Problems keep piling up. I'm starting to smell a lemon

[NineElectrics]

As an aside, who reacts with laughter to an experience like this? Too many Tesla stans are poisoning this forum.

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I already have a broken tailgate. The shock that is supposed to assist with the tailgate lowering was broken on day two and my tailgate violently slams down every time I open it, unless I catch it and slowly lower it. The most frustrating part is that it's a 3-month wait time to get a service appointment. What is that crap? Had I known that getting a service appointment was going to be so challenging I most likely would have never bought this truck.

Exactly as you said. Early adoption issues. They are working with suppliers they've not worked with. And they are learning mass production/assembly as they go. QC of parts could be improved, as well as QC on the assembly line. As they learn from their mistakes, they will get better, if they know of their mistakes. So, work with them so they know.

My next issue is how loud the fan is for my heater or air conditioner. Does anybody else have this issue, where it sounds like the fan is broken or rubbing on something? I uploaded a video to this thread that you can hear the noise.

6/2023 production. I do not have this issue. And the noise may not be the fan, but the coolant pump. The only time is loud is in extreme conditions (either hot or cold). And it doesn't stay loud once it has done what it needs to do—to precondition everything to within nominal operating range.

Now for the biggest annoyance, but maybe that's just how this truck is, is the constant running of the air compressor. I feel like the air compressor turns on 15 times a day. I know this thing has an air suspension that can go up and down but does it really need to run that often?

Don't have this issue either. You might have a leak somewhere or a bad sensor. Report it, along with all other issues.

Lastly, the little snap on the floor for the floor mats has already come out of the carpet on the passenger front seat. It looks like there is a part that is supposed to screw on underneath the little nipple part of the snap that has come off. That part is now probably somewhere underneath the carpet but I have not been able to locate it and there is absolutely no way I can see how to reattach it without lifting up the entire carpet and having the bottom piece to screw onto it.

This is a minor issue. Report it with all the rest. In all—and without repeated failed attempt to rectify—none of these issues are detrimental or significant enough to evoke lemon law. TBH, it sounds like you need to be more objective and keep your emotions in check.

 

[beyondgravity]

I've only have had this r1t for about 3 weeks. I've been a Toyota guy for the last 30 years of my life. As much as I am excited and hopeful for the Rivian I must say that I have been somewhat disappointed so far. Toyota just works. They don't break, they last forever, and I rarely had any issues outside of regular service and maintenance.

I already have a broken tailgate. The shock that is supposed to assist with the tailgate lowering was broken on day two and my tailgate violently slams down every time I open it, unless I catch it and slowly lower it. The most frustrating part is that it's a 3-month wait time to get a service appointment. What is that crap? Had I known that getting a service appointment was going to be so challenging I most likely would have never bought this truck.

Early adoption has its issues, I am aware of that. My office is two blocks away from the rivian service center here in San Diego and I still can't get anybody to come fix it. After huffing and puffing a little bit, rivian agreed to send somebody on a mobile call to my office. That appointment was supposed to take place on the 22nd. However, when I opened up my app to file a another service request I noticed that my first service request was no longer in the app and there was no record of it. When I called Rivian about my appointment, which I thought was next week, all they said was they are sorry but they don't know what happened and it has been canceled. They arenot sure when they can get it rescheduled. This is horrible customer service when you spend $87,000 on a vehicle.

My next issue is how loud the fan is for my heater or air conditioner. Does anybody else have this issue, where it sounds like the fan is broken or rubbing on something? I uploaded a video to this thread that you can hear the noise.

Now for the biggest annoyance, but maybe that's just how this truck is, is the constant running of the air compressor. I feel like the air compressor turns on 15 times a day. I know this thing has an air suspension that can go up and down but does it really need to run that often? I'm not even talking about hooking up a hose to the air compressor in the back of the truck. Just simply when I'm driving it. I'll be at a stoplight and all of a sudden the air compressor kicks in. I will be driving through a parking lot and all of a sudden the air compressor kicks in. At least I'm assuming it's the air compressor because that's what it sounds like.

Lastly, the little snap on the floor for the floor mats has already come out of the carpet on the passenger front seat. It looks like there is a part that is supposed to screw on underneath the little nipple part of the snap that has come off. That part is now probably somewhere underneath the carpet but I have not been able to locate it and there is absolutely no way I can see how to reattach it without lifting up the entire carpet and having the bottom piece to screw onto it.

This has been a bit of a challenge for the first 3 weeks of ownership. So far I can say that I honestly miss my Toyota Tundra greatly. If that thing didn't suck gas so bad I would find it superior in almost every way to the RIT. Yes, the electric power is fun and quite impressive, especially with only having a dual motor.

The delay time to get service, the issues that I'm already having when I don't even have 900 miles on this truck, and the cost to buy this truck, all has me second guessing this purchase and somewhat regretting it. I am trying to find the positive and can say that there are many things I do like about this truck. Perhaps I should have waited three more years to buy one so Rivian would be more established and able to service their product.

I would love to hear if anybody else is having any of these issues and if they found a remedy for them?

I know I am going to get bashed for this; but these are minor. I agree the service appointment is not sooner; but it is not something that needs to happen right away.

I would say take a deep breath and until your appointment, take care of your tail gate gently. You may even find new things and you can all take care of it with one appointment. I took care of all my minor annoyances after 6m; even then I was thinking, should I be going all the way to NY or push it out 6 more months. As long as it s not a safety issue, enjoy the truck. Once you are there, they do take good care of you at least on the east coast side.

I know it does not provide immediate relief; but life is too short to worry about minor things ;-)

 

[sherold]

As an aside, who reacts with laughter to an experience like this? Too many Tesla stans are poisoning this forum.

?Me. I honestly find it comical that the OP is mentioning the word "lemon" because of the listed problems that are "piling up", and also stating that his Tundra was superior in almost every way ?. I had to seriously reread the posting to make sure it was not a joke. The issue of the delay time for service being the only legitimate serious problem that I found. Issues that need addressed? Yes. Disappointing? Yes. An overreaction? Yes, not a dig at the OP, but an honest assessment of his frustration. Problems to even remotely consider the vehicle a lemon when the manufacturer has not even had the opportunity to correct them? No.

-A broken tailgate shock absorber which still allows the tailgate to perform all critical functions.
-A HVAC fan making a noise (agreed it is abnormal and will eventually fail but, still functions)
-An air compressor running frequently to fill an air suspension system (no details on settings such as auto-level adjust or kneel)
-A dislodged snap fastener for a floor mat.

I have never owned, nor do I have anything to do with Telsa. I think a portion of this forum is a venting platform for certain types of individuals who have unrealistic expectations of a brand new EV manufacturer. Did we pay a pretty penny for this amazingly impressive vehicles? You bet. Are we also intelligent adults, who can research our decisions, and recognize the challenges & risk involved when purchasing a startup EV product? That looks like a solid "maybe" based on the available data...

 

[dradam]

If you pop of the trim where the tailgate goes down the tailgate torsion spring is right there. Mine had popped out of its holdong slot and I didn't even know it until service installed my compact spare. I was able to carefully pry it into its holding slot with the tail gait partially closed and a pry bar. Was quite easy.
My heater fan doesn't make the noise yourare hearing.
I worry about a/c noise but I got the car in November so have not had it run yet.
Yesterday my S turtled and had to be towed to the shop after 2k miles and 10 weeks. so if yours is running you are ahead of the game. Good luck.

 

[NY_Rob]

OP sounds like your air suspension system has a leak somewhere... my compressor turns on maybe once/month.

 

[R1TS]

A/C fan is loud. That is normal with Rivians.

Air suspension is loud and constantly adjusting. That is normal with Rivians.

Service is extremely slow and unreliable at times. At least on the West Coast. That is normal with Rivians.

Little things like fasteners coming loose. That is normal with Rivians.

Unfortunately, most people don’t realize these things until AFTER purchase. But, many have brushed these off since the car is great otherwise.

I agree, this brand is definitely not for just anyone.

 

[maddave12]

I sympathize with the original poster... you buy a new expensive vehicle and you expect it to pretty much just work.

Toyota's not always better than this, tho. My last (a Sienna van) was a freaking disaster with more problems than I can practically list. When one of the sliding doors jammed, and the other fell off a few weeks later, we'd more than had enough.

Hang in there, OP... it's a great vehicle once you work past initial issues!

 

[TigerWuxia]

Those issues OP described could be annoying but they are rather minor. The AC on my R1S is loud and the air compressor does run from time to time and air suspension tends to adjust itself often.

 

[TollKeeper]

I am just pointing out what my 7 day old Rivian R1S does. The Air Compressor runs every time I get in it. I do have it set to go to Kneel Mode every time it parks thou.

 

[superfly_snook]

My closest service center is San Diego also. I think the SD location has a bunch of great people that want to help but one service center for a metro area of ~4M people in sunny SoCal that has a lot of EV adoption just isn’t probably enough. I also see Amazon EDVs there so we are all competing with that for service bandwidth. I am sure it will get better. I second the other comments here in that if you can find a way to wait it out and just add more niggles that come up along the way to your service appt it hopefully will all work out.

 

[Eticket99]

I think its not that Rivians have these issues, its that they're terrible at getting them fixed in a timely fashion. Never had a Tesla so can't compare them to that, sure there are plenty of people that can speak to the comparison. But buying a $90-100k vehicle brand new and having to wait 3 months is simply unacceptable (for any car). I cannot recommend a Rivian to anyone I know because if there are "little issues" and I've had my share, they take forever to be seen and even longer to be fixed. Rivian frequently denies their existence in an attempt. Never heard of a $90k vehicle that can't simply play FM radio...

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I think its not that Rivians have these issues, its that they're terrible and getting them fixed in a timely fashion. Never had a Tesla so can't compare them to that, sure there are plenty of people that can speak to the comparison. But buying a $90-100k vehicle band new and having to wait 3 months is simply unacceptable. I cannot recommend a Rivian to anyone I know because if there are "little issues" and I've had my share, they take forever to be seen and even longer to be fixed. Truck has been at Rivian since Oct 13th for the same issue I noted in June... still waiting on a completed/fixed hood. They say its been fixed, i'll believe it when I see it.

Imagine if there is only one Toyota/Ford/GM dealer per city. That is one of two major problems regarding service. The other is at the production side (QC of parts and assembly). If QC was better at Normal, the SC would be less overwhelmed.

But Wall St. is more interested in production volume. So, this is the world we live in until QC and service catches up.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

As an aside, who reacts with laughter to an experience like this? Too many Tesla stans are poisoning this forum.

Me. These are penny ante complaints, and anyone who thinks these are serious issues bordering on lemon law has lived a charmed existence. The level of exaggeration that goes on by some people here is maddening. Nothing in this post is an even remotely serious issue.

 

[Nacho Rivian]

Mine had more than 20 minor problems and the Bodyshop my local SC uses also messed up some paint jobs while doing paint corrections. I understand how you feel. Also, my original floor mat got stretched and fell off. Buy the all-weather floor mat; it is much better. With all these issues, I still believe my R1S is one of the best vehicles I have bought in my life. I think it is okay to be concerned about your car's issues, but as long as the vehicle has no major issues I would try to enjoy the vehicle. Your service center will take care of your issues. Just my 2 cents. Enjoy!!!!

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