Service 12V battery system immediately error. - Replaced faulty 12V sensor.

[Mike Hunt]

As someone who just got this warning last night for the first time, I would very much like to know this as well... I am considering just replacing myself after setting up a service appointment and being told they cant do it mobile because the work requires the use of a lift, in the shop, which from what I understand is complete horsepoop.?

I had mobile replace them twice.

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[Mike Hunt]

I haven't seen any 12v warning messages yet.. but the SC called me last night and said Rivian wants to proactively replace a 12v component.. I'm guessing it's this 12v sensor...

my question... I have 33K miles on my 2.5 year old (Nov, 2023) Gen1 R1T... should I have them replace the 12v battery at the same time?

I've been nervously waiting for the battery to fail while I am out and about.. thinking this stress reliever action might be worth the cost... thoughts?

The 12V batteries seem to need replacing every three years max.

 

[Mike Hunt]

Well, just got word from the service center.

Turns out the problem was not a “faulty sensor“ but a loose wire to the secondary 12V battery originating at the fuse box.

How it go loose is up for discussion but I did take it in previously to get the HVAC system repaired according to their Customer Satisfaction Campaign Bulletin RCA-26-24-002-1 which could have involved the very area where the wire/fuse box is.

I’ll inquire when I pick up today.

On another note service will refund me the original charge for replacing the faulty sensor since that was not the issue, they replaced the both batteries with fresh batteries just in case and didn’t charge me for the tow, rental or work finding the loose wire which I am extremely grateful for.

The service advisor really took care of me and kept me in the loop too.

Towed Saturday back Thursday. They kept it in the shop to monitor the battery to make sure everything was rock solid.

Anyway, just wanted to follow up that things are looking good. Hopefully, the truck is washed too!

 

[Rivian Owner]

It sounds like Rivian did the right thing. Intermittent problems such as a loose wire can be very difficult to diagnose. I always use the analogy of going to the doctor and not having the symptoms once you get there; how is the doctor supposed to diagnose your illness if you don't have any clues to guide them to a conclusion. In your case the batteries would be the most likely culprit, just because they have a well documented history of failing, and with no symptoms you throw the most likely parts at the problem. If the gremlins come back after the first round of antibiotics (12v batteries in this case) the doctor will try another round of antibiotics (the sensor in your case). You are probably somewhat lucky that they found the loose wire connection, I had a friend who must have had their vehicle in the shop 8 or 10 times to fix an electrical gremlin (older Chevy Tahoe) that turned out to be a loose ground wire. While all the sensors and electronics are great, they are complicated far beyond a 60's era car's electrical system, which can complicate tracking down gremlins!

It is great to see that Rivian refunded your money and really made things right. I know how tough it can be to regain confidence in a vehicle after it has let you down several times and cost a lot of money. Hopefully they have it all resolved! Keep in mind that those new batteries will only last a couple of years.

 

[Steve A.]

Well, just got word from the service center.

Turns out the problem was not a “faulty sensor“ but a loose wire to the secondary 12V battery originating at the fuse box.

How it go loose is up for discussion but I did take it in previously to get the HVAC system repaired according to their Customer Satisfaction Campaign Bulletin RCA-26-24-002-1 which could have involved the very area where the wire/fuse box is.

I’ll inquire when I pick up today.

On another note service will refund me the original charge for replacing the faulty sensor since that was not the issue, they replaced the both batteries with fresh batteries just in case and didn’t charge me for the tow, rental or work finding the loose wire which I am extremely grateful for.

The service advisor really took care of me and kept me in the loop too.

Towed Saturday back Thursday. They kept it in the shop to monitor the battery to make sure everything was rock solid.

Anyway, just wanted to follow up that things are looking good. Hopefully, the truck is washed too!

I hope that was the root cause after all and not a case of *whack-a-mole*. Time will tell.

After two 12V replacements in less than 2 years and then three more 12V service calls less than a year later for my previously owned 2023 R1S, they finally replaced the control module but I totaled it a couple months later, so don't know if that was really the root cause but something to ask about if you get another dreaded 12V replacement notification.

That said, given my 2023 R1S five 12V battery service calls in 31 months, I wanted a pre-3/23 build date previously owned R1T w/ both 12V batteries, so I got a 2022 R1T w/ a 6/22 build date recently that I know had both OEM batteries replaced last year.

Well, smash-cut to this Tuesday am and I get the dreaded 12V Replacement notification literally like a day and a half after the latest OTA update on Sunday! SMH

The SC thinks it's probably a firmware update and not the actual battery which means I have to drop it off at the SC instead of a mobile appointment. We shall see if it's *firmware* related but I reminded them that back in December they had my 2023 R1S in for the same issue over the span of about 2 weeks and still didn't fix the problem because it left me stranded in the cold at the airport garage on a Sunday evening and the other SC replaced the control module after almost another week of diagnostics.

So, we shall see if this is another case of *whack-a-mole* or an OTA update issue or firmware issue or whatever.

That said, this is my 2nd Rivian from 2 different models and 2 different production years one with a single 12V battery and one with two with premature 12V battery issues.

For those who say, "I've never had a problem," makes me want to compare daily usages since I put 100+ miles on mine 5-6 days/wk which means starting them 3-4 times per day and using 12V accessories daily.

As always, YMMV.

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