My Rivian R1T Was the First EV I’ve Owned, and After 3 Years and Nearly 100K Miles, I’m Sharing My Thoughts on the Gen 1 Before Trading It In for a Gen 2

Every long-term vehicle has a story to tell, but not every owner gets the chance to tell it before they move on. Sometimes, that final reflection is where the most meaningful insights emerge. I came across a post this morning in the “RIVIAN Electric Vehicles Discussion” group on Facebook by Shaun Nixdorf that captured those last insights. Shaun had just written a heartfelt summary of his 3-year ownership journey with a Launch Edition Rivian R1T. With nearly 100,000 miles under its belt, this was more than just a review, as it was a full-circle moment of reflection, growth, and appreciation before handing over the keys for a new Gen2. His post covered everything from real-world tire wear to charging costs, software frustrations to comfort features, and ultimately why he’s sticking with Rivian for the long haul.

Three Years of Ownership, Unfiltered

He wrote: "I’m now at 3 years of ownership and nearly 100k miles. I figured I’d drop a few notes from my ownership prior to my trade-in tomorrow.

Truck specs: Launch Edition Green R1T, 20 A/Ts. As of today I’m at 98,440 miles. Keep in mind these are Gen1 related comments. This was my first EV. I’ve been through two sets of tires. The OEMs got me 48.5k. I’m now on Continental A/Ts and they’ve gotten me this far. They’ve exceeded the OEMs and have 8/32” left. They have been loud for a few thousand miles, but didn’t want to replace them with the life they have left. I do not drive in conserve and I’m a tame driver unless I need the power. I’m very consistent with rotations around the 7500 mile mark. I’ve only had one major repair at $1200 in three years at my own cost, but other repairs are coming up. I’ll start with the dislikes to end on positive notes.

Dislikes: We all struggle with the navigation. I think we need more control and more settings to make things work better. If we were able to choose between shortest time, most efficient route, or other options, it could improve it. There are times where I end navigation and restart it just to get it to calculate better routes. I think they need to increase their refresh calculations to find the best routes.

The HVAC has been frustrating. There are times where it blows hot air when it should be cold. We need better control on what settings we can use. I’ve also had issues where it gets stuck on hot air after coming off a defrost cycle. I’d have to manually change the temperature. Turning it off and back on seems to fix general hot air issues. I’ve also noticed that coming to a stop in traffic greatly reduces the AC output and it gets quite toasty in stop and go traffic. Again, if we had more control over some of these settings, I think it would improve satisfaction.

My one major repair was on the motors. I did a 75k inspection and the motors were leaking. So that was flushed and new plugs were put in which were upgrades from the original plugs. Unfortunately at around 30k miles the hubs and half shafts went out. They were not replaced under warranty, but under customer satisfaction. Now at 98k miles the same issues are back.

Likes: The truck is extremely comfortable. Over three years, software updates have changed a lot. There were leveling issues and suspension changes that were addressed. These small tweaks were great improvements.

The company has been amazing. They listen and outreach is extremely easy. If I have questions or concerns, I appreciate how easy it is to get in contact with the company any day or time of the week. The camping features are awesome. I like the self leveling and outlet features the most.

Pet Mode is awesome. I wish it was easy to select. Storage. There is so much storage.

For the Gen1, the software definitely needs some tweaks. There are issues with displaying info on the driver’s screen and erroneous data. As my first EV though, I was very happy with the Driver+ and the ACC. I’ve been through some struggles, but overall I am happy with how it performed. ACC seemed to have the most issues and didn’t like narrow roads or when lines disappeared.

The range was enough for me, but I could definitely use more. Most of my driving is highway and a 70% charge gets me through the day. I have Sense at home and it tracks my charging costs. Last year it was about $2400 for the year to charge my truck to go 32k miles. My solar produced $1600 worth of power. So all in all it was about $800 to operate the Rivian.

I was very excited when the Glen Burnie service center opened. That staff has been great and I’ve met many of them over the years. Tomorrow I am trading in my Launch Edition for an Arctic White Dual Max Pack. I’m very much looking forward to the Gen2 features."

Putting It All in Perspective

What stood out most from Shaun's story was the balance of perspective. He didn’t shy away from frustrations like the HVAC quirks or outdated route logic, but he also didn’t let those define his experience. That’s a mindset I think many long-term Rivian owners can relate to, especially in light of recent stories that reflect both the resilience and occasional growing pains of owning a first-gen R1T. In fact, we recently covered a story about how one owner walked away safely after being T-boned on the side, crediting the truck’s incredible build quality for saving their life It’s that same sense of overengineering and confidence that keeps owners like Shaun in the Rivian family.

What Other Owners Had to Say

In the comments under Shaun’s post, others shared their own experiences, which help put the Gen1 journey into a broader context. Matt Alexander chimed in with, "Great info. I am at 72k now and have only had around $650 of out-of-pocket repairs. So far the truck has been great with few complaints/problems."

This reflects a wider sentiment we’ve seen across the community. While early Rivian owners might experience bugs or hiccups, the overall experience still trends toward satisfaction. Many, like Matt, have found that the cost of ownership stays remarkably low, especially when compared to ICE trucks with similar mileage.

Another commenter, Seth Van Eyks, offered a comparison from direct experience, writing, “Traded in my Gen1 T for a Gen2 S Tri. Noticeable improvements with the A/C, much quieter, and a smoother ride on the highway. When available, the enhanced driver assist is very nice too.”

This kind of feedback is especially relevant given Shaun's notes about his HVAC frustrations. It appears Rivian took those concerns to heart in the Gen2 platform—a move that's encouraging for anyone on the fence about upgrading or jumping in. It’s worth noting that while some early adopters reported serious issues, others are now seeing meaningful fixes and quality-of-life improvements in Rivian's second-generation vehicles.

Strong Trade-In Value and Continued Loyalty

Then came a question from Avery Lin: "Mind sharing what car you're trading it in for and what the trade in value is for such high mileage?"

Shaun responded with, "I'm getting another Rivian. Going for Gen2 Max Pack. They gave $51k for my current Rivian. I traded in through Rivian too."

That’s a surprisingly strong trade-in offer, especially for a nearly 100,000-mile truck. It reinforces the idea that Rivian values its community and wants to make the transition between generations feel like a loyalty reward. And for anyone who once said they’d never own an EV, it’s not hard to imagine stories like Shaun’s echoing the same sentiment that turned skeptics into believers, like in this other Rivian R1T story that changed one owner's mind.

Gen2 Isn’t Perfect, But It’s a Leap Forward

Still, not every Gen2 upgrade has been perfect. Some owners have voiced concerns about software features falling behind expectations, especially when it comes to things like satellite map quality, which was one of the things that Shaun was talking about. But even those critiques haven’t been dealbreakers for loyalists like Shaun, who seem to see the bigger picture of long-term innovation and customer service.

From my perspective, what’s so interesting about Shaun’s post is how it captures the transitional moment Rivian is in. They’re moving from early experimentation and first-gen limitations into a maturing phase where feedback is actively shaping the product. And that’s not something you see from every automaker, especially one this new. To me, it says Rivian isn’t just building trucks, they’re building a community that learns together, grows together, and even trades in one generation of tech for a better one without jumping ship.

Takeaways for Current and Future Rivian Owners

1. Your first EV doesn’t have to be flawless to be worth it. Shaun’s story shows that even with bugs and minor frustrations, a well-supported vehicle can still make a lasting positive impact.

2. Loyalty goes both ways. Rivian offering $51k on a nearly 100k-mile truck isn’t just generous. This signals how much Rivian values long-term owners.

3. Feedback really matters. From better HVAC in the Gen2 to improved suspension and highway comfort, it’s clear Rivian is listening. Owners are shaping these trucks more than they might think.

4. The EV journey is as emotional as it is technical. When you look at stories of safety, comfort, and even camping convenience, it’s not just about range and charging, it’s about trust and familiarity.

5. Real-world ownership costs can surprise you. Charging a Rivian for $800 a year after factoring in solar is a reminder that EV math pays off in ways gas trucks just can’t compete with.

I've Said Enough, Now It's Your Turn

What do you think of Rivian? Has it earned its reputation in the EV world as a solid automaker that's here to stay? Or do you think they still have a long way to go? 

And if you're a Rivian owner, what has your experience been like with the company? 

Your stories are what fuel our passion for writing, so don't hesitate to drop them in the comments below.

Aram Krajekian is a young automotive journalist bringing a fresh perspective to his coverage of the evolving automotive landscape. Follow Aram on X and LinkedIn for daily news coverage about cars.

Image Sources: The “RIVIAN Electric Vehicles Discussion” public Facebook group.