Water leak through the windows on an R1T when pressure washed

[eRacer]

I brought my R1T into the service center for a few items and one of the issues I wanted them to address was a water leak on the passenger side window. I explained to the service technician that I noticed that I had water entering the cabin through the passenger side window. The small water intrusion occurs between the window seal of the active passenger window and the stationary A-pillar window when I pressure wash the vehicle. Mind you, I did not focus the pressure washer at the seam when washing the vehicle and it only occurred on the passenger side. The driver side was dry.


I also expressed concerns about wind noise when driving at freeway speeds.

The service center claims that they investigated my concerns and had the following feedback.

The wind noise I hear is normal on the R1T. Supposedly there is an allowable tolerance for wind noise. How much, I don't really know.

The water leak is also normal, and I was advised NOT to pressure wash the truck. Pressure washing will introduce water into the windows.

This is the first vehicle that I have ever experienced water intrusion due to pressure washing. Mind you that I have owned several cars with frameless windows and have never had this issue.

Does this sound reasonable? Anyone else have this experience when pressure washing their truck?

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[R1Tom]

Mine doesn't make any wind noise nor does water leak in at car washes or pressure washing. Just for reference. But many on here will jump in and say Teslas and BMW's etc... have wind noise and leak water, so who knows anymore.

 

[John_619]

I routinely rinse my R1T after washing with a deionized water system and a pressure washer w/ no leaks! Water leaks is not a “normal condition” in my opinion.

 

[jjswan33]

Yeah that is kinda silly. You should point them to the owners manual. Assuming you are following those suggestions.

 

[eRacer]

Thank you for the feedback. I didn’t even bother to look at the manual yet. I didn’t realize that washing the car was part of the user manual.

 

[John_619]

If anyone is interested… wash, rinse & walk away.

 

[RedRaiderRivian]

I brought my R1T into the service center for a few items and one of the issues I wanted them to address was a water leak on the passenger side window. I explained to the service technician that I noticed that I had water entering the cabin through the passenger side window. The small water intrusion occurs between the window seal of the active passenger window and the stationary A-pillar window when I pressure wash the vehicle. Mind you, I did not focus the pressure washer at the seam when washing the vehicle and it only occurred on the passenger side. The driver side was dry.


I also expressed concerns about wind noise when driving at freeway speeds.

The service center claims that they investigated my concerns and had the following feedback.

The wind noise I hear is normal on the R1T. Supposedly there is an allowable tolerance for wind noise. How much, I don't really know.

The water leak is also normal, and I was advised NOT to pressure wash the truck. Pressure washing will introduce water into the windows.

This is the first vehicle that I have ever experienced water intrusion due to pressure washing. Mind you that I have owned several cars with frameless windows and have never had this issue.

Does this sound reasonable? Anyone else have this experience when pressure washing their truck?

I had water leaking in around my passenger window when washing and rinsing with a regular hand sprayer on the end of a garden hose. I also noticed excesive wind noise from the passnger side and thought it was just me until my son was riding with me and rolled down the window. When he rolled it back up the wind noise was worse and we discovered the window is not seating properly. I first tried the window recalibration but that didn't help. I was able to "help" the window to properly seat by pushing up and slighly inward as the window was rolling up. Have not submitted a ticket yet but plan to in the next week or so.

 

[madgrey]

No water leaks on mine but I definitely have wind noise around the driver's side seal. I don't hear this on any other windows. Often, re-seating or re-indexing the window improves the noise, but the effect is only temporary. I want to try some of the DIY solutions posted on this forum but I'm trying to get an SC visit in first. If the DIY fixes don't work, I don't want to have to uninstall a bunch of self stick tape and then have to explain the possible mess left behind.

 

[RIV206]

I don't use a pressure washer but have noticed I have water build-up/condensation on the inside of my passenger side window where it meets the seal every time I wash it.

 

[Timothykf]

No wind noise... Lots of door drainage after long rain storms.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

This is simply nonsense. If you follow the instructions in the owners manual water should not leak inside. Now, if you spray high pressure in one area for a long enough time you may get water intrusion especially if your using the narrow ended fitting.

I have a 2200 psi electric pressure washer and use the white 40° tip on both the T and the S. I haven't noticed any water intrusion.

Again though if you hold the wand there it may force the water in.

 

[carsly]

I have always pressure-washed all of my cars, including a 2001 Porsche 996 Turbo that I previously owned with frameless windows and 20 year old door seals - no leaks. My 2008 Honda Pilot, parked outside for 15+ years with original door seals, also no leaks when pressure washing.

Unless the stream is focused and held in a single spot near the window seals I'd offer that leaks are exceptionally unlikely unless there is some defect with door/window fitment and/or related seals.

 

[eRacer]

I have always pressure-washed all of my cars, including a 2001 Porsche 996 Turbo that I previously owned with frameless windows and 20 year old door seals - no leaks. My 2008 Honda Pilot, parked outside for 15+ years with original door seals, also no leaks when pressure washing.

Unless the stream is focused and held in a single spot near the window seals I'd offer that leaks are exceptionally unlikely unless there is some defect with door/window fitment and/or related seals.

I can CLOSELY relate a lot to this. My first car was a 92 Acura Integra and that had frameless windows that didn't leak. Coincidentally, I do the same with my 2001 Porsche 996 turbo and I've never had an issue with water leaking into that frameless window. In fact, I washed the two one right after the other. It was only when I was wiping the windows down inside did I notice the water droplets on the inner window.

I also washed our 2000 Excursion, 2012 Prius, and 2014 Odyssey that also are normally parked outside with orginal seals that don't leak any water when pressure washed.

I was just baffled when the service tech shared this information with me. It will definitely be going back to the service center with a screen capture of the pressuring washing directions in the manual.

 

[SASSquatch]

What total and complete ??!

Honestly, it's this kind of garbage that turns people against a company.

If you couldn't pressure wash your car, most touchless car washes would have been banned by now since they all use pressurized water.

Rivian needs to do better and stand by their customers who are shelling over $95K and dealing with this nonsense on top of it.

Tesla had LOTS of issues in the early days of the Model S and X but they took care of their customers (initially). Rivian should absolutely still be in the phase where they are taking care of these issues and not give people BS excuses.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I think this employee was talking out of his ass TBH. I can't believe this is the actual company line on leaky windows. For the record I have pressure washed and went through touchless car washes many, many times and have not had a leaky window. Nor would I accept that as a valid answer. Windows that are leak free are part of that warranty.

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