RIVIAN Execs! Brakes stoped working in highway at over 76MPH

[DayTripping]

Me too. I would have never known without this forum and thread.

Teslas use the same for the ones that have stalks. The first Gen model 3/Ys they work the same way.

Sponsored

 

[moonjeong]

Shame you didn’t know earlier. I am not sure why you keep referencing 12 service visits for unrelated items like suspension, panel fitment etc.

I don’t think any of the service visits was for panel. Most were because drivetrain components were failing. They replaced a couple struts, half shafts, battery codes, engine malfunction codes, and the like. I imagine that if I had engine malfunction codes before this brake failure, it would be good o socialize. So I don’t know if they’re unrelated or related, but they are data points.
It is a shame I didn’t know for sure. Maybe my life could have depended on it. Maybe they need to put a sticker somewhere like under the visor. Maybe it gets seen when you use the mirrors? Just an idea.

 

[moonjeong]

The Rivian still uses hydraulic brakes like any other vehicle. Sounds like an electrical failure and you lost vacuum/electric brake boost, but still had "manual brakes" which would be very hard to stop the vehicle with, especially with a trailer. A complete loss of brakes (i.e. no hydraulic pressure) would be a pedal soft all the way to the floor. The very firm pedal implies you had hydraulics but it would require a lot of force to slow down the vehicle.

I did press the brake really hard thinking it must be hydraulic. I want to say I’m pretty strong, and the brake did not go in at all.

 

[woodcan]

Well, this has frightened the hell out of me as I’m due to take delivery of my R1S this week. I’m glad this thread informed me about the Emergency brake activation method.

FWIW, years ago on two separate occasions in two separate ICE vehicles I’ve lost total electrical power (car batteries love to die in Texas heat without warning) and I had to literally stand on my brake pedal to activate the brakes enough to stop and that was in a small and midsized SUV so I can only imagine what it would take to stop a Rivian at full highway speed. Nevermind trying to steer with no power.

 

[CharonPDX]

I did press the brake really hard thinking it must be hydraulic. I want to say I’m pretty strong, and the brake did not go in at all.

That sounds like a mechanical failure with the brake pedal. Rivian brake pedal isn't "drive by wire", it is actually physically connected to the brakes. It should depress all the way to the floor regardless of powertrain/12V failure to stop the vehicle - although when towing a trailer without trailer brakes, it may be *EXTREMELY* hard to come to a stop; but the pedal should still press.

 

[CANCERDOC]

I did press the brake really hard thinking it must be hydraulic. I want to say I’m pretty strong, and the brake did not go in at all.

Without vacuum and electric assist it will just be a rock hard pedal that doesn’t go down that much. So I think you still had manual brakes but that was literally all it could give you no matter how hard you stepped on it. On a gas vehicle if you step on the brake with the engine off, the first couple presses will use up the stored vacuum boost and then the brake pedal will actually rise and you can step a little and not much. That’s probably what you felt.

 

[ham]

Once Rivian had my truck for the CA lemon law limit of 30 days in the SC I was like f this and called a lawyer. I am assuming GA may have some very consumer friendly laws around it, give it a look. Rivian repurchased by vehicle and I got a $20k check idk why u guys are doing this to yourselves lol.

 

[HaveBlue]

This is a single axle trailer without brakes. So wouldn't know if the signal going to trailer brakes would not work.

Honestly who tows a 4000lb trailer with no brakes at 76mph? "Wouldn't know" is an entirely predictable outcome here.

 

[RivAW]

First, I love my Rivian - it's an amazing vehicle, but I can't trust it with my family's life anymore. Rivian execs please take action instead of attempting a 13th repair on this vehicle and giving me a service appt to July when this is a life threatening problem. Both my wife and I own Rivians and have an R2 ordered for my daughter. We are super Rivian supporters, but this needs to get resolved ASAP, not in July!

I was traveling at 76MPH with a 4k trailer on the highway when I got an error that said I had to service car before I can change drive modes. You'll also notice only my rear wheels were driving. Then all of my error lights came on. Then my brakes stopped working! Rivian Execs I need you to buy this vehicle back and put out of circulation before it kill someone. I can't sell this vehicle even if you say you can fix it out of concious- there have been 12 attempts to fix various issues on this vehicle, so I can't trust it. I can't dispose of it either since it's not a cheap vehicle.

Then I noticed that one pedal driving was not working, in other words, it would not regen when I took my foot off the accelerator. Then immediately noticed that the brake light error also was on. I tried pressing on the brakes but it was completely stiff. It was like if all hydraulic brake support was non existent in a normal car. However, in a normal car you can press hard and it will work, just without assist. On the Rivian, there was zero brake force being applied. I tried pulsing, pressing really hard, nothing worked.

I moved over to the emergency lane and it took what it seemed an eternity to slow down. It was extremely scary as you'll see in the video that there was a traffic slow down in front. So worse situation... traveling at over 65mph and suddenly you see all traffic in front slowing down and brakes not working. My daughters and I were very afraid we would crash into the cars in front. I was able to capture video of the last moments of this experience - you will hear me pulsing the brakes without any success. At the end you'll see that there is another error stating that brake hold is not working. Also the ABS lights were on.

We were on the side of a highway with an accident up front with cars all over the place. We did a soft reset, and then tried a hard reset. The Hard reset would not work. We were in the car for about 5 minutes before the hard reset was finally performed. All error lights went out and we were able to drive to the next exit. We let the vehicle sleep cycle, came back and everything seemed ok. When then pulled to a charging station since we were only 50 miles away from home. To our surprise it charged a little then it kept on saying it could not charge. We made it back home and now is parked in my garage with a service appointment in July!

I've had this car in for repairs 12 times in the past 18 months. Suspension components were replaced, but still not fixed. Error lights and car being unresponsive just 6 months ago and Rivian tech said just reset and nothing is wrong. That's not the case, I was stranded 2 times again in the next 6 months and had to let the vehicle sleep cycle after hard resets. Now the brakes, that's just wrong.

Also look at the service request details I got back from Rivian. Saying that this needs IMMEDIATE inspection and Repair due to safety reasons, but the appointment is out 3 months? WOW!

While I am sorry for your situation, how many chances will you take before dumping the vehicle?! Surely your state has an applicable lemon law…

 

[Hilbe]

I sent this thread to Rivian. I may reach out if they need your info.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Talk about anxiety provoking .

wish I could be of more help…Check lemon laws in your state. 12 attempts, provided it’s within the time and mileage limits seems like a pretty iron clad lemon law case. Brake issues, at least here in Maryland only require one unsuccessful repair attempt .

If your car doesn’t meet state lemon law guidelines then the magnuson moss (Federal Lemon law) might get you some relief.

I am not an attorney but it sounds like consulting with an experienced lemon law attorney in your state might be a good course of action.

 

[Mathme]

I'm still stuck at the OP "traveling at 76MPH pulling a 4,000 pound trailer on the highway" with at least one other person (based on the original pics) in the truck thinking that's safe.

As others have said, this really isn't the place to kibitz about this issue. If it's been that many repair attempts, then one should really look into the Lemon Laws for your state.

And the safety of others out there, when towing a trailer in a combined rig that's pushing 12,000lbs...slow down for the safety of all of us on the road.

 

[DuoRivian]

Talk about anxiety provoking .

wish I could be of more help…Check lemon laws in your state. 12 attempts, provided it’s within the time and mileage limits seems like a pretty iron clad lemon law case. Brake issues, at least here in Maryland only require one unsuccessful repair attempt .

If your car doesn’t meet state lemon law guidelines then the magnuson moss (Federal Lemon law) might get you some relief.

I am not an attorney but it sounds like consulting with an experienced lemon law attorney in your state might be a good course of action.

It was not 12 attempts for the same thing. None of the attempts related to the braking system either from what was said. Unless three or four of the attempts are for the same thing then highly unlikely lemon law would apply (but check state law).

Rivian is a business not a charity so will not buy back a near 2 year old vehicle for the sake of it unless required.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

It was not 12 attempts for the same thing. None of the attempts related to the braking system either from what was said. Unless three or four of the attempts are for the same thing then highly unlikely lemon law would apply (but check state law).

Rivian is a business not a charity so will not buy back a near 2 year old vehicle for the sake of it unless required.

All good points. If he took it in to Rivian 12 times though it probably easily exceeded the out of service (in the shop time). Here in MD it’s 30 days IIRC.

Only an attorney can answer the buyback question.

 

[moonjeong]

While I am sorry for your situation, how many chances will you take before dumping the vehicle?! Surely your state has an applicable lemon law…

This is the last one. I love the vehicle and suspension issues, half shafts, etc… i can deal with. Failure in braking i can’t So after this i’m done.

Sponsored