R1T 12v battery replacement every 2 years?!

[Ndbigblue]

I have had my rt1 for 3 years. One year past warranty. I have very low miles. My 12v batteries died for the second time. It last died 18 months ago. They covered it because of the 3 year warranty. Now they are charging me 700 to replace them again. But I have to pay. Now they are telling me to expect this every 2 years, the batteries dying, brining into service, and paying an outrageous fee. I asked if I could do it myself and they said they had to do electronic things to it each time battery is swapped out. So, I'm supposed to just be OK with this every 2 years?! I call foul.

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[Nixapatfan]

Unfortunately that is the reality with the tiny battery they use at least until they come out with a way to self service the warning light. Right now resetting that warning has shown mixed results from people who have tried diy. Now that these are going out of warranty more people will try to figure out a way around it.

 

[KBabione]

We picked up our R1S in August '23 and have had the 12V replaced twice now by Rivian. The Service advisor said that the new one comes with a 2-year warranty. I don't know if that would help you, but if it's only been 18 months you might have some limited ground on which to stand.

 

[RivnSoon]

I have a G1 T delivered in July 2022. Still original 12v, no issues. I'm sure it will die tomorrow morning

 

[KBabione]

I have a G1 T delivered in July 2022. Still original 12v, no issues. I'm sure it will die tomorrow morning

Nah - you've got two 12V batteries.

rant
Sometime in '23 they "upgraded" the 12V battery...I think it was when they removed the 12V outlet from the frunk and the front cab (and the second horn). I'm guessing someone told them that if they removed those three huge 12V draws that they could get away with one smaller 12V to power the auxiliary systems. While I've never missed power in the frunk, the horn sucks and I've had to find ways to work around not having the 12V outlet in the front of the cab.
/rant

 

[SwampNut]

https://www.ohmmu.com/product-page/12v-lithium-battery-for-r1t-r1s

 

[NoMoreGas71]

When are they going to start using Li-ion 12v batteries like Tesla now uses? They used to have similar issues and started using Li-ion 12v batteries and solved all the issues.

 

[Gasmiser12]

My ‘22 R1T two 12 volt two batteries were replaced this year(second set). I spoke to service and said I have never had anyone replace a 12 volt battery in hundreds of motorcycles, cars and trucks I have owned since I was 16 yrs old. They chopped the price down from $700 to $518.
(driven over 2 million miles in my lifetime-plus a used car business owned)

 

[beatle]

It's bad enough that the lifespan is so poor, but the biggest "f you" from Rivian is that you can't completely do this yourself since they require you to have access to the service tools. I had the battery replaced in my Model S by Tesla in my driveway for $200.

 

[Zoidz]

As discussed previously, Wassym stated late last year that they were developing a menu to allow self service of the battery. This needs to be sooner than later, Wassym.

Full discussion on RIvian Trackr

 

[beatle]

They say it's not intentional like they accidentally made it prohibitively expensive to get access to the service tool.

 

[zefram47]

Jinxing myself, but my truck is a Feb 23 build and I have yet to get the 12v warning 3 years in and 44k miles. Not sure what's different across the fleet. I do generally keep my truck plugged in if it's not being driven, but unclear if that makes any difference.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

When are they going to start using Li-ion 12v batteries like Tesla now uses? They used to have similar issues and started using Li-ion 12v batteries and solved all the issues.

When it’s cheap enough for them, per unit. Tesla’s production and supply volume is much higher. Economy of scale. Moot comparison. Costs are not the same across entire automotive world. You want a Li 12V or two? You can spring for it with Ohmmu, at $350 each, plus cost for SC to clear fault codes. Retail price for OE equivalent AGM is about $120. Rivian delivered almost 40k vehicles last year. At retail value, times 40k, that total difference on 12V would be just over $9M. If you were a CFO, you’d willingly support spending $9M more if you didn’t necessarily have to? Even with cost of replacement AGMs, the CAPEX is still lower. And even if their wholesale cost was 50% of retail, it’s still a big number. Not a defense of Rivian. Just simple reality of business. If and when R2 sales are strong, maybe their POV will change. Context matters.

 

[NoMoreGas71]

Yes, however there is the cost of people getting pissed off cuz their batteries keep failing.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Yes, however there is the cost of people getting pissed off cuz their batteries keep failing.

Tell me which is more productive: whining on the internet or actively working to find and rectify underlying causes of problem?

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