Why is service still so inept?

[Smeek]

I had a horrendous vibration in my steering wheel at 60 mph+ since i got my R1S. A common complaint on here. I have 30k miles on it now. I have taken it to the service center multiple times (boston). They did everything they know how to do including alignments, tire balance, even replaced the steering wheel under that TSB. nothing helped. Took the "master tech" for a ride with me 6 months ago and he acknowledged it but just shrugged and said "it's a truck".

Figured i would have to live with it.

The stock pirellis needed replacing, and i have a great relationship with my local audi service center because we have two audi EVs as well. So i had Tire Rack ship a set of michelin defenders there, and they mounted and balanced them on the stock Rivian 21" wheels for me a few weeks back. I got around to swapping the wheels a few days ago and now the vibration is completely gone.

This whole time i have dealt with this issue, across multiple SC visits, and multiple 'fixes' and it was actually just a tire balance problem. That an Audi service center easily fixed.

I'm certainly happy that it is now fixed, but it's absurd that they couldn't correctly diagnose or fix an out of balance tire.

Rivian, for the love of god, get some real mechanics in your shops!!

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[Dark-Fx]

Likely actually a bad tire. Sometimes they can't be balanced because it's damaged internally and isn't actually round.

 

[captainjp]

Likely actually a bad tire. Sometimes they can't be balanced because it's damaged internally and isn't actually round.

Yup

 

[McLovin]

Likely actually a bad tire. Sometimes they can't be balanced because it's damaged internally and isn't actually round.

Or a bad rim. OP did say he "swapped the wheels", implying he not only replaced the tires, but the rims as well.

 

[jackfu]

Shocked that they skipped the first or second thing to do - try with a different set of wheels and tires. Or even swap front and back to see if the vibration goes elsewhere. Aw well. If you need a specialized wheel balance and repair place, I can send you a great recommendation. Most wheel places can tell you exactly how out of true your wheels and the high-low spots on the tires

 

[frostpine_82]

I had a horrendous vibration in my steering wheel at 60 mph+ since i got my R1S. A common complaint on here. I have 30k miles on it now. I have taken it to the service center multiple times (boston). They did everything they know how to do including alignments, tire balance, even replaced the steering wheel under that TSB. nothing helped. Took the "master tech" for a ride with me 6 months ago and he acknowledged it but just shrugged and said "it's a truck".

Figured i would have to live with it.

The stock pirellis needed replacing, and i have a great relationship with my local audi service center because we have two audi EVs as well. So i had Tire Rack ship a set of michelin defenders there, and they mounted and balanced them on the stock Rivian 21" wheels for me a few weeks back. I got around to swapping the wheels a few days ago and now the vibration is completely gone.

This whole time i have dealt with this issue, across multiple SC visits, and multiple 'fixes' and it was actually just a tire balance problem. That an Audi service center easily fixed.

I'm certainly happy that it is now fixed, but it's absurd that they couldn't correctly diagnose or fix an out of balance tire.

Rivian, for the love of god, get some real mechanics in your shops!!

this is like checking each fuse in the fusebox for something that's an easy fix like replacing the 10 year old battery

i think any adept mechanic would start at the wheels/tires, then checking for play in 3-9 /12-6 position, and so on

 

[ndmiller]

Plain old poor diagnostic skills or training. #1 repair shop issue regardless of brand, ev/ic, model.

 

[Nixapatfan]

I'd say it's a training/experience issue, lot of young people at the service centers not sure if it's an intentional hiring practice, the pay structure or just experienced techs not wanting to take a chance with startups or EV's in general. Probably a mix of all of that.

 

[daeHelkcunK]

I had a horrendous vibration in my steering wheel at 60 mph+ since i got my R1S. A common complaint on here. I have 30k miles on it now. I have taken it to the service center multiple times (boston). They did everything they know how to do including alignments, tire balance, even replaced the steering wheel under that TSB. nothing helped. Took the "master tech" for a ride with me 6 months ago and he acknowledged it but just shrugged and said "it's a truck".

Figured i would have to live with it.

The stock pirellis needed replacing, and i have a great relationship with my local audi service center because we have two audi EVs as well. So i had Tire Rack ship a set of michelin defenders there, and they mounted and balanced them on the stock Rivian 21" wheels for me a few weeks back. I got around to swapping the wheels a few days ago and now the vibration is completely gone.

This whole time i have dealt with this issue, across multiple SC visits, and multiple 'fixes' and it was actually just a tire balance problem. That an Audi service center easily fixed.

I'm certainly happy that it is now fixed, but it's absurd that they couldn't correctly diagnose or fix an out of balance tire.

Rivian, for the love of god, get some real mechanics in your shops!!

The mechanics at the Ft. Myers service center have been spot on. Maybe bad mechanics is just a regional thing. They replaced my AC system and even the carpet as it apparently had become wet. They also offered to deliver my car when finished even though I'm 30 miles south.

 

[Greg Chick]

The service centers are like the old, Dealerships. The Mfgr. be it Ford or Chev. was not the problem, neither is Rivian. Other than the whole EV industry is in growing pains, the "song remains the same". The best thing that has happened to my R1T is the 21" Defenders. The issue there was not the dealer however, it was the Mfgr.! So, Pirellie tires are the exception, to my point.

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