Trouble in Paradise: Rivian Collision Repair in Hawaii (outer island)

[ttphhi]

Doesn't Oahu have a service center there? Have you looked at them and how much it would be to ship it to them?

Service Center not up and running yet. I'm told end of year so hopefully Q1 2025 (I work in construction and am a realist...)

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[jambaman84]

Service Center not up and running yet. I'm told end of year so hopefully Q1 2025 (I work in construction and am a realist...)

oh shoot! sorry about that!

 

[ttphhi]

oh shoot! sorry about that!

It is what it is. Anyone who has one in Hawaii should know the risk we're taking. It's obvious OP is taking this whole sad story very well.
One thing that surprised me was that Rivian told OP to ship the vehicle back to the mainland. That's absurd and I too would have hung up on them.....

 

[Riviot]

 

[Bklyn29]

Sorry for the unfortunate event. May seem easy to fix but looks like it might need a lot of calibrations ...camera's front sensors etc.

 

[shrink]

Red Skull ain’t bad, but her name is Pele and just like Kilauea she’ll be active again one day!

 

[NY_Rob]

Sorry @shrink.. that sucks!!

I can only imagine how you feel, heck I'm very nervous driving my R1T around here and we do have "certified" Rivian collision shops in the area.

Best wishes for a great outcome!!


PS.. you can always disconnect the 12V batt(s) from the vehicle, that will 100% kill VD right there/right then! You could probably let it sit in that state for a couple of years with no problems.

 

[shrink]

Quick update:

I'm pleased to report the shop manager came to my house last week, took pictures, and started working on an estimate. I then received an email this morning that the shop is now an approved Rivian vendor! I think that's different than Rivian certified collision center, which they are still pursuing.

Estimate is complete and has been submitted to insurance. They'll be ordering parts next week.

Bad news, however, is that I think I'm going to remove the matte wrap. The shop is going to have to paint the bumper and charge port door, then blend with the driver's side fender and front door. I wouldn't be able to re-apply a matte wrap for a couple months and while a stupid-looking two-tone paint is an improvement over its current appearance, the wrap material is STEK Dynomatte and there are no vendors for that material on island. I should have done more research on that.

I'm just relieved things are progressing with this repair!

 

[AlohaR1T]

Quick update:

I'm pleased to report the shop manager came to my house last week, took pictures, and started working on an estimate. I then received an email this morning that the shop is now an approved Rivian vendor! I think that's different than Rivian certified collision center, which they are still pursuing.

Estimate is complete and has been submitted to insurance. They'll be ordering parts next week.

Bad news, however, is that I think I'm going to remove the matte wrap. The shop is going to have to paint the bumper and charge port door, then blend with the driver's side fender and front door. I wouldn't be able to re-apply a matte wrap for a couple months and while a stupid-looking two-tone paint is an improvement over its current appearance, the wrap material is STEK Dynomatte and there are no vendors for that material on island. I should have done more research on that.

I'm just relieved things are progressing with this repair!

Great to hear you found a shop. I'm waiting for a shop on Maui willing to repair Rivian's.

 

[shrink]

9 week update:

Repair progress has hit some speed bumps. The shop in Kona was having trouble ordering parts despite being an approved Rivian vendor. I was told there were some discrepancies in the parts diagrams and some parts could only be ordered by certified Rivian Collisions Centers. The shop was unable to contact anyone at Rivian for support and asked me to reach out as an owner.

I basically blasted emails to contacts I have at the local service center in Phoenix, the general customer service email, and the after sales support email, which is for 3rd party vendors.

Folks at my local SC here in Phoenix were able to facilitate and the shop now FINALLY has a point of contact directly with Rivian and they are "navigating" the parts ordering "obstacles." I was told just a couple days ago they hope to have the parts ordered s00n.

By the time the order is placed and the parts finally arrive in Hawaii, I'm guessing we'll be into early 2025.

At this rate, I'm hoping the repair will be done 6 months from the initial accident, or 3/1/2025, but I unfortunately can see it taking even longer.

I knew a collision repair would take a while especially in Hawaii. However, I do hope my trials and tribulations will help pave the way for quicker repairs via an established and certified local repair shop on island for current and future Big Island Rivian owners.

 

[shrink]

4-month (and 9 day) update:

Parts have FINALLY arrived at the repair shop in Kona. I will be having my R1S towed into the shop early in the week of Monday, 1/13/2025.

Estimated completion date is 2/1/2025, but I'm sure there will be hiccups. Apparently, Rivian won't let the shop touch the charge port door that needs to be repaired so they will be sending some mobile techs from Oahu when the time comes to complete that aspect of the repair.

I knew this process would suck, but I'm glad repairs will FINALLY be starting. I miss driving the car on island and am very excited to get it back on the road (and off-road). Also hoping this process will make future collision repairs easier for the growing number of Rivian owners on the Big Island! Seeing more and more of them every time I'm there.

Huge Mahalo to Kraftsman Auto Body for all their efforts so far!

https://www.kraftsmanautobody.com/

Hope to post a final update on this in a few weeks.

 

[Tecumseh]

It is what it is. Anyone who has one in Hawaii should know the risk we're taking. It's obvious OP is taking this whole sad story very well.
One thing that surprised me was that Rivian told OP to ship the vehicle back to the mainland. That's absurd and I too would have hung up on them.....

This has little to do with Hawaii. On the mainland, Rivian still hasn’t shipped replacement doors for my Rivian and it has been three months since the auto body shop took it in.

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