Master Thread: Suspension Sounds - What is and isn't normal?

[sherold]

My truck is a 2023 QM Gen1 and it sounds terrible. It has 6k miles and it has been doing this from day one. SC looked at it 2 times and they said it it normal.
See/hear the attached. Using headphones helps hearing it better.
It's

Based on your sound clip (with headphones on), I would agree with the SC evaluation that everything sounds normal... for these trucks. I would not call that terrible by any stretch. Mine has sounded the same since day one, and although a noisier suspension than some other vehicles I've owned, It does not make me think anything is wrong. Honestly I hear more of it just because I don't have it muffled by an engine burning gas and rotating a bunch of other noisy mechanical components/accessories. To me, it just sounds like you drove over a seam or small bump in the road.

It is also a completely different design of suspension than anything I myself and the majority of members here have owned, and MUCH more capable. Can I hear new noises if I ride around in dead silence? Sure. Would I hear some of the same noises in an ICE vehicle if I could mute the engine noise? Sure. Is it to the point I am convinced something is actually wrong? No.

I think Rivian will do some tuning for the next generation of R1s to help reduce the noises, maybe even just sound deadening to help improve the customer experience, even though there might not be anything "wrong" with it.

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[danen1973]

Based on your sound clip (with headphones on), I would agree with the SC evaluation that everything sounds normal... for these trucks. I would not call that terrible by any stretch. Mine has sounded the same since day one, and although a noisier suspension than some other vehicles I've owned, It does not make me think anything is wrong. Honestly I hear more of it just because I don't have it muffled by an engine burning gas and rotating a bunch of other noisy mechanical components/accessories. To me, it just sounds like you drove over a seam or small bump in the road.

It is also a completely different design of suspension than anything I myself and the majority of members here have owned, and MUCH more capable. Can I hear new noises if I ride around in dead silence? Sure. Would I hear some of the same noises in an ICE vehicle if I could mute the engine noise? Sure. Is it to the point I am convinced something is actually wrong? No.

I think Rivian will do some tuning for the next generation of R1s to help reduce the noises, maybe even just sound deadening to help improve the customer experience, even though there might not be anything "wrong" with it.

Thank you for you reply.
The last time I was at the SC they gave me a 2023 first gen R1S loaner. The front end was much quiter. See/hear the video of the green R1S. Same spot so it can be compared.
I also have a Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and when running in all electric mode the suspension is super quiet.

 

[Jonger1150]

Thank you for you reply.
The last time I was at the SC they gave me a 2023 first gen R1S loaner. The front end was much quiter. See/hear the video of the green R1S. Same spot so it can be compared.
I also have a Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and when running in all electric mode the suspension is super quiet.

The Jeep doesn't have an adjustable air suspension with 7 inches of lift and hydraulic roll control.

With that said, I hate the suspension sound. I basically wanted an EV truck that was mid sized. If probably give up the air suspension for a silent suspension, even though it would ride much worse.

There is a replacement part for the shocks and hydraulic lines. The half-shafts are the noise maker and there is no fix. Some R1s are just quieter than others.

 

[al767093]

I have the same issue and is NOT NORMAL. I've taken my vehicle 3 times for service...They don't know what to do. Is extremely irritating....I only have 8k miles. Can someone actually found a solution?? there are thousands of people with same problem. Front left suspension clanking noise over bumps!!

 

[RedRiv]

Been through all of this with my late 2023 G1 R1S. Bottom line: a few things can be done to improve it at the margins, but the harsh noisy suspension is "normal" for these vehicles. Yes, it sucks and it needs to be redesigned, dampened, etc. etc. moving forward. We are early adopters of a new thing and such is the price we pay for all the other super awesome things about it. At least that's how I've rationalized it....for now....

 

[Jonger1150]

Been through all of this with my late 2023 G1 R1S. Bottom line: a few things can be done to improve it at the margins, but the harsh noisy suspension is "normal" for these vehicles. Yes, it sucks and it needs to be redesigned, dampened, etc. etc. moving forward. We are early adopters of a new thing and such is the price we pay for all the other super awesome things about it. At least that's how I've rationalized it....for now....

I got a major deal on my lease. $715 a month with nothing down besides taxes, destination and first month payment. Sometime around Jan through June 2027 I'll decide where to go from there. I'm hoping all these issues get worked out by then on new builds. It's definitely the worst thing about this. Very distracting.

 

[GSG]

I have been wondering how the Gen2 sounds. Is this still just as noisy or did they solve this?

I had my Gen2 R1S for a week when it started making very loud “air release” sounds from the left rear of the vehicle last Friday
while driving and when changing suspension height (especially when lowering). When I’m outside the vehicle, the sound is loud enough to startle me if I’m not thinking about it already. Rivian is sending out a mobile tech in a couple of weeks because they don’t believe it’s a safety issue, but it is definitely an “image” issue for the brand, as people stare when they hear it in a parking lot. I’ve attached a video of how it sounds when lowering suspension height when parked, which is easy to hear over the sound of a leafblower at my neighbor’s house.

 

[Hellfire]

My truck is a 2023 QM Gen1 and it sounds terrible. It has 6k miles and it has been doing this from day one. SC looked at it 2 times and they said it it normal.
See/hear the attached. Using headphones helps hearing it better.
It's

Same noises on my 23 R1T and just had the dampers replaced and zero improvement. Working on escalation through corporate.

 

[Hellfire]

I have the same issue and is NOT NORMAL. I've taken my vehicle 3 times for service...They don't know what to do. Is extremely irritating....I only have 8k miles. Can someone actually found a solution?? there are thousands of people with same problem. Front left suspension clanking noise over bumps!!

Two times here and no fix. Didn’t make any of those noises on mine until about 6k miles.

 

[DRJ564]

I took mine in for the second time and got it back over a week ago. They tightened all the knuckle joints per the Rivian recommendation. Guess what, it didn’t fix anything. It’s embarrassing to have passengers. I love my Rivian but if they don’t fix this I’m not getting another one and I’m thinking I may get rid of this one.

 

[Speedyralph]

I seemed to have found the thread of other rivian owners annoyed at their cars sounding like a POS. Between June and July I leased a 24' quad S and a 24' dual T. I couldn't stand the clanking, dry rolling bearing sounds from my truck so I took in. I've attached the invoices detailing what they replaced. They said I had gen 1 control arms etc.. and they replaced it with current suspension bits. After 2k miles the truck still makes all sorts of noice at low speed and hauling ass. I decided to live with it till lease term. Once its over I'm not getting another one. I'm not gna play the game of taking it into service throughout the 24mo term. On the other hand, my wife's quad S front motors just started to pulsate at a consistent frequency under accel so there you have it. I have two problematic cars with a 24mo term that I need to live with. Her appointment now isn't till Feb 2025.

 

[Jerret]

I had my Gen2 R1S for a week when it started making very loud “air release” sounds from the left rear of the vehicle last Friday
while driving and when changing suspension height (especially when lowering). When I’m outside the vehicle, the sound is loud enough to startle me if I’m not thinking about it already. Rivian is sending out a mobile tech in a couple of weeks because they don’t believe it’s a safety issue, but it is definitely an “image” issue for the brand, as people stare when they hear it in a parking lot. I’ve attached a video of how it sounds when lowering suspension height when parked, which is easy to hear over the sound of a leafblower at my neighbor’s house.

Mine makes the same sound. I’ve had this gen2 about a month and I’ve been wondering whether or not this is normal.

It’s almost like there should be a muffler on an air release valve that fell off or didn’t get installed properly. Very noticeable and gets second glances in parking lots.

Let us know what the tech says!

 

[GSG]

I had my Gen2 R1S for a week when it started making very loud “air release” sounds from the left rear of the vehicle last Friday
while driving and when changing suspension height (especially when lowering). When I’m outside the vehicle, the sound is loud enough to startle me if I’m not thinking about it already. Rivian is sending out a mobile tech in a couple of weeks because they don’t believe it’s a safety issue, but it is definitely an “image” issue for the brand, as people stare when they hear it in a parking lot. I’ve attached a video of how it sounds when lowering suspension height when parked, which is easy to hear over the sound of a leafblower at my neighbor’s house.

The mobile tech came out the day before Thanksgiving and immediately diagnosed the problem and was able to fix it in about an hour. The cause was an improperly installed hose clamp on the hose connecting the compressor exhaust to the muffler for the compressor. The clamp has a metal piece that facilitates its placement but that is supposed to be removed after installation. The metal piece wasn’t removed on the assembly line so the hose clamp wasn’t tight, and the hose came loose from the pressure of the compressor exhaust after I had driven the vehicle for a week. The mobile tech has seen the same issue several times, indicating a quality control problem on the assembly line. He had to remove the left rear panel, re-seat the hose and clamp, and remove the metal piece that facilitated installation of the hose clamp. I’m glad that it was a simple fix, but am frustrated that something that would have taken a few seconds on the assembly line was missed, resulting in hassle for me and unnecessary expense for Rivian for the repair. I want this company to succeed! Now I have a new appointment to address water leaking into the cabin following the first serious rain since I purchased the vehicle … another unfortunate initial quality issue.

 

[jpmc86]

Same noises on my 23 R1T and just had the dampers replaced and zero improvement. Working on escalation through corporate.

How’s that going?

 

[Hellfire]

Tampa SC picked it up last Friday and no updates yet. I recommended they inspect/replace the subframe since there isn’t much left that hasn’t been replaced. A cracked subframe would explain the noises and is probably the cause of the drivetrain shutter I get under hard acceleration. Not impressed with the service so far. This is the third time they are looking at this issue.

How’s that going?

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