Adjustment Warranty: Buyer Beware

[meshugy]

I don’t see this mentioned often, but people should be aware that small adjustments (panel gaps, trim issues, and other small misalignmemts) are only covered under warranty for one year. So make sure and report all these issues to Rivian ASAP as I just discovered they take this 1 year period very literally. When average wait times for SC visits are three months, you only have maybe one or two chances to get these things fixed and if you wait too long it will come out of your pocket and the repairs are expensive. This is particularly important if you buy a recently used vehicle that still has some of its first year warranty left. Many of these low mileage “used” vehicles are essentially new, only driven a few hundred miles and then sat on a lot for the better part of the year. They’ve never had any of the small QC issues dealt with, so the new owner will have precious little time to get those things fixed under warranty.

In my case, I bought a 2023 Quad w/350mi last October. The first year warranty was up by Dec. 12 so I reported all the little QC issues before that date (B pillar bulge, passenger side wind noise, hood sinkage, passenger door/fender rubbing.) Of course, wait times are very long so I wasn’t actually able to get my R1S to the service center till yesterday. I was surprised that they quoted me almost $2K to fix these issues which I assumed were under warranty. They said my adjustment warranty expired Dec 12 so these things wouldn’t be covered. They did relent once I pointed out I reported these issues before Dec 12 and it wasn’t my fault they couldn’t make a SC appointment within my warranty period. We’ll see what the final bill comes to, but it appears they will cover these repairs now.

i‘m surprised this was even an issue. With SC appointment wait times averaging 3 months or more, this issue must come up frequently. The service app records all the claim dates so they should have a policy of just using the claim dates to compute warranty eligibility.

Anecdotally, the tech was intimately familiar with every one of these QC issues as they’re production quirks that seemingly every Rivian has. He fixed the wind noise immediately via a window recalibration via the service mode screen.

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[eskudo12791]

Not really. Took my R1T in for a windshield replacement, mentioned hood misalignment and rear passenger door alignment. They fixed both for free, and I drive a 2022 with at that point 32k miles.

 

[meshugy]

Not really. Took my R1T in for a windshield replacement, mentioned hood misalignment and rear passenger door alignment. They fixed both for free, and I drive a 2022 with at that point 32k miles.

Right, I feel like I’ve seen so many people mention courtesy adjustments like this done well after 1 year which is why I wasn’t worried about it. I guess the Seattle SC is more persnickety about thee things than others…

 

[MountainBikeDude]

In my case, I bought a 2023 Quad w/350mi last October. The first year warranty was up by Dec. 12

Assuming you bought the vehicle in the Rivian Shop? If that's the case, I was surprised the warranty period wouldn't start the day of delivery to you the owner, unless it was classified a used vehicle.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

Right, I feel like I’ve seen so many people mention courtesy adjustments like this done well after 1 year which is why I wasn’t worried about it. I guess the Seattle SC is more persnickety about thee things than others…

Early on, they were a bit lax and allowed adjustments as they came up, but they added the language to the New Vehicle Warranty to allow for "adjustments up to 1 year or 20,000km's, whichever comes first." Due in part to people I think taking advantage of the lax policy to get beyond nit picky on things.

 

[bfilippo]

Yes, my mobile service tech just went over this with me. He actually noticed a slight misalignment of my hood, which I honestly never noticed, and suggested I schedule right away as they are tightening up on this, it's officially 12 months, 12k miles now - don't see them making any exceptions moving forward.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Already known and shared in the past. Forum search "adjustment period". Some SCs will let it slide, helps if you are courteous to them. Had mine adjusted 18 months after delivery. No charge.

 

[meshugy]

Assuming you bought the vehicle in the Rivian Shop? If that's the case, I was surprised the warranty period wouldn't start the day of delivery to you the owner, unless it was classified a used vehicle.

it was used, bought it from CarMax in Oct 24. Original owner bought it Dec 23 so that’s when the warranty clock started.

 

[Jsty1028]

I don’t see this mentioned often, but people should be aware that small adjustments (panel gaps, trim issues, and other small misalignmemts) are only covered under warranty for one year. So make sure and report all these issues to Rivian ASAP as I just discovered they take this 1 year period very literally. When average wait times for SC visits are three months, you only have maybe one or two chances to get these things fixed and if you wait too long it will come out of your pocket and the repairs are expensive. This is particularly important if you buy a recently used vehicle that still has some of its first year warranty left. Many of these low mileage “used” vehicles are essentially new, only driven a few hundred miles and then sat on a lot for the better part of the year. They’ve never had any of the small QC issues dealt with, so the new owner will have precious little time to get those things fixed under warranty.

In my case, I bought a 2023 Quad w/350mi last October. The first year warranty was up by Dec. 12 so I reported all the little QC issues before that date (B pillar bulge, passenger side wind noise, hood sinkage, passenger door/fender rubbing.) Of course, wait times are very long so I wasn’t actually able to get my R1S to the service center till yesterday. I was surprised that they quoted me almost $2K to fix these issues which I assumed were under warranty. They said my adjustment warranty expired Dec 12 so these things wouldn’t be covered. They did relent once I pointed out I reported these issues before Dec 12 and it wasn’t my fault they couldn’t make a SC appointment within my warranty period. We’ll see what the final bill comes to, but it appears they will cover these repairs now.

i‘m surprised this was even an issue. With SC appointment wait times averaging 3 months or more, this issue must come up frequently. The service app records all the claim dates so they should have a policy of just using the claim dates to compute warranty eligibility.

Anecdotally, the tech was intimately familiar with every one of these QC issues as they’re production quirks that seemingly every Rivian has. He fixed the wind noise immediately via a window recalibration via the service mode screen.

Have a 2023 r1s, I had a driver door alignment adjustment, crossbar latch fix, and jounce line replacement at the Denver service center, no mention of adjustment warranty, maybe they would have charged if it was just for the adjustment? But it was zero on the pre-approval invoice with everything included.. I guess it just depends on the service center, Denver service center was great!

 

[meshugy]

Have a 2023 r1s, I had a driver door alignment adjustment, crossbar latch fix, and jounce line replacement at the Denver service center, no mention of adjustment warranty, maybe they would have charged if it was just for the adjustment? But it was zero on the pre-approval invoice with everything included.. I guess it just depends on the service center, Denver service center was great!

My pre-approval invoice was close to $2K. I was like WTF!?

 

[EVTrukHog]

Has the warranty guide changed much over the years? I was surprised to see the Rivian Warranty Guide have so many iterations based on your effective date... but of course, didn't have the patience to compare different versions.

https://rivian.com/support/article/new-vehicle-limited-warranty-guide

 

[kozak79]

2 years after purchase, I had the truck in service and mentioned the door handle did not seem flush with the door panel. They fixed it for free.

 

[Dark-Fx]

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/adjustment-warranty.17692/

 

[CANCERDOC]

I think what the OP is trying to point out is Rivian has no obligation beyond the adjustment period. Saying the OP is wrong because you happen to have a nice or generous service center isn’t quite true.

if you had something repaired within the one year adjustment period they might allow a second repair if that first repair didn’t come up to standards.

For what its worth I had the following repaired during the adjustment period:
1) Realign frunk (three times)
2)Realign rear hatch
3) Replace frunk and rear hatch mechanism
4) Front dash speaker grille rattle (they installed foam)
5) Replace interior rear drivers cargo area trim (scratches at delivery)
6) Wheel alignment (three times) - it still pulls to the right despite this

I had a vibration at 80mph, and reported it at 7 months but 14,000 miles. They got me in 2 months later and charged me $160 for a balance. The most I've ever paid for a wheel balance. The vibration is now gone though so it did the trick.

I can prob make them do another alignment but I don't think it will make a difference if the first three didn't correct the pull. I'm thinking its a radial pull from a bad tire, so I cannot wait to replace the factory Pirelli's with Michelins once they are a little more worn.

 

[SadHill]

I just had mine in for several small reasons in Jan and they fixed everything for free. Even things others on this forum said they had to pay for. I think a lot of it comes down to how you explain the problem, how you ask for it to be fixed and your patience with them.
I have a 2022 launch with 30xxx miles.

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