Spare tire latch handle snaps . . . will I?

[Yota2R1T]

After finally getting some jack-pucks over the summer, my plan to manage my own wheel swap to winters was all in order for this year.
Driveway shoveled / swept, suspension in high, chock blocks in place, ready to rock!
Just need to get my 4th wheel from the bed (mental note for next time - take the spare wheel out before raising bed height).
Uh oh, the normally compliant latch is found to be immobile, hmmm I think, probably just needs a little jiggle and tug (hold the jokes) . . . with little fanfare - *snap* handle is broken, wheel is stuck, no studded Nokians for Vamos today!
Estimate for repair (CA$) shown for your reference.
Note that my appointment for the repair is this Thursday!
Anyone else had a similar latch failure?
Very glad this was not a roadside tire swap situation!

Cheers,
Rich

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[David_C_]

Thanks for sharing, I haven’t seen this yet. As you say, glad it happened at home!

Is Rivian not covering it under warranty?

 

[Fencer]

I snapped mine a week after delivery, it was frozen in December. For about a year I was able to use needle nose pliers to assist the opening.

Then I cut a credit card to match the handle and glued it on top. Still working after two years

 

[pointless]

I snapped mine a week after delivery, it was frozen in December. For about a year I was able to use needle nose pliers to assist the opening.

Then I cut a credit card to match the handle and glued it on top. Still working after two years

Way to save CA$652!!! These repair prices make me question my life choices. As a Toyota truck owner from 1989-2023, I have not quite acclimated.

 

[SadHill]

Mine snapped last winter. They covered it under warranty. I believe it is how you explain what happened. They did a mobile service about 3 weeks after it happened and haven’t had any issues since.
there is a problem with moisture and when it freezes it gets stuck. So I was told if it is stuck to wait a bit and it will unstick once it warms up

 

[Yota2R1T]

I snapped mine a week after delivery, it was frozen in December. For about a year I was able to use needle nose pliers to assist the opening.

Then I cut a credit card to match the handle and glued it on top. Still working after two years

Amazing...I already told service I would be unwilling to pay for replacement if it's the same plastic.
My main issue is the mechanism is jammed, for unknown reason

Mine snapped last winter. They covered it under warranty. I believe it is how you explain what happened. They did a mobile service about 3 weeks after it happened and haven’t had any issues since.
there is a problem with moisture and when it freezes it gets stuck. So I was told if it is stuck to wait a bit and it will unstick once it warms up

Thank you,
It warmed up here yesterday, lo and behold the machanism works now.
I'll keep my appointment and hope it's covered. Will send the final verdict.

 

[md2023]

I snapped mine in extreme cold. When I was back home a few days later and the truck was in the garage, the broken latch opened fine. Service replaced the latch soon after (for no cost).

 

[brperz]

I snapped mine in Wisconsin winter last year while trying to get to my emergency gear and ratchet straps. The service center told me it was going to be like $800 unless they could prove it should be covered under warranty. Couldn't believe it, but they called and said it would be covered.
My biggest concern is that the new lever continued to be stuck in very cold temps. I filed another ticket and the next time it went in for numerous issues, they apparently replaced the compartment struts. I'm not sold on any of their fixes being the solution. It's getting good and cold here so I will be testing it again soon.
P.S. If you search the forum, there are plenty of other people who have this problem.

 

[Yota2R1T]

Thanks, this confirms cold-weather freeze up issue in my mind.
I will search up threads in the forum so I'm prepared for my appointment Thursday.
Thanks again to the community.

 

[54North]

I stopped just before breaking my lever but stretched the cables. They replaced the whole thing with new latches and cables (under warranty) but it still seizes every time it gets cold. It's -6*C here right now and the lever won't budge. The Vancouver service centre told me there's no fix.

If they doubt it's temperature related, tell them to keep the vehicle until they can verify the fix and get it to open in the cold. Should be no problem in Calgary for them to have it during cold weather.

 

[brperz]

It's 18° F here in Wisconsin. My truck is outside at work. I just went out to check my lever. Imagine that, it won't budge. Ridiculous. My spare, emergency gear, and hitch are in there. Filing another ticket. This will be the 3rd ticket for this.
Good luck with your repair. I wouldn't accept any answer besides that it's being covered under warranty.
Please reply to this thread with your outcome and any information the service center provides on a permanent fix.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Not the first to do this. Rivian should have had these all made out of metal.

 

[VSG]

I keep this in a bin in my bed. It quickly deals with frozen latches and door handles etc.

 

[Yota2R1T]

I keep this in a bin in my bed. It quickly deals with frozen latches and door handles etc.

But where would you spray it to be effective in this case?
The latch just pulls a cable that engages a spring-loaded release mechanism, none of the latter is visible/exposed as far as I know.

 

[brperz]

I'm not necessarily convinced it's the handle. I believe there is a system of cables attached to the handle. I think it's more likely the cables are freezing. But that's just a guess.

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