Just fix the software

[freshpow]

Yeah Fords software is pretty crappy. But CarPlay made it great lol. Won’t go down that rabbit hole with the latest RJ comments.

there are things that I like with the R1S. The faster L3 charging and the HVAC controls in the app with those updates being a couple. Price point bothers me the most with my issues. I still feel it’s a massively overpriced car

Why, on earth, would you ever buy a vehicle that you feel is “massively overpriced”?

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[ndmiller]

First of all the software while innovative and cure, is still buggy as hell. I've dealt with the issues, but they are still there. For me recently Apple Music will play a couple songs and stop, so for the last week I have to hit play twice to get it to restart playing. I've done the remedies and will just wait for the next update to fix it, even though the last update broke it.

They need some beta testers that aren't focused on being social media content creators. Send it out to 50 people for a week and you'll test it fine. Kyle (sorry) and a few other unnamed people are doing a pretty lousy job of catching bugs in new releases.

Halloween mode, all the cute animations and Gary are great but simple stuff needs to work properly.

 

[Time2Roll]

You should check out the software issues with the Lucid Gravity. Now THAT is something worth complaining about.

Don't get me started with the Jaguar I-Pace software. Rivian is a dream by comparison.

Yes a few quirks but all is good.

 

[PaythePiper]

Why, on earth, would you ever buy a vehicle that you feel is “massively overpriced”?

Happy wife happy life my man

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

I haven’t read every post, but after nearly 44 months of ownership, my R1T feels more refined today than when it was new. Sure, it’s had a few quirks and challenges along the way, but this is the first vehicle I’ve ever owned that’s actually improved over time, and that deserves a lot of credit.

 

[SwaziCAR]

In 22 months of ownership, I think I've done two hard resets and one infotainment reset. Touch screen is a half-second slow. Other than that, no software complaints.

 

[seanocono]

If you've driven any vehicle other than Tesla in 2025, you will see how difficult software is to implement in modern vehicles. Rivian software is the second best out there. It could be a lot worse...

 

[Great Gatsby]

If you've driven any vehicle other than Tesla in 2025, you will see how difficult software is to implement in modern vehicles. Rivian software is the second best out there. It could be a lot worse...

Tesla is the sole S tier software. Rivian is probably a B. Everyone else is comfortably fighting for C for best case scenario or just hanging out in F tier with Carplay to stop people from rioting.

 

[md2023]

Sorry to hear others are having software issues. After 2 1/2 years, I really haven't had any. I've done maybe 1 or 2 hard resets, 1 or 2 soft but honestly can't remember. It just hasn't been an issue for me. I'd like voice to text, but it's not a big deal.

 

[McLovin]

I guess I get the luxury of having been a software engineer and knowing that what you all think should be easy to fix and “just do it” stuff is never that easy.

This. People often misunderstand what goes into software design, and in many cases, you're trying to "work around" something that is entirely out of your control. Many components in the R1 are provided by 3rd party manufacturers, and they (Rivian developers) are dealing w/ multiple APIs, versions of motors/controllers/etc. and other changing issues.

I cannot tell you the number of times I've read things here to the effect of "just fix it! how hard can it be?", and I'm in the middle to debugging something on my project that, on the surface, should be simple. But I'm dealing with the the 1% edge case that ends up requiring 10-12 fixes up the chain, which could possibly break something else.

I've had my R1T for 14 months, and have had minimal software issues. Every one of them can be categorized as a "minor inconvenience". And I've had the same number of issues w/ my last 4 (and wife's current) Audis. In fact, there's an issue in the A5 Cabrio that is over 2 years old (won't remember display settings). I ask every time I have it in for service. No fix is in the works. At least Rivian is continuing to push updates.

Oh, and on the updates...do people here realize how complex it is providing remote updates to your software? The amount of testing you need to do to ensure you don't brick everyone's vehicle? Managing different versions of all the modules to ensure they are all compatible? I'm fairly certain software companies such as Microsoft, Apple, and Google all had issues pushing updates to their hardware over the years (just search for "ios update breaks phone"), and they have 100% total control over the hardware.

 

[AYAYRON]

If they're obviously aware of it then why does it persist? It shows a lack of management and focus when they're rolling out buggy new features and the legacy systems still don't work.

I get that this is a Rivian forum and saying negative things won't be well received but to say "oh I'm sure the software devs never thought of it" just excuses the fact that things aren't working.

I work in the tech field. Having a car constantly run like beta software is not something to hand wave and say "it's minor bugs" or make up glib and dismissive rhymes. In most other cars I can press a physical button and turn a dial to get music. Or I can use my phone to navigate (which is what I'm forced to do anyway). In a Rivian it's a random event if something is going to work.

If all I wanted was a car that moved forward and backward I would not have purchased a Rivian. These inconveniences aren't minor- as you put it- these problems with the software are a hinderance to the brand and the overall value proposition of Rivian vice other competition.

To be fair they haven’t done much in the way of adding features at least to the gen 1 for many updates, also to be fair they haven’t done anything to improve the buggy software . Lose lose

 

[BCondrey]

It’s so interesting to read takes like yours. Because I’ve had my R1S almost a year and have never had any of the problems you mention.
I’ll be the first one to admit there is still plenty of room for improvement, but for as advanced and data-heavy as the software is in a Rivian, it performs quite well.

When was the last time you did a full vehicle restart? I know it’s not a solve-all but it’s good to occasionally restart electronic and software based devices. Even a MacBook glitches from time to time.

This is my experience too. I get accused of being a fan-boy, but I have had almost no software issues. Usually when the truck does something I don't expect it is because I don't have something set right, or I don't understand the way it is supposed to work. The maps and nav are 100% better now. I have a ton more features than in 2022. My updates have been smooth. I don't understand how with similar vehicles the experiences can be so dissimilar.

 

[kanundrum]

I haven’t read every post, but after nearly 44 months of ownership, my R1T feels more refined today than when it was new. Sure, it’s had a few quirks and challenges along the way, but this is the first vehicle I’ve ever owned that’s actually improved over time, and that deserves a lot of credit.

This, 3+ years with my R1S and the software back then was rough AF compared to now. It takes time for fine tuning but at least for my basic needs Ive had 0 issues

 

[SoCal Rob]

I've really hit my wall with the Rivian software.

I don't care about the Carplay arguments. I like Carplay and I understand why it's not a perfect fit for Rivian. This isn't about that.

There's no reason in late 2025 for a car that has been in production for a few years now to continue to have these basic software problems. This morning I get in my R1S and all of my Sirius favorites are gone - no history, no favorites, nothing.

things like this happen all the time. The car will forget my contacts. I'll have to reconnect a bluetooth device. It will log out of audio services. The maps will lock up and I can't enter a destination on the screen.

Stuff like this over and over and over and over. Why am I rebooting a car like it's Windows XP?

Fucking fix your shit Wassym or the folks at Rivian need a new software lead dev. Instead of a Gary that changes faces in the energy screen, how about audio that actually works when I start the car? Or how about stopping the random "internet connection slow" disconnections when I'm in the middle of a city with full cellular signal?

I'm not asking for new services like FSD, or super deluxe hands free driving, or any of that. I'm just asking for the most basic of shit that is supposed to work to actually work.

/rant

At the risk of adding a potentially useful suggestion after reading through 5 pages: Have you taken it in for service? I’ve had 2 Rivians so far and neither has had the issues you describe. From what I’ve read here, most people aren’t reporting the same issues you’re experiencing. This makes me think that there may be a hardware problem with your vehicle. I’d capture the behavior in pics and/or video and get it in for service.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Why, on earth, would you ever buy a vehicle that you feel is “massively overpriced”?

His wife has better tastes than he. Well, in vehicles, at least.

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