How do you manually open the rear doors on a Gen2?

[mikehmb]

While I don't expect to need it, I'd like to know how to escape the rear seat if the power is cut.

Manual says to remove the panel next to the handle, but is that a destructive removal, or is there some sort of way to easily take it off? Because I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do it in a way that isn't blowing up lots of clips.

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[ElGuano]

You have it right. You have to tear off the panel. It's "destructive" in that doing so breaks off a bunch of one-use clips. So to get the panel back on, you need to bring the car in to service.

You cannot remove it non-destructively to test it or familiarize yourself/demo the function. I asked this specifically of my delivery specialist when I picked up my R1T.

 

[mikehmb]

ok thanks. The manual is not remotely descriptive, and I shot myself in the foot by telling the delivery specialist that this is my 2nd Rivian so I'll be able to figure everything out ...

 

[usulio]

It should come with a safety information card for the seat back pocket. But at least for new riders in your R1 you should play them an instructional video.

 

[Zoidz]

I don't have a Gen 2 but when I heard about this mess when Gen 2 came out, I was deeply disappointed in RJ and Rivian engineering. It's a terrible decision. I'm generally not in favor of over regulation by government but IMO it should be law that manual handles must be exposed.

The government forced manufacturers to add a visible safety release handle in the trunks of cars but not in the back seat where kids sit ..... really?

 

[socaladam]

While I don't expect to need it, I'd like to know how to escape the rear seat if the power is cut.

Manual says to remove the panel next to the handle, but is that a destructive removal, or is there some sort of way to easily take it off? Because I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do it in a way that isn't blowing up lots of clips.

you don’t.

Escape is through the front doors. Service explained this to me after I noted there was no rear interior door handles.

Another item I wish I knew before buying the R1S.

 

[socaladam]

I don't have a Gen 2 but when I heard about this mess when Gen 2 came out, I was deeply disappointed in RJ and Rivian engineering. It's a terrible decision. I'm generally not in favor of over regulation by government but IMO it should be law that manual handles must be exposed.

The government forced manufacturers to add a visible safety release handle in the trunks of cars but not in the back seat where kids sit ..... really?

I’m 100% with you here. Especially when the only method to exit is to destructively access the emergency pull. Which no one but an adult male is going to be able to do.

Imagine your toddler, young child, or grandparent trying to get out of a burning EV under extreme stress.

This is a huge miss IMO.

 

[Wat5]

One of the reasons we bought a Gen 1 R1S instead of waiting for the R2. Absolutely braindead decision making by Rivian here.

 

[jerseyff]

Passengers can barely find the normal back door release on my Gen 1 R1T, cant imagine them being able to find anything that's far less visible.

 

[Dark-Fx]

The government forced manufacturers to add a visible safety release handle in the trunks of cars but not in the back seat where kids sit ..... really?

Well, child locks are legal, can't be overridden by the handles. I'd think this emergency release still would though, so perhaps we're actually in a safer situation than otherwise?

My 5 year old son has no chance of opening the door at all if the vehicle is tipped up such that the weight of the door has to be manipulated to exit, anyway.

 

[csharp]

you don’t.

Escape is through the front doors. Service explained this to me after I noted there was no rear interior door handles.

Another item I wish I knew before buying the R1S.

This is not true. There IS a manual handle in the rear 2 doors and it IS designed to allow escape should power be cut. Check out page 447 in the manual.

 

[socaladam]

This is not true. There IS a manual handle in the rear 2 doors and it IS designed to allow escape should power be cut. Check out page 447 in the manual.

and as I said before, you expect a young child to have the strength or presence of mind in an emergency to be capable of performing this action?

 

[ElGuano]

Just a note, we had this massive thread that went into some detail on the subject.

Having examined the trim panels on my Gen2, I know that no one in my entire extended family other than myself would be able to pry off the panels in a pinch. My in-laws, who have a Model S that has an accessible emergency release (no panel removal required) still cannot even pull the braided cable mechanism. I added a pull-tab keyring to the mechanism so that they have more leverage.

 

[iansriv]

there's always this:

Nobody

 

[csharp]

and as I said before, you expect a young child to have the strength or presence of mind in an emergency to be capable of performing this action?

You actually didnt say that before? Neither the OP nor you mentioned kids being capable to open the emergency release.
You also specifically posted false information saying "you don't" escape the rear seat and instead have to "escape through the front door"

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