Suspension is broke… AGAIN

[Forager]

Mine is having air suspension issues, there’s a leak somewhere that’s causing the front axle to sag.

My arm chair quarterback would agree there is most likely an issue with water freezing in the lines. Part of my annual maintenance on my LR3 was replacing the air dryer desiccant, a full year of use in the humid PNW air would saturate the desiccant. In cold weather the saturated desiccant would freeze up, preventing air from moving through the compressor, and throwing a fault.

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[Jafresh]

I feel your pain. I’ve had my R1T (26XX) in to SC 3 times due to suspension issues as well. It was towed twice. This last time (3 weeks ago) it was the compressor. Now I am getting an error message on occasion not to drive while suspension is raising. This happens at driving 50 mph. Am I supposed to slam on the brakes? If I didn’t love this truck I would have sold it by now. Not sure how much more I’m willing to deal with. The long term reliability of the suspension is my biggest concern with mine, as well as my wife’s R1S. I can’t imagine having this issue outside of the warranty.

 

[jjswan33]

Wonder if you have an issue with water in the air lines. I haven't dug into the Rivian system enough to know if it's a problem but the accessory compressor will definitely blow water after a long run.

Yeah that is my take, something was frozen as it wasn’t even releasing air so probably a frozen valve.

I left it for 2 hours and did a hike after warming up it started coming to life and was fixed by a full reset. And I made to the EA station in Bend just in time for a Rivian party.

 

[jjswan33]

Sounds like it needs to be lemon’d and you get your money back. There’s clearly something else going on in your suspension that they haven’t tracked down, and this failure is going to repeat until they actually diagnose the core issue.

Really sorry you’re going through this. What a PITA.

Ive got way too many miles for the OR Lemon law.

 

[evhelphub]

Sorry to hear @jjswan33, I hope it all gets sorted!

Mark me down for a standard suspension option as well. Less potential breaking points and less future cost/maintenance problems.

 

[HaveBlue]

totally get your point but don’t think this is a Rivian issue. Modern vehicles go into limp mode for lots of reasons,
many of which are silly.

My 200 series Land Cruiser will absolutely brick itself if it fails an evap check.

Someone I know took their 200 series into the rubicon and had to get dragged out because it wouldn’t go in to 4lo because an evap issue and nobody had an OBD reader.

Hmm good to know. I don't follow the 200 forum on mud since I have a 120 and a 90 before that. Times change I guess but a scanner lives in my truck as well.

 

[iansriv]

Don't get me started on suspension! I've been banging on about this for ages.

Please Rivian, give us the option to have standard coils/shocks. Do a deal with Fox (or someone) and I can assure you there'll be less traffic coming into your SC's as a result. Probably more profitable per vehicle too.

Absolutely agree with you-coil should be std and air an option.

 

[jjswan33]

It would frustrate me too; even as a stoic. What conditions did it break last two times? I am just curious and for my awareness. I wouldn’t be able to give any input on anything on car.

The first time was on a trail, not a particularly bad trail but the truck was jacked up right after using camp level at least that is my working theory. There is a thread about it but basically I got stranded in central Washington for a weekend because they couldn’t get a tow or rental to me until Tuesday after the holiday.

The other replacements were driven by SC inspection.

 

[Scott]

Yeah that is my take, something was frozen as it wasn’t even releasing air so probably a frozen valve.

I left it for 2 hours and did a hike after warming up it started coming to life and was fixed by a full reset. And I made to the EA station in Bend just in time for a Rivian party.

Was there Saturday morning! Of course I had to call EA to reset the one available charger. By the time that happened my battery had cooled down and got crap speeds. Luckily had to go north so I just went to the RAN in Madras and which is awesome.

 

[jjswan33]

Was there Saturday morning! Of course I had to call EA to reset the one available charger. By the time that happened my battery had cooled down and got crap speeds. Luckily had to go north so I just went to the RAN in Madras and which is awesome.

Yeah I got a decent charge there Saturday afternoon on station 3 but today I pulled in last and got stuck with 4, it was giving me a solid 19kW but eventually ramped up to speedy 40kW.

I am generally pretty happy with EA but this station in Bend is a disappointment, I was stoked when they got the new chargers but even so they haven’t done well to maintain them. I see they have a second coming soon station at the Target in Bend and also one looks very close at the Safeway in Madras. Maybe they can actually hire someone to maintain these now that they have more in the area.

 

[emoore]

Absolutely agree with you-coil should be std and air an option.

Probably for the R2 series.

 

[Operator]

Mark me down as another one with suspension issues. They replaced a damper and the air compressor. It didn't fix anything. My driveway is on a slight incline and the damn truck adjusts when I park. No kneel mode or anything like that. I hear the air compressor always working and my vehicle is constantly adjusting. Might turn it in again for the new year

 

[Florida Panhandler]

I wouldn’t be too surprised if a standard strut suspension is part of a new Base model variant once the 2024 factory reset/re-tool is complete.

 

[Stack]

So call me frustrated but my suspension is not working again.

So far had all 4 dampers replaced (3 of them twice), also a valve block and the compressor. Most recent earlier this month they replaced all 4 of them and it had been working fine. Last night I did some sub-zero camping with camp level on but now my truck won’t level, I just get ‘service suspension soon’ type errors and I can’t drive more than 8mph. I have some slight hope that as it warms up later it may correct itself but otherwise going to need a tow again.

Granted I am frustrated at the moment but this may be the last straw, sick of my Rivian stranding me in various places. Maybe time to sell and get something I can rely on.

Edit: photos added

 

[Stack]

Definitely frustrating and understandable. I had my front struts go out on my wife. Once replaced, the left front still wouldn't calibrate correctly and it took several trips to service to get it to properly level. On a positive note, that is one awesome looking set-up! Love the camper and the graphics!

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