The Truth About Reliability

[Rade]

LOL! Yes, I got suckered into the Rivian IPO back in the day, and just watched the stock plummet... buy hey, I still bought an R1T (2nd Gen). Not quite a month in and I still feel is is the best vehicle I have ever owned.

We watched Rivian over the past 4 or so years. I like the company and I like what I read and watched online about the product line. No doubt that Rivian will be around for a long time.

Sponsored

 

[SparkyR1t]

If an ICE 12V dies you jump it then the alternator lets you drive to parts store for easy install of fresh battery. No tow/turtle. No Comparison. My primary RIV complaint. It doesn't have to be this way.

I would be OK if Rivian just shared the correct replacement procedure for the battery or batteries and a direct supplier. As you can tell from the many posts on this forum many of us are skilled mechanics, engineers, technicians and want to be able to perform our own basic repairs. Why so “ close to the vest” with basic repair procedures and the diagnostic software.

 

[LL75]

+1 for sucker in IPO stock. Owner of two rivians and loving both cars!!

 

[R1Tom]

+1 for sucker in IPO stock. Owner of two rivians and loving both cars!!

Me too! But just one Rivian so far. But all of my early order pricing was lost and then some on that IPO. But it's been fun anyway.

 

[R1Tom]

I would be OK if Rivian just shared the correct replacement procedure for the battery or batteries and a direct supplier. As you can tell from the many posts on this forum many of us are skilled mechanics, engineers, technicians and want to be able to perform our own basic repairs. Why so “ close to the vest” with basic repair procedures and the diagnostic software.

This! If I have one dislike it is what happens when a 12v fails and what has to happen to get it back operational. I want to be able to run to a retail battery or auto supply store, buy a couple batteries, swap them, and be on my way.

 

[Rade]

Hey, folks... not to point out the, well, obvious, but there are instructions in the Owner's Manual on how to jump start the Rivian 12v system if the battery is dead...

That from: https://assets.ctfassets.net/2md5qh...1408aa4945370d/r1t-og-my25-en-us-20241112.pdf

Or in kinder Naval terms, Read The Fine Manual.

Just a friendly suggestion...

I actually keep the PDF of the Owner's Manual on my phone just in case I need to look up something.

 

[jwanderson88]

The guy who was sent to tow my truck to Salt Lake was instructed by the service center not to try to jump the car. They didn't explain why. So it isn't quite as simple as that.

 

[raylepper]

The guy who was sent to tow my truck to Salt Lake was instructed by the service center not to try to jump the car. They didn't explain why. So it isn't quite as simple as that.

Can you tell us what the failure was that you experienced? Were you able to unlock the vehicle? Was the vehicle dragged onto the flat bed with the wheels not rolling (in neutral)?

 

[renderpaz]

I just want to pile on here and say with a 2022 R1T, with the usual issues, it has never prevented or even disrupted a single trip. I've also had positive service experiences (in LA!). Folks on these forums need to realize that 95% of Rivian owners don't even know about this website, and a good number find it, not because they are enthusiasts brimming with joy, but because they are (understandably at times) frustrated.

Their issues are real, but its not a realistic picture of the ownership experience - which is why Rivian just topped the charts for customer satisfaction.

 

[R1Tom]

Hey, folks... not to point out the, well, obvious, but there are instructions in the Owner's Manual on how to jump start the Rivian 12v system if the battery is dead...

That from: https://assets.ctfassets.net/2md5qh...1408aa4945370d/r1t-og-my25-en-us-20241112.pdf

Or in kinder Naval terms, Read The Fine Manual.

Just a friendly suggestion...

I actually keep the PDF of the Owner's Manual on my phone just in case I need to look up something.

I couldn't find the part about how to get into the vehicle if the 12v battery shorted out? The leads then won't work with any form of jump attempt.

How do you get into the passenger cabin in a G2 to get at the battery under the passenger seat in that case?

I know how to get at the batteries in G1 with the hidden frunk cord....but in G2 how do you get into cabin? TFM doesn't seem to cover that.

 

[jwanderson88]

The driver didn't try to unlock the vehicle. It was locked up tight. He dragged it backwards onto the flatbed with the rear wheels not rolling. The front wheels were rolling. Like I said, the driver was instructed not to try to jump the battery or enter the vehicle. He wasn't a Rivian tech, just a random tow truck driver.

 

[raylepper]

The driver didn't try to unlock the vehicle. It was locked up tight. He dragged it backwards onto the flatbed with the rear wheels not rolling. The front wheels were rolling. Like I said, the driver was instructed not to try to jump the battery or enter the vehicle. He wasn't a Rivian tech, just a random tow truck driver.

It will be interesting to know what the failure was and if that failure was such that there was no point in trying to jump the 12v system. And, if that's the case, how did Rivian Tech know that 'remotely.'

 

[Zoidz]

I couldn't find the part about how to get into the vehicle if the 12v battery shorted out? The leads then won't work with any form of jump attempt.

How do you get into the passenger cabin in a G2 to get at the battery under the passenger seat in that case?

I know how to get at the batteries in G1 with the hidden frunk cord....but in G2 how do you get into cabin? TFM doesn't seem to cover that.

Maybe that's why the sunroof glass is easy to break?

 

[R1Tom]

Maybe that's why the sunroof glass is easy to break?

Ah! I get it! Like "a squirrel fell from the heavens and broke the sunroof" approach. I like it!

 

[ThirteenElectrics]

Yesterday I noticed a mismatched panel gap in my R1T I hadn't noticed before. Similarly, the car was delivered with a small dent. My R1S was delivered with a missing interior door handle guard. The R1S before that had the A pillar trim pop off.

I didn't realize all of this was due to the fact that the car is an EV. I guess the battery and motor somehow magically makes all these non-EV parts defective. I hope the EV magic doesn't eventually get to my 12V battery, a technology that has existed since 1971.

Sponsored