Half Shaft replacement- is this normal?

[Kdblondie]

I have a 2023 R1S with 24,000 miles. I’ve never taken it off road and this is my 4th time having my half shafts replaced! I also had a bent /broken tie rod that they wouldn’t cover under warranty as they said I must have hit something (which I didn’t) I was driving down a road that had a slight slope and made a left turn when my dash lit up like a Christmas tree.
I really love my Rivian, but I never once had to take my Tesla in to have something fixed and I owned it for 5 years. I’ve had my Rivian towed twice once it went into turtle mode and the other was the bent tie rod. And I’ve had to bring it in 4 times now for clicking noise and have had to have the half shafts replaced.

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[pretzelsaremakingmethirsty]

2025 R1S - SC replaced 1 set after year after hearing a grindy sound when i’d floor it. it’s been another year and that sound is coming back. R1S lease is up, moving to R2.

 

[NY_Rob]

..this is my 4th time having my half shafts replaced!

Have you had a total of 4 half-shafts replaced or have you been in the shop 4 times with possibly more than 4 shafts replaced because sometimes they replace them in sets?

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

No one knows what is low, normal or high rate of failure because no one, besides Rivian, has access to data on entire delivered fleet. But if you do a forum search on “half shaft” you’d see your experience is not unique. On the flip side there are also people who have not experienced any problems.

Moot to compare to your Tesla. It’s a different car with different mass and different suspension/driveline angles and loads. The two are also completely different cars produced under different global economic conditions and manufacturing/supplier challenges. The Tesla’s suspension is neither height adjustable, nor is it capable of long travel.

Are they covering the repairs under warranty? Are they performing the repairs to your satisfaction? That’s what matters.

 

[Kdblondie]

Have you had a total of 4 half-shafts replaced or have you been in the shop 4 times with possibly more than 4 shafts replaced because sometimes they replace them in sets?

This is the 4th time going in for replacement. They have replaced them in sets in the past. I’m taking it in tomorrow so I’ll find out soon.

No one knows what is low, normal or high rate of failure because no one, besides Rivian, has access to data on entire delivered fleet. But if you do a forum search on “half shaft” you’d see your experience is not unique. On the flip side there are also people who have not experienced any problems.

Moot to compare to your Tesla. It’s a different car with different mass and different suspension/driveline angles and loads. The two are also completely different cars produced under different global economic conditions and manufacturing/supplier challenges. The Tesla’s suspension is neither height adjustable, nor is it capable of long travel.

Are they covering the repairs under warranty? Are they performing the repairs to your satisfaction? That’s what matters.

Since my vehicle is still under warranty they are coving it. When I pick up my vehicle the repairs are done to my satisfaction but my concern is why is this happening so much? Once I’m out of warranty it will be very expensive to have to pay for this every time it happens.
I’m doing a comparison because my Tesla was more reliable and never had any issues. The Rivian was not cheap and I expected it to be built better and not to have all these problem’s.
Just trying to find out if this is normal and to be expected or is this a known issue.

 

[WhidbeyIsland]

Yes it is normal.. I had my front (2023 Gen1 R1T) half-shafts and both front dampers replaced at 25k miles.. sigh. I hope they fail again (which they will) prior to the warranty running out.

 

[Yota2R1T]

I'm a Gen 1 2024 R1T owner with 42000km (26000mi) and have not had any half-shaft issues or suspension trouble... (Now I'm knocking on wood).
Not sure if they made adjustments from previous model years that I'm benefitting from, but it's one data point among many.

 

[forestwalker]

I'm a Gen 1 2024 R1T owner with 42000km (26000mi) and have not had any half-shaft issues or suspension trouble... (Now I'm knocking on wood).
Not sure if they made adjustments from previous model years that I'm benefitting from, but it's one data point among many.

As someone who has faced this, it seems like the bulk of the posts I see about it are the 2023 models, which makes me think they did make some type of adjustment.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Just trying to find out if this is normal and to be expected or is this a known issue.

And the reason why there are multiple threads discussing post-factory-warranty options... like Rivian Care, Xcare or "self-insure". The R1 costed more to buy right? Expensive cars are expensive to maintain, especially one with greater capability and complexity... plus, low production volume to make the replacement parts more expensive (because of higher per unit cost).

Mine is also '23, May 30th build. There were occasional popping and clunking during first year, but nothing since. It's a truck with long travel suspension... popping and clunking, unless destructive, may not mean there is disaster waiting to happen. It may just be slight play or loose tolerance of the half shaft between the drive unit and the wheel hub (and Rivian uses ting washers at the hub to tension and take up that slack). At worst, it could mean a cracked subframe that is causing that additional play while under load. There are threads from those who have had their subframes replaced. And Rivian has revised how the subframe is made at least once since start of production in late '21.

 

[corb00]

2023 R1S- 18k miles- half shaft replaced at around 15k miles- will drop this vehicle like ist hot as soon as warranty is over, R2 should be easier to maintain- crossing fingers

 

[sherold]

Normal to a degree unfortunately. Having mine replaced as we speak after 38,000mi and 2 separate ting washer replacements. There is an inherent design flaw that is going to haunt the first couple generations of these vehicles until Rivian methodically works it out. Maybe they already have but, we are likely to see these occurring for the next several years as owners put more miles on them.

Driving style and mileage will be the two biggest factors as to "when" it occurs. Also the owner's attention to detail will play in, as they rarely actually fail. It is usually just a noise heard that causes a warranty claim and a preventative replacement... for now.

I'd say you are either unlucky or, your driving style and/or local road conditions are causing heavy wear. 4th time for half shafts and a bent tie rod is definitely not normal.

 

[Robot Overlord]

As someone who has faced this, it seems like the bulk of the posts I see about it are the 2023 models, which makes me think they did make some type of adjustment.

Which month was your’s manufactured in? My is a FEB 2023 R1T. Not sure if I’m hearing half shaft noises or subframe or some other suspension issue. I’ve already had the ting washers replaced back in January this year. I’m at 43,500 miles now.

 

[forestwalker]

Which month was your’s manufactured in? My is a FEB 2023 R1T. Not sure if I’m hearing half shaft noises or subframe or some other suspension issue. I’ve already had the ting washers replaced back in January this year. I’m at 43,500 miles now.

NOV 23

 

[Mathme]

Gen 1 owner here. Had the half shafts replaced at 40k miles, then three months later it had to go back in for the same noise...was told "ting washers" (which are also common). I've had leaky CV boots, and all sorts of suspension issues.

 

[HaveBlue]

You'll have the thinner 14mm tie rods unfortunately. You can buy the newer thicker 16mm versions from Rivian or go aftermarket 16mm pieced together.

Launching the R1 will gall out the shaft hubs especially if the wheels aren't perfectly straight and the suspension isn't Low/Lowest.

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