Dear Rivian Engineers who worked on the Air Conditioning

[Whale Blubber]

They ought to do a blog post on the ins and outs of the AC from the horse's mouth -- "It's high summer in North America, and the R1S has a lot of air to cool. Here's some information about the AC system and the best tips for beating the heat." They could then lay to rest some of the questions and slip in any info about when to bring it in for service.

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[Cactus]

Did you get an earl


Did you get an earlier SC appointment? I got my car serviced and the AC is better now. Up to what I expected. I think you’ll feel the same after they take a look.

Not yet. Still waiting for reply

 

[SoCal Rob]

Are we sure the intake for the 3rd row vents is in the cargo area?

That would be the most unintelligent place to design the intake. You are literally just recirculating the stale air back there then. This horrible HVAC system just keeps on sounding worse as we learn more about it.

Yes. Here is a brief video of air intake with 3rd row blower on high.

 

[SoCal Rob]

So I just went out and did a test (Truck has been sitting in the hot sun).

1. Flipped up the 3rd row
2. Buckled the belt

And:

1. The 3rd row vents came on (as soon as I bucked in)
2. I can't turn them off from the front screen (only turn up) - no cooling logo, still just air
3. They are defiantly blowing cool air - Where they are getting the air from is unknown.


This goes against what I was told by a guide previously. I specifically asked about 3rd row AC for my dog.

@Deadfish This short video demos what I’m writing about way more effectively.

In this one, you can clearly hear the 3rd row fan running, even when I turn the middle row off.

 

[R1TS]

Yes. Here is a brief video of air intake with 3rd row blower on high.

Ah, I see. That is just terrible engineering. So, the third row is basically getting hot air in the summer and cold air in the winter. C’mon Rivian.

 

[usulio]

Ah, I see. That is just terrible engineering. So, the third row is basically getting hot air in the summer and cold air in the winter. C’mon Rivian.

Do we know that's the air intake specifically for the 3rd row seats? Or could it be the air intake for recirculate-mode air?

 

[R1TS]

Do we know that's the air intake specifically for the 3rd row seats? Or could it be the air intake for recirculate-mode air?

Easy to test that by just turning on and off the third row vents and see what that intake vent does.

 

[usulio]

Easy to test that by just turning on and off the third row vents and see what that intake vent does.

Did it. Looks like yes, that back vent above the air compressor is indeed the intake for the third row fans.

 

[R1TS]

Did it. Looks like yes, that back vent above the air compressor is indeed the intake for the third row fans.

Confirms what I’ve been saying. Rivian basically designed the R1S by just putting a truck cap and 2-seat bench onto the R1T.
Absolutely no thought into creating a proper HVAC for anyone but the first two seats.

A portable handheld fan is probably better than the car fan for passengers in the 3rd row.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Confirms what I’ve been saying. Rivian basically designed the R1S by just putting a truck cap and 2-seat bench onto the R1T.
Absolutely no thought into creating a proper HVAC for anyone but the first two seats.

A portable handheld fan is probably better than the car fan for passengers in the 3rd row.

To be fair, there are quite a few differences between the T and S, but, yeah, the 3rd row HVAC is really just the V with recirculate as the only option.

Our 3-row 2006 Land Rover had 3 true zones of HVAC: 2 zones for the front row and a third row dedicated to rows 2+3. The third zone pulled air from the same location as Rivian’s, but it had a heater core and AC heat exchanger for cooling. The fan speed, air temperature, and face/foot mix could be set to match the front passenger or set to allow the 2nd row to control everything.

I suspect that once Rivian decided to use the same controls and air distribution for the first two rows on R1S as for R1T, it just didn’t make financial sense to give a true 3rd zone for the 3rd row. I mean, if they couldn’t make the case for a Chilewich floor mat on row 3 there’s probably no way to make the case for the extra HVAC hardware on what is typically the least-used area of the vehicle.

I don’t like it, but I understand the logic behind the decision.

 

[Ashtothexo]

Thought my AC issues were fixed after going to the SC but, it really just can’t stand up to AZ temps if your car is outside for a couple hours. It’s just a sauna for my kids in the second row. Bummer. $90k bummer. Pet mode forever and always I guess.

 

[R1TS]

Thought my AC issues were fixed after going to the SC but, it really just can’t stand up to AZ temps if your car is outside for a couple hours. It’s just a sauna for my kids in the second row. Bummer. $90k bummer. Pet mode forever and always I guess.

Yea, my kids do not want to go in the R1S again after riding in it for a week in this warm summer. Every time we go out, they want to ride in our Model X. Easier for them to get in/out by just pushing a button, and they can adjust the pillar vents to aim directly at them. Whereas, the R1S has no pillar vents in the second row. Crazy omission for such an SUV.

 

[Chicagofan00]

Thought my AC issues were fixed after going to the SC but, it really just can’t stand up to AZ temps if your car is outside for a couple hours. It’s just a sauna for my kids in the second row. Bummer. $90k bummer. Pet mode forever and always I guess.

This is disappointing to read. Making me second guess my order for one. No way I want to give up my current vehicle where the A/C blows cold within a matter of minutes no matter how long it’s been outside for the Rivian that won’t get cold. We ran into the same issue with the R1S we test drove recently and it had been outside all day at the Phoenix service center.

 

[Ashtothexo]

Yea, my kids do not want to go in the R1S again after riding in it for a week in this warm summer. Every time we go out, they want to ride in our Model X. Easier for them to get in/out by just pushing a button, and they can adjust the pillar vents to aim directly at them. Whereas, the R1S has no pillar vents in the second row. Crazy omission for such an SUV.

Such a bummer. I don’t know why every car doesn’t have better venting in the back rows. These are kids. In hot as hell car seats. Give them all the air! Our explorer had much better air and this car is so much more money. Give me all the things for my money please. Can’t drive it when it’s over 105 out was not in my plans.

 

[Ashtothexo]

This is disappointing to read. Making me second guess my order for one. No way I want to give up my current vehicle where the A/C blows cold within a matter of minutes no matter how long it’s been outside for the Rivian that won’t get cold. We ran into the same issue with the R1S we test drove recently and it had been outside all day at the Phoenix service center.

I hear ya’. I’m not really sure what to make of it. I’m stuck between super pissed and embarrassed when people ask me how the new car is, and just trying not to care that we should take the other care on days when it’s really hot out. Which given how this summer has gone, we will be seeing more and more of that. I have driven Hondas and Toyotas my whole life. I splurge on a nice car and I get less AC for it. Ugh painful.

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