rd time is a charm!

 

[TJS AZ]

At this point I’m not sure I want a new one haha almost rather just not have the car anymore and not worry about the headache of it

 

[TJS AZ]

This sounds like a DC-DC inverter failure. Mention that to the next tech you talk to, ask (kindly and friendly) if they've tested that yet.

I will ask them about this. Just find it interesting that it would take failing 3 times and me asking about it for them to find that this is the issue. Hoping that there would be a little more competence in figuring out whats causing it after the first and 2nd time it happened...

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Not all the technicians or service centers are as well trained as the others. For example Atlanta was one of the first ones opened and the techs there are top notch. It's actually still a service center where they send some of the area's problem vehicles. Other centers have inexperienced techs because the learning curve applies everywhere for Rivian. All the factory workers, all the service techs need to learn the vehicle and the systems.

So it could be a really simple problem that's just being overlooked by an inexperienced tech. I'm not sure if this lessens or heightens your worries but for me it would make my worries less. It's easier to believe there is a defect with one service center than a systemic issue with the vehicles.

 

[LL75]

Not all the technicians or service centers are as well trained as the others. For example Atlanta was one of the first ones opened and the techs there are top notch. It's actually still a service center where they send some of the area's problem vehicles. Other centers have inexperienced techs because the learning curve applies everywhere for Rivian. All the factory workers, all the service techs need to learn the vehicle and the systems.

So it could be a really simple problem that's just being overlooked by an inexperienced tech. I'm not sure if this lessens or heightens your worries but for me it would make my worries less. It's easier to believe there is a defect with one service center than a systemic issue with the vehicles.

Yeap. All service centers are not the same. I never had a good experienced with the one in Dallas as they don't know what the hell they are doing imo.

 

[LL75]

At this point I’m not sure I want a new one haha almost rather just not have the car anymore and not worry about the headache of it

I don't blame you. I would get rid of any cars that would stranded me 3x in lifetime much less in a few months.

 

[dduffey]

In case you have a car seat, Users have reported leaving a seatbelt latched (or using leaving a seatbelt extender on) has drained the 12v battery (even with HV battery still good).

Sponsored