Clicking noise from rear at low speed

[ozziegt]

Our R1S has developed some kind of clicking sound in the rear at lower speeds (under 15 mph). Sometimes I can hear it at higher speeds like 25mph but mostly at lower speeds. It changes with the speed of the vehicle, so I thought maybe it's a nail in a tire or something but I don't see anything. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm thinking about making a service appointment...I don't want a motor to die on me.

It's a 2023 with 18k miles

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[ATL_R1S]

I dropped mine off at the SC on Friday of last week for this exact same issue at 15.5k miles. Been hearing it faintly clicking for nearly a month and after checking all the tires multiple times for rocks, nails or debris, the noise persisted and obviously follows the rotation of the tires. It requires the windows up and AC to be off to hear it clearly, but it sounds inboard around the right rear axle. It's persistently audible below 25mph as well, above that speed I can't hear it anymore, presumably clicking fast enough to blend in with the road noise.

Could be a hurt half-shaft, or a glittered motor at worst. Either way, I'll try to remember to share what the SC finds here.

 

[ozziegt]

Yep sounds exactly what I have. Looking forward to your update!

 

[Njbauma]

I had this a while back, faint clicking sound from rear. Changed with speed as described. Finally noticed a small oil leak on rear passages side. Ended up being damaged rear drive unit. They ended up replacing it and it resolved the clicking noise also. Take it in to service. Added picture of service notes.

 

[DB88]

following... my R1T is doing the exact same thing...

 

[Tango45]

I just took my (wife's) girl in for service. One of the things on the list was a ticking/clicking on acceleration/deceleration. I drove with the tech around the parking lot and he immediately noticed it. Got a call today saying they are replacing halfshafts and hubs. Start a ticket. With lead times being what they are, you can add other minor things as needed. Better to be told its nothing than to have the car experience an unscheduled disassembly event. YMMV, but my service center is all good people who take care of things. Which reminds me, I'm thinking I'm going to load the frunk of the loaner with a couple cases of beer before I drop it off.

 

[ozziegt]

I already have an appointment for something else on 11/8 so I am adding this to the list.

Doesn't bode well for long term reliability...

 

[HokieBird7980]

Well add me to the list on my 2024 R1T with under 3,000 miles on it. Just heard this clicking in rear yesterday while stuck in traffic jam due to flooded road from the tropical storm coming through NC. Thought maybe i picked up something driving through the water in a couple places on the highway, but this sounds to me like it's similar issue to what OP and others have listed. Five hours to closest service center, either Atlanta or Richmond due to dumb state laws prohibiting service centers if you don't have a dealership in NC. Along with the excessive wind noise on the passenger door, and the rattle in the dash, this has me leaning toward opening a ticket sooner rather than later. Seems to be more wrong with this 2024 R1T than my 2022 Launch Edition, which is why i've held onto it until i can make sure the 2024 is reliable and doesn't have issues.

 

[ozziegt]

Well add me to the list on my 2024 R1T with under 3,000 miles on it. Just heard this clicking in rear yesterday while stuck in traffic jam due to flooded road from the tropical storm coming through NC. Thought maybe i picked up something driving through the water in a couple places on the highway, but this sounds to me like it's similar issue to what OP and others have listed. Five hours to closest service center, either Atlanta or Richmond due to dumb state laws prohibiting service centers if you don't have a dealership in NC. Along with the excessive wind noise on the passenger door, and the rattle in the dash, this has me leaning toward opening a ticket sooner rather than later. Seems to be more wrong with this 2024 R1T than my 2022 Launch Edition, which is why i've held onto it until i can make sure the 2024 is reliable and doesn't have issues.

FWIW Rivian support said they could send a mobile tech out to look at it, but I already had an appointment at the service center. So they likely can take a look while it's parked in your driveway just to see if there is any real issue.

 

[ATL_R1S]

Update as promised.

At drop off, a courier rode with me and confirmed they heard it. After sitting on the lot for 3+ weeks, they called me last Thursday and said they couldn't hear it and I assured them it was audible with the windows up and AC off.

At pickup today, I still heard it and had a technician ride with me and they confirmed they heard it from the inside, but not from outside. The said they could keep it and continue with more advanced diagnostics, but I declined. I want to get as far away from that Wrangler 4xE rental as possible.

 

[ozziegt]

Update as promised.


At drop off, a courier rode with me and confirmed they heard it. After sitting on the lot for 3+ weeks, they called me last Thursday and said they couldn't hear it and I assured them it was audible with the windows up and AC off.

At pickup today, I still heard it and had a technician ride with me and they confirmed they heard it from the inside, but not from outside. The said they could keep it and continue with more advanced diagnostics, but I declined. I want to get as far away from that Wrangler 4xE rental as possible.

That's piss poor service. Unacceptable.

 

[s00n]

I just took my (wife's) girl in for service. One of the things on the list was a ticking/clicking on acceleration/deceleration. I drove with the tech around the parking lot and he immediately noticed it. Got a call today saying they are replacing halfshafts and hubs. Start a ticket. With lead times being what they are, you can add other minor things as needed. Better to be told its nothing than to have the car experience an unscheduled disassembly event. YMMV, but my service center is all good people who take care of things. Which reminds me, I'm thinking I'm going to load the frunk of the loaner with a couple cases of beer before I drop it off.

Is this the clicking sound you experienced? Whenever on or off accelerator is makes this sound, regardless of speed. Took it in to the SC a couple weeks ago and they said they "added spacers and lubed it" which solved it temporarily but it's back, worse now.

 

[Tango45]

Is this the clicking sound you experienced? Whenever on or off accelerator is makes this sound, regardless of speed. Took it in to the SC a couple weeks ago and they said they "added spacers and lubed it" which solved it temporarily but it's back, worse now.

I want to say yes, but leave some space for all of the variables that come with trying to diagnose something over internet video. What really seemed to resonate with them and, I believe, is the best description of what I was hearing is that it made me think that there was something geared (like two toothed gears) with slack between the gears so that when throttle was applied or removed, the two gears would click as they engaged each other. The Google Machine says this is called "backlash", and in this case, it might be excessive.

This is kinda what I pictured in my head, where it seemed like the gear on the right was coming from the motor and, let's say driving forward is clockwise, as I initially stepped on the accelerator pedal, it would start turning and have a distance to cover before contacting the other gear, causing a sound. When I reduced throttle input, the drive (right) gear would slow relative to the other one, which would continue its rotation until contacting the slower drive gear, causing a sound. Apologies to any engineers, I'm in management now, so I'm dumb.

Anyway, they initially said they would just replace some spacers or washers... it's the "ting washers", I think. However, when they called me to tell me the work was done, they said they replaced everyting (sorry, I couldn't resist). Here's a screenshot from my work order:

I hope that helps!

 

[ozziegt]

Is this the clicking sound you experienced? Whenever on or off accelerator is makes this sound, regardless of speed. Took it in to the SC a couple weeks ago and they said they "added spacers and lubed it" which solved it temporarily but it's back, worse now.

That sounds different than what I am experiencing. Mine is constant with speed, it isn't caused by accelerating or decelerating. I dropped off the vehicle last week and did a ride-along with the tech. He said it's most likely the drive unit or the disconnect used for conserve mode.

 

[Musicjohn]

I had the exact exact same issue, and the replacement of both the right and left rear axle disconnects fixed it.

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