Rivian Owner’s Manual Door Release Safety Demonstration for His Children Became a Panic Situation | Carscoops

      A Rivian owner might sell their new R1S following a problematic test of the SUV’s rear emergency door release.

      23 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      The owner reports that the rear manual release is broken and cannot be accessed.

      They compare the danger to a potentially deadly Tesla fire with jammed rear doors.

      Their family is now contemplating selling the SUV due to these serious safety concerns.

      Imagine purchasing what you think is an advanced, powerful electric SUV, only to discover it conceals what could be considered a surprisingly fundamental safety flaw. That's the predicament facing one owner of a 2025 Rivian R1S second-generation vehicle, where the issue revolves around something as simple yet crucial as door handles.

      In an attempt to enhance safety, the R1S owner endeavored to demonstrate to their child how to exit the back seat in an emergency. However, the experience went so poorly that they are now thinking about selling their premium electric SUV.

      Safety Concerns

      In a post titled "My kids are definitely dead in an emergency," Reddit user u/AlstonCentral explains that this situation began with a test; he merely wanted to show his children how to escape the vehicle in case something went wrong.

      According to Rivian’s suggested method, you need to remove a panel located at the back of the door. Inside, there is a pull tab that, when pulled, manually opens the door.

      While this may sound straightforward, it has proven to be a significant issue according to feedback from owners. In his post, the owner notes, “The panel broke and couldn't be restored without a new part from the Rivian service center, and I completely failed to locate the cable. There's no way kids could ever figure this out on their own.”

      Unfortunately, he is not the only one with this concern.

      Additionally, a similar thread on RivianForums discussing the rear door handles is filled with complaints from other owners. One individual expressed their thoughts this way:

      “Having looked at the trim panels on my Gen2, I know that no one in my entire extended family, except me, would be able to pry off the panels quickly. My in-laws, who have a Model S with an accessible emergency release (no panel removal needed) still can't even pull the braided cable mechanism.”

      At this juncture, the Reddit user is contemplating swapping his luxury SUV for a model that offers a more straightforward approach or, as he phrased it, “something with acceptable basic safety functionality.”

      Importantly, Rivian is already planning for a more simplified design for the R2, and many other manufacturers are considering similar designs. Hopefully, they will create something that anyone can easily understand and operate, as this represents a serious safety concern.

      Sources: RivianForums, Reddit