WFTV - Florida woman can't get out of bricked R1S for 45 min. PSA: check your emergency release access panels

[SurfnBike]

Pretty sure this person was driving from the front drivers seat, all of this discussion about the panel being removed from the rear door to pull the release does not even apply here.

In the front doors the handle is not hidden, as mentioned by @Donald Stanfield the manual release not only is not hidden on the front doors but is in such a standard location that his passenger used it instead of the electronic button. ??

To be fair on my Gen1 the driver's mechanical door release was all I used and it was chrome (instead of black on Gen2 which perfectly blends into the door panel). Also apparently I'm a "moron" because until today I never knew the Gen2 had a Tesla-like button to open the door, I always use the mechanical release because that's why I did with my Gen1.

I read a lot and I recall a story of a solider in Afghanistan who was under heavy fire from the Taliban and his 50cal jammed on him. To solve the problem he pulled out his multi-tool and got to work clearing the jam, then instead of putting the the tool back into it's pouch on his vest he threw the tool on the ground 15 feet away, and while under fire dismounted the humvee to retrieve it. When he got back on the gun he sent a few more rounds until the 50 jammed again. He repeated the process several more times, each time throwing the tool off into the dirt, only to immediately get off the weapon to retrieve it, exposing himself to enemy fire and reducing his rate of return fire dramatically. In a nutshell despite his training his brain was so overloaded with stress/adrenaline he couldn't handle malfunctions effectively.

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[BourboNole]

I hope the people complaining about the rear release being hidden never put anyone in the third row, there isn’t even a door there for those people to get out.

While I can see the cover all possible contingencies concern, this seems much ado about very little. The situations where the rear passengers would need to be able to utilize the hidden release in an emergency seem extremely limited, and its unfortunate to see some very negative publicity because someone was so mechanically disinclined they couldn't even find a back-up door handle in the standard location, much less RTFM.

 

[sfvR1S]

Didn't read all posts, but she was "trapped" inside because she didn't try to open the door?

 

[Donald Stanfield]

To be fair on my Gen1 the driver's mechanical door release was all I used and it was chrome (instead of black on Gen2 which perfectly blends into the door panel). Also apparently I'm a "moron" because until today I never knew the Gen2 had a Tesla-like button to open the door, I always use the mechanical release because that's why I did with my Gen1.

I read a lot and I recall a story of a solider in Afghanistan who was under heavy fire from the Taliban and his 50cal jammed on him. To solve the problem he pulled out his multi-tool and got to work clearing the jam, then instead of putting the the tool back into it's pouch on his vest he threw the tool on the ground 15 feet away, and while under fire dismounted the humvee to retrieve it. When he got back on the gun he sent a few more rounds until the 50 jammed again. He repeated the process several more times, each time throwing the tool off into the dirt, only to immediately get off the weapon to retrieve it, exposing himself to enemy fire and reducing his rate of return fire dramatically. In a nutshell despite his training his brain was so overloaded with stress/adrenaline he couldn't handle malfunctions effectively.

Who's to say that you could operate a door handle in an emergency like that and don't claw at the door with that same panic? I've read stories about people who couldn't get out of their burning car or car in water because they couldn't unbuckle their seat belts. Seat belts were functional but didn't have the motor control necessary to operate the mechanism. No one is calling for the elimination of seat belts because of that.

If we invent scenarios, we can create them that show a button is safer. What if you're disabled and have limited use of your hands? You have a modified seatbelt to accommodate it, but a button would be more manageable to open the door than a handle. We can make up any justification we want but the fact of the matter is if buttons were significantly more dangerous there would be data to support that.

 

[BourboNole]

Didn't read all posts, but she was "trapped" inside because she didn't try to open the door?

Basically, although in her mild defense the Gen 2 have push button doors, and it seems the door handle is now blacked out so it isn't immediately apparent. That said, much of these comments talk about emergency situations. This woman was able to call Rivian and go through diagnostics before calling 911, so it seems clear she never even tried. Also, Rivian support clearly needs to be trained better to ask, "did you try the door handle?"

 

[Donald Stanfield]

While I can see the cover all possible contingencies concern, this seems much ado about very little. The situations where the rear passengers would need to be able to utilize the hidden release in an emergency seem extremely limited, and its unfortunate to see some very negative publicity because someone was so mechanically disinclined they couldn't even find a back-up door handle in the standard location, much less RTFM.

I agree with you; this is a nonissue. That's why I mentioned the third row and the lack of access to a door. That is something most of the people here wouldn't give a second thought to, yet a mountain is being made out of this molehill over an access door in the second row. This lady who was "trapped" in her car and couldn't see the apparent pull handle is the sort of person why we need warning labels on bleach not to drink it.

There's a saying about idiot-proofing something: just when you think you've succeeded a bigger idiot than anticipated comes along and proves you wrong.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Everyone who thinks RTFM is an acceptable answer to emergency escape from a vehicle really make me wish I had gone into product liability law.....on the side of the victims of dangerous product design...

Gen 1 folks pull the door handle once and then accept their fate. Learned helplessness is a bitch.

 

[sfvR1S]

Basically, although in her mild defense the Gen 2 have push button doors, and it seems the door handle is now blacked out so it isn't immediately apparent. That said, much of these comments talk about emergency situations. This woman was able to call Rivian and go through diagnostics before calling 911, so it seems clear she never even tried. Also, Rivian support clearly needs to be trained better to ask, "did you try the door handle?"

It's like IT and "is the computer on?"

 

[BourboNole]

It's like IT and "is the computer on?"

This is actually my local news station so I saw this as soon as it was published and it made me think about the recent thread about the AI chatbot and how it could actually be beneficial in a situation like this. The panicked driver probably caused the support person to panic as well and skip over the easiest possible solution.

 

[SANZC02]

Basically, although in her mild defense the Gen 2 have push button doors, and it seems the door handle is now blacked out so it isn't immediately apparent. That said, much of these comments talk about emergency situations. This woman was able to call Rivian and go through diagnostics before calling 911, so it seems clear she never even tried. Also, Rivian support clearly needs to be trained better to ask, "did you try the door handle?"

The assumption is they were talking to Rivian support but it seems like they called 911, that seems to be the support they are talking about.

 

[BourboNole]

The assumption is they were talking to Rivian support but it seems like they called 911, that seems to be the support they are talking about.

They called Rivian support first who told them to call 911 at some point. I swear the version I initially read talked about the vehicle not responding to an attempt to reset but the article now says Rivian told the driver to press the SoS button and when that wouldn't work they told her to call 911.

 

[SDH]

Am i being dumb here becuase I've had my Rivian since 2022 and never seen and electronic door lock/open like a Tesla. It only has a manual handle. Pull twice if its already locked. How else would you get out??

 

[bfilippo]

Am i being dumb here becuase I've had my Rivian since 2022 and never seen and electronic door lock/open like a Tesla. It only has a manual handle. Pull twice if its already locked. How else would you get out??

Gen2 has buttons in addition to the manual pull, and in Gen2, the manual pull is the same color as the door, rather than chrome, as well as the accelerator/brake pedals, thereby making it, potentially, harder to notice. Since I already have a Tesla, it was pretty obvious to me and my fam, but having both does seem to cover the basis, design wise and safety wise.

I wonder if Rivian will have us Gen2 folks bring our trucks in to get the manual release chromed out, ha.

 

[CrazyOne]

Umm... if I'm 'trapped' in a vehicle (ICE or EV) with smoke coming into the cabin, you can bet your sweet bippie that my foot will smash a side window, and I'll climb/crawl out.

Car windows are extremely hard to break and most people won't be able to do it without any tools. Iirc, someone tried to do so with a hammer and it still wouldn't break. I carry emergency belt cutter/glass breaker in the car.

 

[R1Tom]

Gen2 has buttons in addition to the manual pull, and in Gen2, the manual pull is the same color as the door, rather than chrome, as well as the accelerator/brake pedals, thereby making it, potentially, harder to notice. Since I already have a Tesla, it was pretty obvious to me and my fam, but having both does seem to cover the basis, design wise and safety wise.

I wonder if Rivian will have us Gen2 folks bring our trucks in to get the manual release chromed out, ha.

Let's not forget the back seat passengers. G2 requires removal of a trim piece to get at the manual release. Going to need need more than chrome to fix that.

Maybe a big sticker on the rear seats so some Uber passenger doesn't die or family freind that hasn't been put thru the airline attendant speech prior to departure on how to escape a inferno.

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