12V Battery Replacement Megathread

[922110]

It's wild to me all these 12V issues with the R1S/T. I realize the Sodium 12V are a bit more expensive but you would think they would switch to them, update the firmware to correctly support them and then have far less service appointments + happier customers. Surely the reduced demands on service + replacement AGM costs outweigh the small additional per vehicle cost of sodium 12V, especially as it's going that way eventually.

Rivian could even offer it as a paid upgrade. Most people just want to know their vehicle will work.

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

It's wild to me all these 12V issues with the R1S/T. I realize the Sodium 12V are a bit more expensive but you would think they would switch to them, update the firmware to correctly support them and then have far less service appointments + happier customers. Surely the reduced demands on service + replacement AGM costs outweigh the small additional per vehicle cost of sodium 12V, especially as it's going that way eventually.

Rivian could even offer it as a paid upgrade. Most people just want to know their vehicle will work.

The following is not a defense of or apologizing for Rivian. It's just reality of doing business, at far larger quantities than 1. Now that's out of the way...

You don't get it because you are viewing the issue from a single retail consumer POV. The calculus is different from a manufacturer's POV, when they order thousands of batteries from suppliers at a time. The quantities and prices are negotiated and paid, in advance, under contract. In Q2 2026 alone, Rivian produced a total of 12,613 vehicles. Think of cost difference times that production figure. That's not an insignificant amount for just one quarter. To secure a different type of 12V: existing contract has to be terminated (and hopefully without penalty), new sources have to be vetted, new contract negotiated and signed, new BMS engineered/written and tested. It's not as simple as pressing a few buttons in a keyboard to opine on the subject.

And you probably didn't read all of the posts. Battery type and chemistry isn't the only factor involved. Yes, other types have more density and cycles than AGM. However, those aren't the only reasons the batteries fail. The most common problem is how BMS is engineered/written to best (or not) manage that 12V, whatever chemistry it possesses. And the recent spike in cases appears to be linked to a OTA update that changed software parameters for what is deemed a bad or OK 12V.

Whatever the reason is that drove Tesla chose Lithium-ion 12V... They obviously have much higher production volume and resulting leverage when negotiating with suppliers. I guarantee you if Rivian went to the same exact supplier and asked for the same exact 12V, they'd be quoted a higher per unit price. From a business standpoint, what is right for one business isn't necessarily right for another's bottomline.

 

[Blackhatch]

The following is not a defense of or apologizing for Rivian. It's just reality of doing business, at far larger quantities than 1. Now that's out of the way...

You don't get it because you are viewing the issue from a single retail consumer POV. The calculus is different from a manufacturer's POV, when they order thousands of batteries from suppliers at a time. The quantities and prices are negotiated and paid, in advance, under contract. In Q2 2026 alone, Rivian produced a total of 12,613 vehicles. Think of cost difference times that production figure. That's not an insignificant amount for just one quarter. To secure a different type of 12V: existing contract has to be terminated (and hopefully without penalty), new sources have to be vetted, new contract negotiated and signed, new BMS engineered/written and tested. It's not as simple as pressing a few buttons in a keyboard to opine on the subject.

And you probably didn't read all of the posts. Battery type and chemistry isn't the only factor involved. Yes, other types have more density and cycles than AGM. However, those aren't the only reasons the batteries fail. The most common problem is how BMS is engineered/written to best (or not) manage that 12V, whatever chemistry it possesses. And the recent spike in cases appears to be linked to a OTA update that changed software parameters for what is deemed a bad or OK 12V.

Whatever the reason is that drove Tesla chose Lithium-ion 12V... They obviously have much higher production volume and resulting leverage when negotiating with suppliers. I guarantee you if Rivian went to the same exact supplier and asked for the same exact 12V, they'd be quoted a higher per unit price. From a business standpoint, what is right for one business isn't necessarily right for another's bottomline.

Totally acknowledge all the production fulfillment issues and especially with a new car. Made even more difficult during the government manufactured Covid "crisis".

I ordered the Ohmmu sodium like several others on this thread and unfortunately, have the dual battery kick in the nuts for the $500.

All that being said...the fact that my car, and many others, starting having these "battery issues" post firmware update is a bit annoying. I had an iPhone 8 until about this time last year and I swore the only reason that it lasted, was because I turned off all the updates.

I was forced into getting a new phone, ironically, by Rivian because their app wouldn't work on the older phones IOS.

 

[922110]

The following is not a defense of or apologizing for Rivian. It's just reality of doing business, at far larger quantities than 1. Now that's out of the way...

You don't get it because you are viewing the issue from a single retail consumer POV. The calculus is different from a manufacturer's POV, when they order thousands of batteries from suppliers at a time. The quantities and prices are negotiated and paid, in advance, under contract. In Q2 2026 alone, Rivian produced a total of 12,613 vehicles. Think of cost difference times that production figure. That's not an insignificant amount for just one quarter. To secure a different type of 12V: existing contract has to be terminated (and hopefully without penalty), new sources have to be vetted, new contract negotiated and signed, new BMS engineered/written and tested. It's not as simple as pressing a few buttons in a keyboard to opine on the subject.

And you probably didn't read all of the posts. Battery type and chemistry isn't the only factor involved. Yes, other types have more density and cycles than AGM. However, those aren't the only reasons the batteries fail. The most common problem is how BMS is engineered/written to best (or not) manage that 12V, whatever chemistry it possesses. And the recent spike in cases appears to be linked to a OTA update that changed software parameters for what is deemed a bad or OK 12V.

Whatever the reason is that drove Tesla chose Lithium-ion 12V... They obviously have much higher production volume and resulting leverage when negotiating with suppliers. I guarantee you if Rivian went to the same exact supplier and asked for the same exact 12V, they'd be quoted a higher per unit price. From a business standpoint, what is right for one business isn't necessarily right for another's bottomline.

Sure and I appreciate Rivian is buying at scale, with long lead times on parts. What I am saying is there's some strong arguments to be made for switching. Their service centers are clearly struggling, 12V battery replacements soak up man hours, they also result in unhappy customers.

Having been following Rivian closely since the LA auto show announcement, the 12V battery has been an ongoing issue, and there is a solution. It's also not a huge lift, this isn't cutting edge unknown stuff, it's feasible. Plan out in advance, negotiate with suppliers as your existing contracts are coming to an end, develop BMS for the new 12V chemistry, and incorporate it into your vehicles.

12V lead acid batteries in EV's are a stupid path to take. Replacing with LFP or sodium means one less (expensive in Rivian's case) maintenance item.

 

[Blackhatch]

Sure and I appreciate Rivian is buying at scale, with long lead times on parts. What I am saying is there's some strong arguments to be made for switching. Their service centers are clearly struggling, 12V battery replacements soak up man hours, they also result in unhappy customers.

Having been following Rivian closely since the LA auto show announcement, the 12V battery has been an ongoing issue, and there is a solution. It's also not a huge lift, this isn't cutting edge unknown stuff, it's feasible. Plan out in advance, negotiate with suppliers as your existing contracts are coming to an end, develop BMS for the new 12V chemistry, and incorporate it into your vehicles.

12V lead acid batteries in EV's are a stupid path to take. Replacing with LFP or sodium means one less (expensive in Rivian's case) maintenance item.

Well said and 100% on point.

 

[ekirkpatrick]

Another rant about the Rivian 12V Batteries

I love my R1T and have praised it to many.

Got the dreaded 12v battery warning one morning (August 2026). Called Rivian service and made an appointment. I asked if I could still drive it and they said yes but best to keep it plugged in. So for three days the vehicle was not used. I didn’t want to take a chance that I would be out somewhere and it brick.

I have read in this forum and other podcasts of people having this issue and it concerned me enough to put together a 12V jump kit in the tow hitch. I do offroad in remote areas.

In January I called Rivian to ask about whether my 12v battery may need replacing during warranty and they said I should receive a notice. Well, my bad because I neglected to call back before March. Rivian said on service call my batteries were out of warranty and the cost would be $525.44. Rivian gave me credit for one battery. If I did not get that credit the cost would be $796.94. Ridiculous! The two new batteries only come with a two year warranty! Guess Rivian has found a new revenue stream. To add to this Rivian and tech said Rivian would have to change the batteries so a reset could be done, otherwise warning notifications would not clear.

My research on why the life of the battery is so short is that the system is constantly doing stuff so the cycles are very high, much more than ICE vehicles.

Suggestions for Rivian and to current and prospective owners.

• Rivian needs a DYI procedure to replace the 12V batteries. Similar to one to change tires.
• What measures can the owner use to extend the life of 12v battery? Turn off gear guard? Camp speaker charging? Wireless signal when at home? Others?
• Owners need to add this cost into the maintenance schedule. At the cost Rivian is charging this would almost equal the maintenance cost of ICE vehicles.

Conclusion: Rivian is not telling this issue to new owners or those considering. The expense to replace the 12v battery is absurd compared to replacing an ICE vehicle battery. BTW I have AAA and they do not stock Rivian batteries for my year and model.

End of RANT. Thanks for any feedback.

 

[DuoRivians]

Another rant about the Rivian 12V Batteries

I love my R1T and have praised it to many.

Got the dreaded 12v battery warning one morning (August 2026). Called Rivian service and made an appointment. I asked if I could still drive it and they said yes but best to keep it plugged in. So for three days the vehicle was not used. I didn’t want to take a chance that I would be out somewhere and it brick.

I have read in this forum and other podcasts of people having this issue and it concerned me enough to put together a 12V jump kit in the tow hitch. I do offroad in remote areas.

In January I called Rivian to ask about whether my 12v battery may need replacing during warranty and they said I should receive a notice. Well, my bad because I neglected to call back before March. Rivian said on service call my batteries were out of warranty and the cost would be $525.44. Rivian gave me credit for one battery. If I did not get that credit the cost would be $796.94. Ridiculous! The two new batteries only come with a two year warranty! Guess Rivian has found a new revenue stream. To add to this Rivian and tech said Rivian would have to change the batteries so a reset could be done, otherwise warning notifications would not clear.

My research on why the life of the battery is so short is that the system is constantly doing stuff so the cycles are very high, much more than ICE vehicles.

Suggestions for Rivian and to current and prospective owners.

• Rivian needs a DYI procedure to replace the 12V batteries. Similar to one to change tires.
• What measures can the owner use to extend the life of 12v battery? Turn off gear guard? Camp speaker charging? Wireless signal when at home? Others?
• Owners need to add this cost into the maintenance schedule. At the cost Rivian is charging this would almost equal the maintenance cost of ICE vehicles.

Conclusion: Rivian is not telling this issue to new owners or those considering. The expense to replace the 12v battery is absurd compared to replacing an ICE vehicle battery. BTW I have AAA and they do not stock Rivian batteries for my year and model.

End of RANT. Thanks for any feedback.

Get the Ohmmu like everyone else here; stop giving Rivian more money

 

[Zoidz]

Suggestions for Rivian and to current and prospective owners.

• Rivian needs a DYI procedure to replace the 12V batteries. Similar to one to change tires.
• What measures can the owner use to extend the life of 12v battery? Turn off gear guard? Camp speaker charging? Wireless signal when at home? Others?
• Owners need to add this cost into the maintenance schedule. At the cost Rivian is charging this would almost equal the maintenance cost of ICE vehicles.

Conclusion: Rivian is not telling this issue to new owners or those considering. The expense to replace the 12v battery is absurd compared to replacing an ICE vehicle battery. BTW I have AAA and they do not stock Rivian batteries for my year and model.

End of RANT. Thanks for any feedback.

Wassym mentioned roughly a year ago that there would be a on-screen utility/procedure to swap batteries. s00n.

Some owners have installed a Battery Tender type of device to maintain the battery via 120 VAC. It helps by topping off the 12V and reducing/eliminating the wake cycles that charge the 12V from the HV.

Some owners have install a Bluetooth voltage monitor device to monitor the 12v actual voltage.

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