Endless Frustration: Relentless Noise Issues with R1S - Seeking Support and Solutions!

[DallasBBQ]

I just submitted my service ticket for issues at delivery. This was one of them. My new R1S with 77 miles is making the same noises in your video. I first experienced it once I got it home. It got so bad to the point I could feel vibrations in my steering wheel and floor. I understand it was super hot today in Houston TX but wtf?! It went away as soon as I tuned off the AC. Btw I was sweating this afternoon on my drive home. The AC definitely seems to be an issue. Also there was so much water under the car.

I received a call last night from a Rivian executive who acknowledged this is a known widespread issue with the R1S without a current fix. She kept saying the vehicle is operating as designed so she could not do anything for me. Happens in hot weather. Get ready for a miserable summer. I'll detail the conversation in a new post later this morning. Very disappointed.

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[BG_ATX]

The AC definitely seems to be an issue. Also there was so much water under the car.

Is the water an expected byproduct of condensation or cooling of the hot batteries? In TX heat and noticing quite a bit each time I park after driving. Assuming it is expected behavior, but I’m sensitive to potential AC issues since my delivery 2 days ago. We spent 15 minutes inside the vehicle like a greenhouse sauna, while our delivery guide told us the AC might need extra time to cool the car down (100+ degrees outside). I kept pointing it out every few minutes, but we pressed on. Finally. I cracked the windows and we all felt the much cooler 100 degree air flow from the outside, instant relief. Not the start I wanted with the vehicle, but the service department quickly diagnosed it as empty freon, which I have since seen other people post about during delivery.

By the way, I do hear excessive noise when charging and the AC is on, but it is nowhere near as loud as the OP at this time.

 

[DallasBBQ]

How'd you send a message to Tony and the entire executive team?

first letter of first name plus last name @ rivian.com works

John Doe =[email protected]

 

[mini2nut]

It’s interesting that it’s a known issue on the R1S but not the R1T. From my understanding the drivetrains are identical.

 

[jpmc86]

This is the AC compressor. Should be a bit better by setting recirculating on.

I suggest you demand a new AC compressor.

Ours has a lower pitched noise, maybe not as prevailing.

One thing to consider is, some members might not hear it as loud because they are demanding different temperature set points. Also - consider some might be setting the system to “auto” as opposed to manual. Lastly, that recirculating toggle makes a huge difference on the efficiency of the system.

Not saying it is acceptable.

 

[DallasBBQ]

This is the AC compressor. Should be a bit better by setting recirculating on.

I suggest you demand a new AC compressor.

Rivian executive told me this is a known issue with the R1S without a current fix. They refuse to replace any parts which I've been requesting the entire time.

 

[edystein]

Yesterday, I began a post sharing videos of the internal noise my AC was making. Today, I wanted to create a new thread to showcase videos highlighting the exterior noise level of my R1S. Some people have compared it to the sound of a loud weed eater. When we first got the vehicle, it would turn heads in parking lots because no one had ever seen an R1S before. However, now heads turn not out of curiosity, but rather due to the abnormal noise it emits. My frustration with the Dallas service center has reached its peak. Despite taking the vehicle in twice for this issue, they insist that it's normal. What was once an intermittent problem has now become a nearly constant nuisance. My wife has even resorted to driving my car instead, leaving the R1S at home due to the sheer embarrassment it brings. Are there any others who have encountered a similar issue? If so, has it progressed from being intermittent to constant in your experience?

 

[TPL]

I have the same issue as OP, starting a service ticket today (Denver). R1S vin 6xxx. The noise can get so loud it's uncomfortable to be in the car and even hinders conversation. Shakes the entire dash and the pedal assembly.

 

[edystein]

Yesterday, I began a post sharing videos of the internal noise my AC was making. Today, I wanted to create a new thread to showcase videos highlighting the exterior noise level of my R1S. Some people have compared it to the sound of a loud weed eater. When we first got the vehicle, it would turn heads in parking lots because no one had ever seen an R1S before. However, now heads turn not out of curiosity, but rather due to the abnormal noise it emits. My frustration with the Dallas service center has reached its peak. Despite taking the vehicle in twice for this issue, they insist that it's normal. What was once an intermittent problem has now become a nearly constant nuisance. My wife has even resorted to driving my car instead, leaving the R1S at home due to the sheer embarrassment it brings. Are there any others who have encountered a similar issue? If so, has it progressed from being intermittent to constant in your experience?

I completely agree with your assessment I am in Miami and the noise becomes unbearable, the service center here also says it is "normal" when definitely it is not normal, their Argument here is that the heat turns on a fan to cooldown the batteries which aside from abnormal noise also creates a vibration on the floor of the vehicle , for that I am seriously thinking to get rid of the vehicle , it is an unacceptable situation and worst of all having the service center convince people is normal, I also have Video recordings of the noise

 

[Zoidz]

It’s interesting that it’s a known issue on the R1S but not the R1T. From my understanding the drivetrains are identical.

In another post there was comment that an R1T was overcharged, receiving the amount of refrigerant that the R1S gets. This implies that the R1S has a different cooling system layout than the R1T.

@DallasBBQ - A reasonable troubleshooting step, IMO, would be for Rivian to evacuate and weight the amount of refrigerant in the system to verify that it's correct, and then recharge the system. Based on other reports of under or overcharged AC systems, it's possible that it does not have the correct charge in it. This can make the compressor work harder and less efficiently. I know for a fact from personal experience that the wrong refrigerant charge can make a HVAC compressor run louder. Somewhat more difficult would be for them to verify that there is the correct amount of refrigerant oil in the system.

 

[mini2nut]

I have the same issue as OP, starting a service ticket today (Denver). R1S vin 6xxx. The noise can get so loud it's uncomfortable to be in the car and even hinders conversation. Shakes the entire dash and the pedal assembly.

Holy shiit!!! That would make the owner of any $80k vehicle doubt their purchase decision.

 

[Zoidz]

I completely agree with your assessment I am in Miami and the noise becomes unbearable, the service center here also says it is "normal" when definitely it is not normal, their Argument here is that the heat turns on a fan to cooldown the batteries which aside from abnormal noise also creates a vibration on the floor of the vehicle , for that I am seriously thinking to get rid of the vehicle , it is an unacceptable situation and worst of all having the service center convince people is normal, I also have Video recordings of the noise

If it is indeed just additional vibration, the issue here is from RIvian's viewpoint, it's technically normal operation, but from a consumer viewpoint it's unacceptable noise. This one may end up as a "customer satisfation campaign". Let's hope they figure out a fix.

 

[mini2nut]

I feel that finding the root cause of the annoying noise would be rather simple. The fix may involve something more complex however. I wouldn’t want a SC tech tearing apart my brand new dash or battery pack to fix the issue.

 

[freejack]

This is what mine sounds like in the cabin while charging. Was around 70F outside so not even hot. It does stop after a few minutes.

 

[mini2nut]

I completely agree with your assessment I am in Miami and the noise becomes unbearable, the service center here also says it is "normal" when definitely it is not normal, their Argument here is that the heat turns on a fan to cooldown the batteries which aside from abnormal noise also creates a vibration on the floor of the vehicle , for that I am seriously thinking to get rid of the vehicle , it is an unacceptable situation and worst of all having the service center convince people is normal, I also have Video recordings of the noise

I feel your frustration. Are you past the 7-day return window?

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