Liftgate that needed help to open - resolved itself...

[Shorebreak]

First post here.

Took delivery 9/14 - two days ago. R1S/Quad/Forest Green.

Everything has been great and I've been enjoying going out to the truck every few minutes to tinker with and learn about something that crosses my mind.

Was disappointed, but not stressed out, that I seemed to already have an issue on day one.

The liftgate would open about an inch, beep, and then shut again whenever I tried to open it. It closed fine on its own. But when I gave just a little help to open it after pressing the button, it opened fine - so it didn't seem like there was actually anything mechanically wrong.

Then today, on day two, it's working fine.

Has this happened to anyone else? Was it something with the struts? Something with a sensor?

I'm just happy that I don't have to turn right around and take it back to where I took delivery.

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[PBRAZ]

I have an similar issue, but mine is intermittent. Liftgate will unlatch and pop open a few inches, then fail to rise. Seems to happen when it's hot outside and the car has been sitting for a few hours. Service center couldn't replicate on my last visit so back it goes.

 

[PeterSK]

I’m having a similar problem with my Model Y lift gate. I think it’s probably a strut that’s putting up a little too much resistance so the motor gives up. I haven’t had time to get it serviced. Could be something that just needs to be worked a bit to smoothen out.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Some people said when they were parked on a hill it happened. Maybe that's it?

 

[Shorebreak]

Some people said when they were parked on a hill it happened. Maybe that's it?

My goodness... I think that's the case. I didn't even realize that it's only happening when I'm parked on my driveway that has a little bit of a grade to it.
Funny thing is, when I park the other way around, it doesn't have any issues. So I guess that when the nose is tilted down it has the problem and when it's even or the nose is pointed up, the issue doesn't happen.
Do you have a link to the thread/post?

 

[Donald Stanfield]

No I don't remember but the other person had that exact problem. IDK what was done about it either. I just remember reading the thread in passing.

 

[mkg3]

I have a service item for this exact issue.

When the Rivian mobile tech was servicing another issue, I had him take a look at it and he said that it is the latch alignment issue. Due to the alignment, when the latch releases, and the strut motor lifts, there is resistance against the release mechanism. The vehicle thinks there is something obstructing the lift gate.

If you notice, the problem is worse when parked downgrade (by increasing the force on the latch), and probably opens without any issue, when parked on upgrade (lower force on the latch).

The mobile tech said the fix is easy but he didn't have the plastic clips to replace the "probably will break" clips by pulling off the lower gate cover, where the adjustment needs to be made.

The instruction on how to realign the lift gate posted on this forum, will probably take care the issue but since I have couple of other matters that the vehicle is going into the SC, I haven't messed with it personally.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

+1 have seen multiple threads on liftgate issues when parked on hills. Hope you get it resolved!

 

[mkg3]

Just a small update on the lift gate.

Mobile service just left replacing the weatherstrip located on the lift gate. As a part of the replacement, when he tried to open the lift gate, it failed. So he spent more time "fixing" the lift gate problem than the weatherstrip. The weatherstrip is installed with a double sided adhesive tape and that was done in couple of minutes.

The lift gate, he figured out that it was a very small interference at the top of the lift gate and the roof. He said that as the lift gate tries to open, it impinged onto the roof just enough that it would stop and not open.

He removed the headliner piece just around the top of the rear opening, made small adjustment that moved the top of the lift gate outwards by couple of mm, and retightened the adjustment bolt. Now it works like its supposed to.

He did say that when I bring the vehicle into the SC, they can realign the tail gate better as he pointed out couple of spots that have gaps larger than he'd like to see. Maybe I'm not as picky, since the gaps are straight and not noticeably large so if he had not pointed out, I probably would never have noticed them.

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