Rivian R1S Gen1

Four Bosch-designed permanent magnet AC motors, one per wheel, 623 kW combined. Each pair — front 309 kW / 560 N·m, rear 310 kW / 671 N·m — runs through separate ZF single-speed gearboxes. True per-wheel torque vectoring with millisecond slip detection: the system reads each wheel independently and redistributes torque before a slide develops, not after. No center diff, no Torsen, no transfer case — the software is the drivetrain. Early 12V auxiliary battery was the chronic failure point: constant system wakefulness drained it overnight, stranding owners. Addressed via OTA deep-sleep mode in 2023 and service campaign RCA-26-24-002-1. Drive unit failure rate (~12% per owner polls) is the unavoidable asterisk — Bosch motors, gearboxes, and inverters come as a sealed assembly, replacement costs $4,000–12,000. Covered under 8-year/175,000-mile powertrain warranty. Gen1 trucks from 2021–2022 carry the most early-production exposure.

• !! Drive unit failure — Quad Motor from 50,000 km

  Forum polls document roughly 12% drive unit failure rate among Gen1 Quad Motor owners. Bosch-supplied motors, gearboxes, and inverters come as a complete assembly — Rivian replaces the whole package. Turnaround 1-2 weeks, loaner provided. Covered under 8-year/175,000-mile powertrain warranty. Multiple owners report needing a second replacement of the same unit.

  Symptoms: Warning message on display, speed limited to 40-42 mph, loss of power on one axle
  4,000–12,000 $
  Ad Rivian drive unit replacement R1TRivian rear drive unit Gen1Rivian motor assembly R1
• !! 12V auxiliary battery parasitic drain from 30,000 km

  Primarily affects 2021-2023 builds. The 12V battery drained overnight due to constant system wakefulness, leaving owners with a dead vehicle in the morning. Rivian addressed this in 2023 via OTA update (deep sleep mode) and service campaign RCA-26-24-002-1 (proactive battery replacement). Aftermarket fix: Ohmmu lithium 12V battery. Replacement cost $150-500.

  Symptoms: Vehicle won't start after parking overnight, 12V dead despite full main battery, low voltage warning
  150–500 $
  Ad Rivian 12V auxiliary batteryOhmmu lithium 12V R1TRivian low voltage battery replacement
• ! High-voltage battery long-term degradation

  Early owner reports show modest single-digit percentage degradation after 60,000-80,000 miles — unremarkable for a young vehicle. Samsung 2170 cells in the Max pack (149 kWh). Full pack replacement is extremely expensive and rarely needed. Routine charging to 80-90% extends longevity. No widespread battery pack failures documented.

  Symptoms: Gradually decreasing displayed maximum range, reduced charge rate at high or low state of charge
  18,000–35,000 $
  Ad Rivian battery pack R1TRivian HV battery R1 149kWh

Two Rivian-designed Enduro motors — a 3-in-1 integrated unit combining rotor, stator, and inverter in a single housing. Rear unit uses a 13.7:1 gear ratio (vs. front 11:1) to bias torque rearward under load. The key engineering difference from Gen1 Quad: the Enduro has an integrated disconnect mechanism that decouples the front motor from the drivetrain during highway cruising. Back-EMF drag eliminated, efficiency up ~6–7%. Under 20 mph the front stays engaged for traction; above that, single-rear-motor unless throttle demand pulls it back. Silicon carbide power electronics on the front inverter add another 3.5% range improvement. Result: 352 miles EPA vs. the Quad's 328 — same chassis, more usable range. Dual Performance software unlock raises output to 496 kW without hardware changes. Drive unit failures less common than Gen1 Quad. 12V drain issue present in attenuated form.

• !! Drive unit failure — Dual Motor from 65,000 km

  Less common than Quad Motor but documented. Same replacement process — complete unit swap. Identical symptom pattern: dashboard warning, speed restriction. Covered under warranty.

  Symptoms: Drivetrain warning, power reduction, speed limitation
  4,000–12,000 $
  Ad Rivian dual motor drive unitRivian Enduro motor replacement
• !! 12V auxiliary battery drain from 30,000 km

  Attenuated version of the Quad Motor issue. 2023 OTA patch resolved most cases. Service campaign RCA-26-24-002-1 proactively replaces the battery.

  Symptoms: Vehicle won't start, dead 12V battery
  150–500 $
  Ad Rivian 12V battery replacement dual motor
• ! High-voltage battery long-term degradation

  Same battery technology as Quad Motor. More efficient operation under lighter loads may slightly slow degradation. No specific battery pack failures documented.

  Symptoms: Gradually decreasing maximum range, reduced charging rate
  18,000–35,000 $
  Ad Rivian battery pack R1T dual motor

Two Rivian-designed Enduro motors — a 3-in-1 integrated unit combining rotor, stator, and inverter in a single housing. Rear unit uses a 13.7:1 gear ratio (vs. front 11:1) to bias torque rearward under load. The key engineering difference from Gen1 Quad: the Enduro has an integrated disconnect mechanism that decouples the front motor from the drivetrain during highway cruising. Back-EMF drag eliminated, efficiency up ~6–7%. Under 20 mph the front stays engaged for traction; above that, single-rear-motor unless throttle demand pulls it back. Silicon carbide power electronics on the front inverter add another 3.5% range improvement. Result: 352 miles EPA vs. the Quad's 328 — same chassis, more usable range. Dual Performance software unlock raises output to 496 kW without hardware changes. Drive unit failures less common than Gen1 Quad. 12V drain issue present in attenuated form.

• !! Drive unit failure — Dual Motor from 65,000 km

  Less common than Quad Motor but documented. Same replacement process — complete unit swap. Identical symptom pattern: dashboard warning, speed restriction. Covered under warranty.

  Symptoms: Drivetrain warning, power reduction, speed limitation
  4,000–12,000 $
  Ad Rivian dual motor drive unitRivian Enduro motor replacement
• !! 12V auxiliary battery drain from 30,000 km

  Attenuated version of the Quad Motor issue. 2023 OTA patch resolved most cases. Service campaign RCA-26-24-002-1 proactively replaces the battery.

  Symptoms: Vehicle won't start, dead 12V battery
  150–500 $
  Ad Rivian 12V battery replacement dual motor
• ! High-voltage battery long-term degradation

  Same battery technology as Quad Motor. More efficient operation under lighter loads may slightly slow degradation. No specific battery pack failures documented.

  Symptoms: Gradually decreasing maximum range, reduced charging rate
  18,000–35,000 $
  Ad Rivian battery pack R1T dual motor