R1T 12v batteries dead

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Where would you store it? Once your 12V batt goes dead... you lose access to the cab, gear tunnel, frunk, etc.. unless you want to start taking the Rivian apart to access the frunk manual release ripcord (but then you still need tools to remove body parts to get access to the frunk manual release ripcord). The perks of a vehicle with no physical key locks

Torx bits in the hitch. Jumpbox in the frunk. That's my solution. Others may vary, LOL.

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[jpmc86]

So is it a good idea then to carry one of portable jump packs in case the 12v mysteriously dies?

Yes. But even then, it’s typically too late.

 

[R1Tom]

Yes. But even then, it’s typically too late.

Probably best to simply buy a spare 12v battery and maintain on a trickle charger at home and if needed....on the ready for a swap....

 

[ads75]

Torx bits in the hitch. Jumpbox in the frunk. That's my solution. Others may vary, LOL.

Probably best to simply buy a spare 12v battery and maintain on a trickle charger at home and if needed....on the ready for a swap....

For some reason I can't tell if these are serious suggestions or not. I think if either of these was a serious potential solution, the best solution is to get rid of the Rivian and get something else. As it is, if this happens to me a second time, I will probably cut my losses.

 

[R1Tom]

For some reason I can't tell if these are serious suggestions or not. I think if either of these was a serious potential solution, the best solution is to get rid of the Rivian and get something else. As it is, if this happens to me a second time, I will probably cut my losses.

I am semi serious, but agree with you that it certainly shouldn't be that way. My situation is such that I don't use my R1T for overlanding, rock crawling, etc... have a Jeep for that stuff. If i was overlanding, i would be very tempted to carry with me 2 charged 12v replacement batteries. But if start having issues with the 12v or anything else, it will be gone and replaced real quickly. I don't have time for the drama Rivian service is often putting people thru. And these 12V issues, which knock on wood, are like car making 101 simple, yet here we are....

 

[ads75]

When I talked to Rivian about my problem, they said since I had a level 2 charger at home (which is their charger, I don't think brand matters), mobile service could fix my problem in my driveway.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

For some reason I can't tell if these are serious suggestions or not. I think if either of these was a serious potential solution, the best solution is to get rid of the Rivian and get something else. As it is, if this happens to me a second time, I will probably cut my losses.

Serious? Sure. Why not? Better to have 'em and not need 'em than need 'em and not have 'em.

Been repairing my own vehicles for 30+ years. This is just new stuff to learn. Certainly not something to give up your truck over. Where's your sense of "adventure"? ?

 

[jpmc86]

Serious? Sure. Why not? Better to have 'em and not need 'em than need 'em and not have 'em.

Been repairing my own vehicles for 30+ years. This is just new stuff to learn. Certainly not something to give up your truck over. Where's your sense of "adventure"? ?

I like this

 

[Iatros786]

Serious? Sure. Why not?
Been repairing my own vehicles for 30+ years. This is just new stuff to learn. Certainly not something to give up your truck over. Where's your sense of "adventure"? ?

Nice setup! I've seen some hitch storage boxes too.. was thinking of getting one and slapping a couple of these in there!

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Serious? Sure. Why not? Better to have 'em and not need 'em than need 'em and not have 'em.

Been repairing my own vehicles for 30+ years. This is just new stuff to learn. Certainly not something to give up your truck over. Where's your sense of "adventure"? ?

I've been driving for over 20 myself and have had quite a few cars. By the time I had to start carrying tools with me because the car was lousy enough to require spontaneous repairs it was time to get rid of it and get something else.

We all debate and quibble over minor features on here but the fact of the matter is this is a car and at its most basic it should work. If it doesn't drive reliably when I give it reasonable accommodation then it needs to go regardless of feature or price point. I'm certainly capable of fixing a vehicle, at one point I bought a salvage Subaru and repaired it subframe up including welding.

I get that your reply was more tongue and cheek but I didn't spend 85k to have to play the will it get me where I'm going game. If the high voltage battery has power it is unacceptable for the support battery to die, no matter how long its been unplugged. As an end user the main battery percentage is the only feedback I get. It is up to the onboard system to maintain the 12V for me. It is supposed to use the main pack and the software to do that. Keeping charge in the main pack is doing my part.

To be clear if it happens and Rivian makes it right each and every time under warranty I can accept that. Things break unexpectedly and although its still worrying Rivian making a warrantied repair tells me that isn't the way the vehicle is supposed to operate. As soon as Rivian starts telling me that its my fault their battery maintenance system didn't work because even though I didnt let the main battery die I didn't plug it in enough, and enough is a fungible term that only comes into play if there's a problem. Telling me I can't leave my vehicle a week is not an option if I have voltage in the pack.

If I need to take a trip and I have all EVs what am I supposed to take to the airport? Do I need to take an uber even though I have hundreds of thousands of dollars in vehicles sitting there unused? I love my EV but that is one thing that would get me switching back to ICE.

Fortunately it seems only Rivian is talking this nonsense and I am not sure this is the company line. If it is I will probably get rid of my truck. As one of Rivian's bigger cheerleaders in here I think that says something.

 

[R1Tom]

I've been driving for over 20 myself and have had quite a few cars. By the time I had to start carrying tools with me because the car was lousy enough to require spontaneous repairs it was time to get rid of it and get something else.

We all debate and quibble over minor features on here but the fact of the matter is this is a car and at its most basic it should work. If it doesn't drive reliably when I give it reasonable accommodation then it needs to go regardless of feature or price point. I'm certainly capable of fixing a vehicle, at one point I bought a salvage Subaru and repaired it subframe up including welding.

I get that your reply was more tongue and cheek but I didn't spend 85k to have to play the will it get me where I'm going game. If the high voltage battery has power it is unacceptable for the support battery to die, no matter how long its been unplugged. As an end user the main battery percentage is the only feedback I get. It is up to the onboard system to maintain the 12V for me. It is supposed to use the main pack and the software to do that. Keeping charge in the main pack is doing my part.

To be clear if it happens and Rivian makes it right each and every time under warranty I can accept that. Things break unexpectedly and although its still worrying Rivian making a warrantied repair tells me that isn't the way the vehicle is supposed to operate. As soon as Rivian starts telling me that its my fault their battery maintenance system didn't work because even though I didnt let the main battery die I didn't plug it in enough, and enough is a fungible term that only comes into play if there's a problem. Telling me I can't leave my vehicle a week is not an option if I have voltage in the pack.

If I need to take a trip and I have all EVs what am I supposed to take to the airport? Do I need to take an uber even though I have hundreds of thousands of dollars in vehicles sitting there unused? I love my EV but that is one thing that would get me switching back to ICE.

Fortunately it seems only Rivian is talking this nonsense and I am not sure this is the company line. If it is I will probably get rid of my truck. As one of Rivian's bigger cheerleaders in here I think that says something.

I started to reply and realized this was Don saying this.....wow.

I have been saying for longer than I can keep track that Rivian is going to destroy this company if they don't get the service side of the business improved and massively.

Yet...they just keep doing the same thing.....dragging feet.....building vehicles with random build quality and lacking QA/QC, etc....scheduling service and letting trucks sit on their lot for a week before even looking at them(mine had this happen on a trip and a two weeks in, they called and said they hadn't even talked to body shop about the body work and that they are out about 4 weeks, so either I drive 2 hours to pick it up, or it can sit there waiting for 4 week....I picked it up....)

And each time I would.....many......just would say how Tesla was bad in early days and to degree still is.....BMW.....Merc....Porsche, etc... all bad at service.

But....I stopped or greatly reduced caring anymore.....figuring I keep mine till I have a problem, and then go order a new Lexus GX so I can get back to a service level I expect with a dealer 15 minutes away. And no...I dont really care that much about going back to ICE....if it means super reliable.

But I keep seeing newer owners struggling with the same deficiencies in service.

I understood fully this was a start-up. But what I expected was that they would have beefed up the support level to best in business or something close.....in the name of reputation. When a truck has a failure....they figure out how to fix it fast. And get it fixed fast. I was very wrong on that front. Instead they seem to see service as an after thought...a necessary evil. With a staff that often has the culture of "the customer is usually wrong" mentality.

Sad really that they can't get the right leadership team in place and back it with the necessary money, to improve this and improve it by alot and fast.

I want to add.....I absolutely LOVE my R1T. Best all around and fun vehicle I have ever owned. Still can't seem to drive it enough and enjoy driving each and everytime.

I am a huge fan of the company and the brand. I have so much Rivian stuff it isn't funny.

And I also fix alot of my own stuff....even have a two post lift for playing with vehicles.

But I still expect during the warranty period that the manufacturer make things work...and in a reasonable time frame....and not start playing the "well as long as we can't prove you did something we think you shouldn't have and can deny warranty' game.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I started to reply and realized this was Don saying this.....wow.

I have been saying for longer than I can keep track that Rivian is going to destroy this company if they don't get the service side of the business improved and massively.

Yet...they just keep doing the same thing.....dragging feet.....building vehicles with random build quality and lacking QA/QC, etc....scheduling service and letting trucks sit on their lot for a week before even looking at them(mine had this happen on a trip and a two weeks in, they called and said they hadn't even talked to body shop about the body work and that they are out about 4 weeks, so either I drive 2 hours to pick it up, or it can sit there waiting for 4 week....I picked it up....)

And each time I would.....many......just would say how Tesla was bad in early days and to degree still is.....BMW.....Merc....Porsche, etc... all bad at service.

But....I stopped or greatly reduced caring anymore.....figuring I keep mine till I have a problem, and then go order a new Lexus GX so I can get back to a service level I expect with a dealer 15 minutes away. And no...I dont really care that much about going back to ICE....if it means super reliable.

But I keep seeing newer owners struggling with the same deficiencies in service.

I understood fully this was a start-up. But what I expected was that they would have beefed up the support level to best in business or something close.....in the name of reputation. When a truck has a failure....they figure out how to fix it fast. And get it fixed fast. I was very wrong on that front. Instead they seem to see service as an after thought...a necessary evil. With a staff that often has the culture of "the customer is usually wrong" mentality.

Sad really that they can't get the right leadership team in place and back it with the necessary money, to improve this and improve it by alot and fast.

I want to add.....I absolutely LOVE my R1T. Best all around and fun vehicle I have ever owned. Still can't seem to drive it enough and enjoy driving each and everytime.

I am a huge fan of the company and the brand. I have so much Rivian stuff it isn't funny.

And I also fix alot of my own stuff....even have a two post lift for playing with vehicles.

But I still expect during the warranty period that the manufacturer make things work...and in a reasonable time frame....and not start playing the "well as long as we can't prove you did something we think you shouldn't have and can deny warranty' game.

The part in bold is my red line. When a manufacturer starts playing the we are going to change the rules to get out of this warranty repair it is a very bad sign and I have no tolerance for that dishonest behavior. In my professional life my primary responsibilities are to set company policies and to get team members all rowing the boat in the same direction.

With that said I understand it is incredibility difficult to get everyone on the same page and a few of the wrong employees in certain areas could ruin a service experience. Everyone I have dealt with personally has been exemplary in both their customer service and in making the best of a bad situation and it is really disheartening to see others being blamed for issues that I feel are not their fault.

You should be able to leave your truck for a week unplugged without worrying about it dying. If there is voltage in the battery pack the 12v system should remain charged. Its up to Rivian to make that so, and its up to me to keep those electrons in the pack.

Even more worrisome is the vagary in which these guidelines are being issued. There is no guidance on whether or not you can leave the vehicle or for how long, no guidance on minimum main pack voltage and it seems like the response a few people in here are getting is if leaving it doesn't result in a problem it was fine but if it does you should have plugged it in.

That's an unacceptable answer and if that becomes the company line I'm out. Hopefully it was just an employee training issue and it can be rectified with training. If it becomes official service doctrine I'm out because the reason I've been a huge cheerleader of Rivian is the level of service I have personally gotten. This sort of pass the buck behavior is antithetical to a good service experience.

Part of the premium car segment is the warranty. Warranty is the sole reason I trade vehicles every 3 years. I personally am fortunate enough to have the means and I do not want the hassle of paying for vehicle repairs. I took a chance on Rivian and mine has been pretty reliable and trouble free but if asterisks start piling up on what I can and cannot do and if those asterisks include basic vehicle functions like being able to park it for a week with a sufficient level of charge and have it ready to go after that week then its not the vehicle for me.

This whole thing has me worried about EVs as a whole as we just ordered my wife's i4. I certainly hope this isn't BMW's company line.

 

[ads75]

Update: Rivian mobile service came out today, and replaced both of my 12V batteries (2022 13xxx Vin, Nov 2022 delivery, about 10k miles). Took about 2.5 weeks to get out to me for an appointment, and the work took about an hour. He did inform me prior to performing the work I may be on the hook for the repair, I said I assumed it was warranty work and explained I drove it the day before it died, and charged it to 70%, and about 19 hours later my 12v died. After he replaced the batteries, he saw my main battery charge was still at 70%, and agreed it was warranty work (no vampire drain over almost 3 weeks with a dead 12v system!). Mobile service guy was friendly and professional. In the 2-3 weeks leading up to the failure, I may have had one 12V alert that cleared before I backed out of my driveway (unsure on how long ago since it came once and almost immediately cleared), I got turtle mode/drive motor failure alarm (cleared with reboot), and morning the R1T did not recognize my phone as a key, although I could stream music from it, and one key card wouldn't work (the fob did, and later that afternoon everything was fine). I do wonder that possibly those errors may have been caused a low 12v system.

It did sound like if you drive your truck until the main battery is zero, and your 12v dies, you would be on the hook for that repair (really unfortunate if you are having charging station troubles while traveling). Or if you park for a couple weeks and don't plug in, and your 12v battery dies, you may be on the hook for that. I don't agree with it, but I do understand where they are coming from. I do think there should be some reserve in the big battery to keep the 12v batteries happy for a few weeks, but I'm just a guy on a keyboard. I will probably be disabling Gear Guard going forward, in case I do park for an extended time somewhere. It would be nice if Gear Guard would disable automatically (and let you know it did) if your battery voltages got too low. I still don't know why my 12v died, I don't have seat belts buckled, I had Gear Guard disabled at home, ambient temperatures were mild, I haven't used the bed outlets. I did normally keep an iphone cable plugged into the center console, but moving forward, I will probably unplug it unless I need it (the charging pad is effectively useless for me).

He did make it sound like the Trenton NJ service center would be opening by the end of 2023, or close to it. Edison NJ center needs to be physically built. Hopefully I don't have those backwards. And even if I don't, either are easier than Brooklyn for most of us NJ/PA folks.

 

[ads75]

Another update: 12v batteries replaced on Wednesday. Drive about 70 miles that day, no issues. Motor Fault Detected Alarm on Thursday morning, cleared with a truck reboot. Drove truck about 35 miles on Friday, no issues. Drove to work Saturday night and Sunday night (about 30 miles each way), with Motor Fault Alarms on Sunday and Monday morning, as I wanted to leave work and drive home. I rebooted the truck on Sunday morning and it cleared, and on Monday morning it cleared on its own while I was calling Rivian service. Rivian is towing it to Brooklyn tomorrow. I did have a Motor Fault Detected with Turtle mode about a week before my 12v batteries died.

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