Bricked Displays, Oily Smudges, and Absent Functions: A Rivian Owner’s Annoying Service Experience | Carscoops
As a product, the Rivian R1T impressed its owner; however, when problems arose, the service experience made it difficult to maintain that enthusiasm.
On August 30, 2025, Stephen Rivers reported that a Rivian R1T owner had his truck towed after the screens went dark and attempts to reset them failed. The service center replaced the battery and modules, but the owner was left with new issues. This incident underscores the growing pains of the EV startup, even as other Rivian drivers share positive experiences.
Owning a new car should be an exciting experience, and purchasing one from a newer manufacturer can amplify that excitement due to the innovative features typically offered. For one Rivian owner, however, the overall experience has turned bittersweet.
His account, shared in two Reddit posts, illustrates the difficulties that customers face when supporting a new automaker. It also shows how unreliable service can tarnish an otherwise excellent product.
The first problem arose when the owner entered his R1T to find the screens unresponsive. No reset methods worked, leaving the truck essentially a large, shiny, expensive paperweight. "I love this truck, it’s amazing," he lamented, "but these frustrating problems that keep occurring are making it hard to maintain my affection."
**Service Setbacks**
After being towed, Rivian’s service center replaced the 12-volt battery, exchanged a defective AXM module, and flushed the coolant. The owner picked up the truck days later, optimistic that the issues were resolved. However, he quickly realized he was mistaken; he faced additional problems before even leaving the service center, including 'greasy fingerprints' on the interior and dirty floor mats.
The primary concern was that his Apple CarPlay was no longer functional. He attempted to log out and back in, but nothing worked. Additionally, the driver’s traffic visualization system was inoperable, and features like the 'smart turn signals' were malfunctioning. “This isn’t enjoyable, folks, I’m really close to giving up on this truck,” he expressed in a subsequent update.
It’s important to note that such stories are not exclusive to Rivian. Service issues occur with all automakers, including established brands. What sets Rivian apart is that companies like Ford, GM, and Toyota have decades of dealer networks and service procedures to rely on, whereas Rivian is still constructing its infrastructure from the ground up.
**You May Love It – But Can You Trust It?**
While many owners report positive experiences, enough share frustrations like this to highlight how unstable trust can be when a vehicle relies heavily on complex software and unproven support systems to operate effectively. One commenter mentioned they had visited the service center between 10 to 15 times in just two years. Ultimately, for this particular Rivian owner, the R1T still feels like the right vehicle – when it works.
Credit: DrkNeo
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Bricked Displays, Oily Smudges, and Absent Functions: A Rivian Owner’s Annoying Service Experience | Carscoops
The Rivian R1T impressed its owner as a product, but when problems occurred, the service experience diminished their affection for it.