I’m a Huge R1S Fan, But My Kids Got Locked Inside with Gear Guard On, Here’s What Went Wrong and How I Finally Got Them Out

This evening, I was scrolling through the “RIVIAN Electric Vehicles Discussion” group on Facebook when I came across a shocking post by Tara Anderson, a passionate Rivian R1S owner. Tara shared a terrifying experience where her kids got locked inside the vehicle due to an unexpected issue with Gear Guard and the Rivian app. Her post quickly gathered attention from fellow Rivian owners, who tried to analyze what might have gone wrong.

Tara described the incident in her own words:

"I love my R1S, but today something really scary happened. I used my phone to unlock the car, my kids got in, and I put my phone down inside the vehicle. Then, out of nowhere, the car locked itself with my kids inside! Gear Guard activated, and the A/C turned off, as if the car didn’t detect anyone inside. The worst part? My phone had logged out of the Rivian app, so I couldn’t use it to unlock the car! Thankfully, I managed to guide my daughter over the phone to unlock it, but it left me wondering what exactly went wrong. I thought Rivian had safeguards against this kind of thing."

As soon as her post went live, the comments section flooded with reactions. Many people empathized with her, while others tried to dissect the possible causes behind the incident.

Chris offered his perspective, stating: "Someone must have started pushing buttons. The car doesn't lock on its own with your phone inside. There are three ways it can lock: by putting it into drive, using the app to lock it, or using the display to lock it. One of these things likely happened. I have kids, and they touch everything and then claim they didn’t touch anything."

Gregory brought up a feature he wished Rivian would implement: "I’ve never had this happen before. I wish that Rivian would utilize the interior camera to detect motion inside the car and prompt to turn on pet mode. A couple of weeks ago, I completely forgot to turn on pet mode with my dog in the car. Thank goodness I was only gone for a few minutes. I think it would be an awesome additional safety feature to add."

Eli chimed in with a technical analysis: "So your phone was inside when this happened? I think one of two options here: either your phone's Bluetooth disconnected from the Rivian somehow, and the car thought you were out, prompting it to lock itself (this seems like the most probable case, in my opinion), or someone clicked to lock the doors (either on the phone, car screen, or back screen). I'm not sure if Gear Guard would activate in this case, I'd think not. Lastly, Rivian does not check for occupants when it shuts down the HVAC and locks the car."

What Might Have Happened?

Based on the comments and general knowledge of Rivian's security features, there are a few possibilities as to why Tara’s R1S locked itself with her kids inside:

1. Bluetooth Disconnection: If her phone temporarily disconnected from the car, the system might have assumed she had exited and locked the doors automatically.
2. Manual Locking: Someone inside the car might have inadvertently pressed the lock button.
3. Gear Guard Activation: While Gear Guard primarily functions as a security feature, it may have been a factor in locking the vehicle under certain conditions.
4. App Logout Glitch: If Tara’s phone logged out of the Rivian app, the system might not have recognized her as the primary key.
5. HVAC and Occupant Detection Issue: Unlike some cars that detect motion or weight to determine occupancy, Rivian does not currently have such a safeguard in place.

How Can Rivian Improve?

This incident highlights some potential improvements Rivian could make to enhance safety and user experience. One promising idea is integrating motion detection through the vehicle’s interior camera to prevent accidental lock-ins. Tesla, for instance, has a cabin overheat protection feature, and Rivian could benefit from implementing something similar.

Additionally, improving the connection between the Rivian app and the vehicle to prevent automatic logouts would help ensure that the owner can always access the car in emergencies.

For those interested in long-term R1S ownership, it’s worth reading about real-world experiences like this 1,300-mile Tesla charger road trip to get a better sense of how the vehicle performs under different conditions.

If you love long road trips, you might enjoy reading about this epic 2,929-mile adventure in a Rivian R1S, where the driver discusses comfort, charging stops, and how the vehicle compares to flying.

Another owner recently shared their experience with the 2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor, exploring the best wall charger options and regenerative braking capabilities, which could be crucial for owners looking to optimize their charging setup.

Moreover, if you are considering purchasing running boards for your R1S, you might find this firsthand review useful, where a driver explains why they made the decision and how it improved accessibility.

For those who use their Rivian for adventure and utility, this review of the Rivian R1S Gen 2 air compressor discusses its usability and practicality during trips.

Lastly, if you’re wondering about how comfortable the Rivian R1S is for long drives, check out this road trip review that highlights its ride quality and interior comfort.

My Opinion

As someone who closely follows the EV world, I find this situation both concerning and thought-provoking. Rivian has done an outstanding job designing a rugged, high-tech SUV, but incidents like this show there’s always room for improvement. The fact that a simple Bluetooth disconnect, or app logout could lead to such a stressful moment is something that needs addressing. Rivian has proven that they listen to their customers, and I genuinely hope they consider adding more occupant detection safeguards. At the end of the day, no one should have to worry about their kids or pets being locked inside a vehicle because of a tech glitch.

What’s Your Experience?

Has anything like this ever happened to you in your R1S or another vehicle? What features would you like to see Rivian implement to prevent such situations?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Narek Hareyan is a young automotive journalist with experience in a golf cart dealership and an interest in the automotive industry. Follow Narek on X for daily news coverage about cars.