Key fob is crap

[WSea]

No problems here. I use the fob for proximity open and close...though in crowded parking lots, I usually lock manually.

Same but don’t use often

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[elektrode]

The FOB seems to be performing more poorly lately. I switched to FOB because PAAK reliability - lack thereof - was driving me nuts.

One morning last week, I tried to unlock my truck from my front door with the FOB and pressed unlock no fewer than 24 times as I walked towards the truck. Reached the door clicking unlock defiantly and then the door proximity unlocked.

They’ve done something to make the trucks sleep harder I think.

Minimum if I want to unlock with FOB I have to press once to wake the truck then at least another time to actually unlock.

This all seems to have happened the last two months. Settings says the FOB battery is in the green.

 

[Throwdown]

The reasons for these types of issues are strictly due to them putting more and more things into deep sleep saying it helps with the drain but mine still like clockwork loses 1kwh every 12 hours. My key proximity works great though, I have it off at home and don't lock the truck in my garage.

 

[NY_Rob]

Are you sure it's pressing the button or is it just standing in that spot? I'll give it a try. I didn't think pressing the button did anything unless the car was unlocked. I could be wrong. I'm new to this.

It seems pressing the gear guard door unlock button triggers something that starts the wake up sequence. I was skeptical when I first read about this "trick", but after having used it for half a year now I can say it actually works most of the time.

 

[Singletracker]

Heck, my fob seems to work fine. For locking and unlocking, it’s better than the phone. With the fob, the truck unlocks as I‘m approaching. With the phone, I’m practically reaching for the door handle before it unlocks. Personally, if I didn’t want the phone to listen to music, I would use the fob exclusively, and forget the phone. I’m still hoping for the watch as a key. I did see a notice that the fob battery was low. I’ve only had the truck a month. Don’t know how long the battery has been around prior to delivery.

 

[R1TS]

If you're camping, etc. and leave a door open, it drains the 12v battery very fast.
The worst part is that it bricks the car. You can't jump start it. It needs to be towed to the dealer to revive it.

Hey, you’re talking about the Rivian.
Did you miss all the posts of needing a tow due to 12V drain?

Does the NFC card work reliably?

The card does work well to unlock the doors. But, it still takes time to wake the car up. So, you’re standing there holding the card on the handle for a good amount of time. Looks a little silly to others walking by.

However, I seem to have a very hard time starting the car by just using the card. For some reason, I just can’t seem to get the truck to recognize the key card when sitting inside. I’m very certain I have it right where the picture instruction says to do so.

 

[LevelHeaded]

Agree completely. This was another one of those things that didn’t need to be re-engineered.

Every other manufacturer under the sun manages to provide customers a mechanism through which they can reliably and instantly lock/unlock (not to mention many other functions) from a distance and/or on a passive/proximity basis.

But Rivian can’t. And it probably won’t improve without a hardware revision; these have been on sale for well over a year and there’s been no magic software update to fix it, despite being a complaint since pre-production reviews were out

I don’t think they support the standard keyless entry frequencies/technologies that have been in use for decades without issue; I think they force it all to go over Bluetooth.

 

[PBRAZ]

Agree completely. This was another one of those things that didn’t need to be re-engineered.

Every other manufacturer under the sun manages to provide customers a mechanism through which they can reliably and instantly lock/unlock (not to mention many other functions) from a distance and/or on a passive/proximity basis.

But Rivian can’t. And it probably won’t improve without a hardware revision; these have been on sale for well over a year and there’s been no magic software update to fix it, despite being a complaint since pre-production reviews were out

I don’t think they support the standard keyless entry frequencies/technologies that have been in use for decades without issue; I think they force it all to go over Bluetooth.

This. The decision to use Bluetooth was a failure and will not be resolved via software update due to the limitations of the technology itself. Plenty of other proximity and non-proximity technoligies in use that are secure and work 100% of the time. It should not be this hard to lock and unlock your car and it's the one thing you need to be confident of.

 

[iBang]

In 8 months I’ve owned I’ve never had the occasion to even use my fob. PAK all the way here.

I have to do valet parking twice a day. It's very inconvenient to use PaK for that so I carry keyfob in my pocket all the time. The valent parking attendant sometimes gets puzzled when they can't open the car with keyfob at first try. I agree with the original post that lock/unlock operation needs to be more robust and seamless like all other car brands.

 

[NY_Rob]

The card does work well to unlock the doors. <snip> However, I seem to have a very hard time starting the car by just using the card. For some reason, I just can’t seem to get the truck to recognize the key card when sitting inside. I’m very certain I have it right where the picture instruction says to do so.

Had the same locating issue the the wristband, so when I finally located the exact point on the driver door panel where the wristband needs to be to start the R1T I marked it with a pencil tip dot then placed an adhesive backed paper dot over that. Now I have no problem locating the start location on the panel.

 

[Stack]

Wireless devices like key fobs have a certain number of failures for various reasons. Range is a big one. If you're too far away they don't work. Then there is objects which are in the way, like walls, that block the signal. So I make allowances for my Rivian key fob. But there is a line where the failure rate just isn't acceptable and my Rivian key fob has been over the line for a long time. Maybe always. I can be standing ten feet away and I push the lock or unlock button and nothing happens. Then I face the truck and "point" the key fob at the truck (what is the front or back of it?) and it might open on the second or third try. I know that sometimes the truck takes a few seconds to "wake up" and then it will lock or unlock the doors. I have a Chevy Volt and Honda Ridgeline. I imagine all Chevy/GM and all Honda key fobs l have the same mechanism and they always respond to the key fob almost instantly. So what is going on with the Rivian key fob (I just put a new battery in it)? It seems one of the updates was supposed to improve the response of the key fob, but it still isn't good enough for a top-of-the-line truck. Is there any Rivian owner who feels like their key fob works like it's supposed to?

THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!! My frustration with the FOB and PAAK is getting worse. I seriously almost got mugged one night in a parking ramp because the f$&@ing doors would unlock. This is ridiculous, uncalled for and very unsafe. This isn’t new technology and every other car manufacturer does it well, so there is no excuse. Definitely feel better knowing this isn’t just my truck, so maybe Rivian will get this fixed…

 

[defcon888]

THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!! My frustration with the FOB and PAAK is getting worse. I seriously almost got mugged one night in a parking ramp because the f$&@ing doors would unlock. This is ridiculous, uncalled for and very unsafe. This isn’t new technology and every other car manufacturer does it well, so there is no excuse. Definitely feel better knowing this isn’t just my truck, so maybe Rivian will get this fixed…

Glad you weren't mugged.

Is the PaaK not connecting?. I park about 200 yards away from my truck at work. I am able to vent the windows, open the frunk (if I want too) etc. from my desk. Have you tried using the app and testing how far it will open? Go to a Walmart or a big lot and walk a distance...test....walk further.....test.

 

[defcon888]

I have to do valet parking twice a day. It's very inconvenient to use PaK for that so I carry keyfob in my pocket all the time. The valent parking attendant sometimes gets puzzled when they can't open the car with keyfob at first try. I agree with the original post that lock/unlock operation needs to be more robust and seamless like all other car brands.

We went to Disneyland and had our R1T valeted. We gave them the Keycard and they had no issue at all. I asked if they knew how to do it and they informed me that they did. I forgot that on the back of the keycard is an illustration. We have the FOB hanging up in the house....never have used it.

 

[vordo]

My R1T is in the service center and this is one of my issues. long and short of it is what is described is within spec and should get better with updates over time.

In other words we’re stuck with this shitty behavior. I too am waiting for the watch complication as my phone works constantly (though not as PAKK).

 

[AlanP]

I’m not a fan of mine. Slow as shit, inconsistent in response, have to be close for buttons to work, have to use the push buttons bc it doesn’t proximity unlock until I get to the door and do the “hingle mcringleberry” three pelvic thrusts towards the door handle.

My 2019 ram key fob was better for sure.

Mine was similarly awful. A trip to the service center, new fob and reprogramming and it works fine now. Now if they could only reduce the 90+ days to get a service appointment…….

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