'This Vehicle Has Lost My Trust Forever,' Claims Rivian Owner After It Became Inoperable and Emitted Smoke | Carscoops

      Following the alarming incident, the owner stated he would never allow his family to ride in the electric pickup again.

      22 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      After the R1T came to an abrupt stop, mysterious smoke began to infiltrate the cabin.

      The cause of the reported severe failure in this Rivian remains unknown.

      Fortunately for the owner, the truck broke down on a quiet neighborhood street.

      Electric vehicles are often regarded as a preview of the future, but actual ownership can sometimes reveal a harsher truth. Although the Rivian R1T has received praise since its debut, there have been ongoing reports of reliability concerns and variable service experiences.

      A recent story from a Rivian owner in the United States showcases a type of breakdown that might make prospective buyers think twice before making a purchase.

      According to this driver, his nine-month-old R1T unexpectedly locked up while he was driving through his neighborhood, forcing him to call for a tow. He shared his experience on Reddit, where he voiced his concerns about the vehicle's reliability and Rivian's responses in such situations.

      A Sudden Breakdown

      The owner reported that as he was slowing down in his green R1T, the vehicle suddenly seized, the wheels skidded, and the entire electric vehicle shook. Shortly after, it randomly shifted into neutral, and all the warning lights lit up on the dashboard. The problems escalated when a "terrible smelling smoke" began to fill the cabin from beneath the center console.

      To make matters worse, he had to remain inside the pickup as the smoke entered the cabin because he feared that lifting his foot off the brake would cause the Rivian to roll backward.

      Understandably, the incident left the owner quite shaken. He reflected on what might have occurred if the alleged catastrophic failure had happened while he was on the highway or if other vehicles had been close by. “I could have crashed into someone! I can’t trust this vehicle anymore. I wouldn’t allow my family to be in it,” he shared in his post.

      The Towing Headache

      The towing process also turned out to be quite a hassle for the owner. He decided to utilize his roadside insurance to have the R1T towed to a nearby Rivian service center, only to receive a “five-minute lecture” from a Rivian representative for not contacting the company directly.

      “When I reached out to Rivian support to confirm that my tow truck could take it straight to the service center, I had to endure the representative’s lecture about how I should have contacted Rivian first instead of using my roadside insurance,” he recounted.

      “Seriously, a five-minute lecture while my foot was on the brake, my hand was holding the door slightly open to air out the cabin, and all the while trying to signal to traffic to pass by (people were kindly stopping to check if I was okay),” he added.

      At the time of this report, the owner had not provided any updates regarding his electric pickup, nor did he mention if Rivian had examined the EV to identify the issue. If the events occurred as the owner describes, it appears that the R1T experienced either a significant mechanical or electrical failure, leaving it stranded.

      Rough R1T Experience – Will never go Rivian again byu/lekun inRivian

      Lead image Reddit u/lekun