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Horn - Needs work!

bd5400

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I agree with the original poster. I was driving my new R1T last night on a 4 lane section of local road (2 each way). I was in the fast lane approaching a car up ahead in in the slow lane from behind from behind when they started drifting into my lane as the road curved. I hit the horn and had to take evasive action and use some of the oncoming lane to avoid impact. I was shocked at how ineffective the horn was. I’m not sure if the other car even heard it. I love everything else about the Rivian, but this is frankly a safety issue that needs to be addressed. Fenders are going to get bent, and somebody could get hurt.
Have you ever triggered your alarm while standing outside of the car? The horn is absolutely not quiet.

Your incident likely has more to do with the other driver than your truck’s horn.
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godfodder0901

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I agree with the original poster. I was driving my new R1T last night on a 4 lane section of local road (2 each way). I was in the fast lane approaching a car up ahead in in the slow lane from behind from behind when they started drifting into my lane as the road curved. I hit the horn and had to take evasive action and use some of the oncoming lane to avoid impact. I was shocked at how ineffective the horn was. I’m not sure if the other car even heard it. I love everything else about the Rivian, but this is frankly a safety issue that needs to be addressed. Fenders are going to get bent, and somebody could get hurt.
Honk the horn in your garage with the windows down and see if you still feel the same way...
 

zefram47

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I hit the horn and had to take evasive action and use some of the oncoming lane to avoid impact. I was shocked at how ineffective the horn was.
Has nothing to do with the horn. Many people doing stupid shit on the road don't care if you blare your horn and are just going to keep doing whatever they're doing. And they'll probably flip you the bird for it to.
 

omg.watt

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I just had Rivian Mobile Service out for the same problem (Feb+ 2023 R1S). There was a production line change at some point (he didn’t know exactly when but I got the sense it was in 2023) that removed the passenger side horn completely. An older Rivian has a two-tone sound, and the newer ones a single tone. That said all Rivian‘s are prone to horn water intrusion more than most vehicles, since the horns open up forward facing through the front grill.

I suspect this is why the owners manual recommends using the horn after wading through water. The mobile service tech also recommended doing it after car washes, etc.

Driver side pic with droplets. Pass side pic with blank.

Rivian R1T R1S Horn - Needs work! imag


Rivian R1T R1S Horn - Needs work! image
 

Big Bad VooDoo

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All of this horn talk is interesting. I do not think I have used a horn more than 3 times this century, it would literally be the last thing on my list of things to even look at on a vehicle.

Not even sure I have ever heard the horn on my Tesla and I have had that car 6 years.
I was going to put it another way but your point on. IMHO I always hated people who lay on the horns for no reasons.
 

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dleepnw

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my wife was shocked how wimpy the horn sounded compared to how the truck looks. i have to agree it doesnt match and its a bit silly sounding. a couple of octaves lower and were good.
 

s4wrxttcs

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my wife was shocked how wimpy the horn sounded compared to how the truck looks. i have to agree it doesnt match and its a bit silly sounding. a couple of octaves lower and were good.
My 2018 Sprinter Van has absolutely the worst horn I've ever experienced on a vehicle.

It's more of a "I hate to bother you" Eh sound then an actual horn.

I imagine Germans are used to people being generally good drivers, but that's absolutely not the case in the US. It certainly isn't the case in the PNW.

I say this as someone who uses the horn sparingly.

Like at a Stop light I usually creep forwards to let the person in front of me to know to go. Usually the movement is enough to get them to look away from their cell phone.

If that doesn't work then I'll honk unless I'm in my Sprinter. If I'm in my sprinter I save myself the embarrassment and I just wait.

In the Rivian I will honk, but I'm not too satisfied with its horn either. It's more of an "it's okay, but I expect better" kind of horn.
 

Oldsmobile_Mike

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Following.

30 years ago when I was manager at an auto parts store, we had a whole shelf full of different horns. Doubt they still carry that sort of thing. Would love to upgrade the wimpy horn in the Riv, if it's determined it's a simple "1 wire" install / easy to get to.

I see the pic of it behind the grill. Any access to that area with the frunk tub removed?
 
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a76marine

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Ok, so I happened to have the front end apart while having some body work done. It appears from my shop worker that the factory horns are pretty tight behind the air intake ducting. There's no room for anything larger in the factory position. ?

Rivian R1T R1S Horn - Needs work! horn 1

Rivian R1T R1S Horn - Needs work! horn 2
 

Oldsmobile_Mike

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It appears from my shop worker that the factory horns are pretty tight behind the air intake ducting. There's no room for anything larger in the factory position. ?
Ouch! Well, thanks for the picture. That's very helpful!

Was glad to finally sit down in front of my truck the other day and see I do have the two horns (Feb. '23 manufacture date R1T). Of course the horns are still wimpy af. Had some jackass block my driveway with their trailer earlier today. I tapped nicely, then a little longer. Dude got out, spit on the ground, then finally moved the trailer. ???

You too can have this experience if you live in the ghetto like I do! ??
 

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RIV206

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Does it sound like one of the dual horns isn't working or is this normal?
 

CaptRat

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Does it sound like one of the dual horns isn't working or is this normal?
That sounds like my horn.....but about 3 times louder.

Mine is so wimpy it's almost inaudible in the cabin and sounds more like a fluttering fart. I used it once to get the attention of another driver and once for a wayward pedestrian. Neither reacted as if they'd heard a thing.
 

Chewy734

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How does it sound if you lay on it? :)
 

Zoidz

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That sounds like my horn.....but about 3 times louder.

Mine is so wimpy it's almost inaudible in the cabin and sounds more like a fluttering fart. I used it once to get the attention of another driver and once for a wayward pedestrian. Neither reacted as if they'd heard a thing.
Maybe it's defective....
 

tk21

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I've been fortunate to be driving the R1T for about a week now and the only thing I truly wish was different is the horn. It sounds like a golf cart horn, IMO.

Does anyone know if there is a standard wired horn assembly in the R1T? Or is there a "horn-like" sound created from some software module?

I'd love to be able to replace the horn with a simple upgraded plug-and-play assembly with a deeper note if there is one to be replaced?

Thanks!
I totally meant to post this earlier.

I hadn’t read about it before and first time someone cut me off and I laid on the horn…I instantly wanted to go pull on to a side street and hide. Super embarrassing.
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