Too much whining noise from the car

[jwanderson88]

I have a 2023 quad-motor R1T with about 17,000 miles. I'm wondering if any forum member has had one or more noisy electric motors that made an excessive amount of noise. What do they sound like if they fail, or is it even something you can hear? How common is motor failure, does it even happen? I'm experiencing an abnormal whining noise and I don't know whether is one or more motors or something else.

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[Zoidz]

It could be tire noise, especially if you have the 20s. It's been discussed here that many of us are experiencing more noise, and changing tires fixed it.

Mine are noticeably louder at 12K miles than 5K miles. That's normal for AT tires, but not to this extent with most brands.

What size wheels/tires do you have?

 

[Hillbilly]

I have a whine that seems more pronounced now than when I got the truck. I have almost 30k miles on. I used to enjoy driving with no music, but now I find it a necessity. It's a tinnitis type of ringing sound/frequency.

 

[jwanderson88]

I have 20-inch Pirelli Scorpian all-terrain tires. I had a discussion with my nephew. He noticed the loud whining noise. He doesn't think it's the tires. He's had quite a bit of experience with mostly all-terrain tires on Jeeps. It's too much noise for a $100,000 car.

 

[electruck]

Rivians have more motor/inverter noise than Teslas. It's just enough to notice and I really like it. Drives other people bat-shit crazy.

If this is something new that only recently started and you are sure it isn't the tire noise that the AT Pirellis are known for starting around 10-15k miles or so, then you'll want to open a service ticket. Tire noise vs motor/inverter noise vs gear whine all sound very different to those with an ear for mechanical issues but best to have it checked out if you aren't sure.

 

[jwanderson88]

I had a R1T loaner for a few days with similar features. It was significantly quieter. It had a typical EV sound which was what you would expect. I should have looked at the tires, but I didn't. I didn't think about it until I got my truck back and noticed how loud it was. That can happen if you can compare your vehicle with another one.

I'm still wondering about motor failure. Does it happen?

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Motor failure has happened but I haven't seen it too much. Maybe you can take a video of the sound?

 

[R1Tom]

Mine sounds normal at 40k. Tires are noisy, but drivetrain is really quiet. QM.

 

[ddimit]

I have 20-inch Pirelli Scorpian all-terrain tires. I had a discussion with my nephew. He noticed the loud whining noise. He doesn't think it's the tires. He's had quite a bit of experience with mostly all-terrain tires on Jeeps. It's too much noise for a $100,000 car.

It's the tires. I just changed from the 21's to 20's the Pirellis are definitely way more noisy than other AT tires. I had K02s in the past. The Pirelli set a new loudness record

 

[electruck]

Drive units have certainly failed but I don't think it's been common for those failures to be preceded by a whining noise.

 

[Ingo B]

I usually have this issue pop up in late August when I'm driving the kid to school for the first time since summer break.

 

[SwampNut]

So you're whining about the whining? When I got rid of the terribly noisy Scorpions, that made my inverter and motors much louder. Before that all I could hear was tire noise.

 

[JamboF4]

I have a 2023 quad-motor R1T with about 17,000 miles. I'm wondering if any forum member has had one or more noisy electric motors that made an excessive amount of noise. What do they sound like if they fail, or is it even something you can hear? How common is motor failure, does it even happen? I'm experiencing an abnormal whining noise and I don't know whether is one or more motors or something else.

Is your wife in the tunnel?

 

[Milk]

Mine whine's like it's pissed off when I walk up to it to get in. I mean it's an alarming sound but maybe it's typical given that it sat all night in 30* cold??? I whine too.

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