Oil leak - maybe rear drive? [RESOLVED]

[CommonSense]

Sorry, I screwed up the Dumb & Dumber reference, it should have been "So you are telling me..."

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[NY_Rob]

Tell them it "best I can determine it looks like a quart or more" leaked out. That would then constitute a "safety issue" as a blown drive unit while driving could have catastrophic consequences. You're supposed to be an automotive expert now? Your new vehicle has a vehicle leak.. fix it. Why is it up to the owner to determine if something like a fluid leak will leave them stranded or worse? It could be a seal getting ready to completely fail and release all the fluid... no one can determine that without a proper examination by a trained technician, not a wild ass guess by the vehicle owner.

I can see Rivian not paying for flat bed service for cosmetic issues, but fluid leaks from drive units are a completely different matter.

 

[CommonSense]

Just to conclude this adventure, I drove the vehicle back to the service center. They found the problem quickly. It was not fluid from the suspension, but rather the oil inside the drive unit. A filter plug had been cross-threaded in assembly. To be safe they are going to replace the whole drive unit and will flatbed the R1S back to me when it is fixed.

 

[MountainRatMatt]

What's it taste like?

Elon tears

 

[johnnylawson]

Just came across this today with my R1S - 33k miles / about a year of ownership next month. Called, and they are bringing a flat bed tomorrow morning to take to the service center. They don't want me to drive it another mile. I'll let you know what they say. I submitted ticket, got call in 30 minutes, and flat bed tomorrow with uber credits and a rental.

 

[thedole]

Just came across this today with my R1S - 33k miles / about a year of ownership next month. Called, and they are bringing a flat bed tomorrow morning to take to the service center. They don't want me to drive it another mile. I'll let you know what they say. I submitted ticket, got call in 30 minutes, and flat bed tomorrow with uber credits and a rental.

Just curious what this ended up being? Rear drive unit leaking oil? Was it the rear drive disconnects by chance? Mine failed and I had a similar looking leak.

 

[johnnylawson]

Just curious what this ended up being? Rear drive unit leaking oil? Was it the rear drive disconnects by chance? Mine failed and I had a similar looking leak.

It was a rear unit disconnect. They said third one they've seen there at Cincinnati SC since opening this past spring. Wondering how often this happens... Seems like something to look into as an issue that needs fixed.

 

[pticknerco]

It was a rear unit disconnect. They said third one they've seen there at Cincinnati SC since opening this past spring. Wondering how often this happens... Seems like something to look into as an issue that needs fixed.

Just looked under my R1T, and I've got almost the identical oil pattern on the undercarriage. I called Service, and they told me not to drive it as it is a safety issue. Then they told me that I'll basically have to front a $1600 tow bill to the service center, and they will pay if it's determined to be a warranty issue. Please tell me yours was covered under warranty!

 

[johnnylawson]

Just looked under my R1T, and I've got almost the identical oil pattern on the undercarriage. I called Service, and they told me not to drive it as it is a safety issue. Then they told me that I'll basically have to front a $1600 tow bill to the service center, and they will pay if it's determined to be a warranty issue. Please tell me yours was covered under warranty!

What the heck they covered the tow and everything right up front. Are you sure they weren't just giving you the heads up you would be on the hook if it wasn't covered by warrenty? They told me that on the phone - I understood but I never had to pay for it upfront. Keep us updated - this drive unit disconnect thing seems to pop up more then I'm comfortable with :/

 

[txoutdoorsman]

I found oil spots in my garage, looked under the rear end and saw oil dripping down from the center of the rear axle area. The oil feels like a lightweight motor oil, not really like a brake fluid. I don’t know if this could be an oil in the drive motors or maybe something from the suspension?

I called for service and they are going to get the truck in and advised that I minimize driving it.

[UPDATE] Rivian inspected the leak and found a failed seal on the upper drain plug of the rear drive unit. They replaced the seal, drained and refilled the unit with fluid, road tested it, did general diagnostics, and returned it to me. Overall it was a very good service experience. They provided me a rental car and coordinated to pick up the truck (on a flatbed) around my schedule.

Hey Doug, I'm experiencing the same issue. How long did it take for Rivian to fix? Thank you.

 

[SanClementeRivian]

Hey Doug, I'm experiencing the same issue. How long did it take for Rivian to fix? Thank you.

I contacted Rivian on May 8, 2022 and they came on May 10th to pick up the R1T on a flat bed tow truck. I had the truck back on Saturday, May 14, 2022.
Everything was covered under warranty.

 

[txoutdoorsman]

I contacted Rivian on May 8, 2022 and they came on May 10th to pick up the R1T on a flat bed tow truck. I had the truck back on Saturday, May 14, 2022.
Everything was covered under warranty.

Thank you so much for the reply. I originally made appt. through the app, but when I saw your post, I thought this might be a more serious situation. So, I got on chat and they escalated. Took the truck there this morning. I have to say that Dallas SC is awesome.

 

[DesertRivian17]

Our R1S with 9K miles started leaking a light yellow oily fluid, the undercarriage cover panels on the front of the vehicle are coated with oil and have at least a 1/3 quart of fluid all over the garage floor in different places because we were moving it around. They are coming to get it since I don’t trust driving it knowing it could be either the hydraulic suspension or a drive unit leaking!

 

[txoutdoorsman]

They did replace my rear drive unit. I was told it could have just been a defect.

 

[DesertRivian17]

I put the suspension in high mode and I am watching the puddle grow again! ?
And looking under it again, it doesn’t appear to be coming from any of the front two shocks so I suspect it’s the drive unit?

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