Unavoided Tailgate Dent Episode

[bodoggy]

I have a 10 week new 2026 R1T that I inadvertently backed up into a hardened snow pile in a parking lot that unfortunately put a huge dent in the tailgate, right by the logo and below.
Two questions I’d like to throw out here:
1) I was told by the body shop that the tailgate sheet metal is made of aluminum. Is that a correct assessment?
2) why didn’t the emergency braking stop the vehicle from making contact when I was backing into the ice bank?

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[VandalSibs]

I have a 10 week new 2026 R1T that I inadvertently backed up into a hardened snow pile in a parking lot that unfortunately put a huge dent in the tailgate, right by the logo and below.
Two questions I’d like to throw out here:
1) I was told by the body shop that the tailgate sheet metal is made of aluminum. Is that a correct assessment?
2) why didn’t the emergency braking stop the vehicle from making contact when I was backing into the ice bank?

1. I believe so, but someone here most likely knows for sure.

2. To my knowledge, emergency braking is for forward motion only, not reverse. I just did a quick check of the owner's guide and that seems to be what it implies.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...e-welding-heat-cold-straightening-sema.20938/

Was the rear camera and center display not functional? or the park distance warnings (ultrasonic sensors)? Pending how crumpled the tailgate is, paintless dent removal might be a lower cost option.

 

[captainjp]

It’s aluminum. I had a PDR repair done recently and the guy was fantastic. You’re not far from me. If you’re interested in the guy I used, lmk. I’ll send his info over. Here are some before and afters of the work he did for me.

 

[mclark2112]

Wow, that's a great job!

I thought I read somewhere that the tailgate has a lot of plastic reinforcement inside, and makes it tough for PDR, but that is perfect.

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

Access on the aluminum tailgate is easy; the metal is the hard part. Aluminum doesn’t spring back like steel, so the tech has to shape it, and it work‑hardens fast, which limits clean pushes. That’s why glue pulls are standard on aluminum, and creases take more skill. Not impossible, just less forgiving.

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