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Rivian

Rivian

In this section of Torque News we report the latest news and developments about Rivian electric vehicles and trucks. Rivian is an American electric vehicle automaker and automotive technology company founded in 2009. Rivian is building an electric sport utility vehicle and pickup truck on a "skateboard" platform that can support future vehicles or be adopted by other companies.

Rivian R1S electric SUV driving through a modern city street with glass skyscrapers and urban traffic.
At 25,000 Miles, a Rivian R1S Owner Finds Hankook Ion HT Tires “Half The Price” of OEM Options While Delivering a Significantly Improved Ride Quality and 80,000-Mile Warranty
By Noah Washington on
After his $580 factory tires wore out at just 20,000 miles, one Rivian R1S owner tried $340 Hankook replacements, and discovered they were quieter, grippier in the rain, and didn’t reduce EV range.
2024 Rivian R1S green electric SUV driving in urban city setting, front three-quarter view
After a $6,500 Transport Fee to Washington, a Rivian R1T Owner in Alaska Says His Truck Is “Stuck” in Seattle Over a Second Warranty Issue and Shipping Dispute
By Noah Washington on
One Rivian R1T owner in Alaska is living a logistical nightmare, facing $6,500 shipping bills and a corporate standoff that has left his vehicle stranded in Seattle.
2026 Rivian R2 electric SUV front three-quarter view in colorful camouflage wrap driving on city street at night.
A Rivian R2 Prototype Was Found “Completely Dark” with Only Brake Lights On in Los Angeles on February 23, 2026, Before Being Covered and Towed 40 Minutes Later, Witness Says “Only The Center Rear Brake Light Was On”
By Noah Washington on
A late-night testing session in Los Angeles turned into a roadside rescue for the highly anticipated Rivian R2 prototype.
Automotive OTA Updates
The Software-Defined Smile And Why Your Next Car’s Reputation Now Rests on a Wi-Fi Signal
By Rob Enderle on
As car software becomes more complex than a spacecraft's, J.D. Power reveals that your car’s Wi-Fi connection might be more important for your happiness than its actual horsepower.
Silver Rivian R2 electric SUV driving on a paved road through rolling green hills with motion blur emphasizing speed.
A Rivian R2 Observer Is 'Convinced That Manufacturers' Avoid Winter Testing, Predicting Its Rear Wiper Will Be 'An Absolute Nightmare' in Snowy Climates
By Noah Washington on
"Manufacturers never test their prototypes in actual winter," claims one skeptical observer as they dissect the Rivian R2's "nightmare" rear wiper layout.
Green Rivian R1S electric SUV charging at an outdoor EV charging station in a snowy mountain landscape.
Rivian R1S Owner Reports SUV “Refusing To Climb” Snowbanks Until a Hard Reset Solved the Issue, Owner Says Now “Climbs Up Snowbanks Like a Champ” with Zero Drama
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian R1S owner was stunned when his $90,000 adventure vehicle "forgot" how to be an SUV in the snow, only to have a simple hard reset turn it back into a mountain-climbing SUV.
Marques Brownlee points to the camouflaged Rivian R2
Rivian R2's Camouflage Is "Like a Kid Hiding Behind a Lamp Post"
By Armen Hareyan on
Rivian’s R2 “camouflage” looks more like a finished design than a disguise, and that subtle detail says a lot about the SUV’s confidence, strategy, and whether it can truly compete where range, charging speed, comfort, and price matter most.
Rivian R1S towing a small fishing boat across a rocky beach at low tide, showcasing outdoor adventure and utility.
Rivian R1S Owner Reports 'Almost Flawless Trip' on 800-Mile Journey in 9°F Cold, Experiencing Only 10% State of Charge Loss Over Six Days
By Noah Washington on
One R1S owner recently conquered an 800-mile round trip into a brutal North American winter, losing only 10% of their charge over six days of sub-zero parking.
Green Rivian R1S electric SUV captured from a front three-quarter angle while driving past modern office buildings
A Rivian R1S Owner Ditched $580 OEM Pirelli Scorpions That Went Bald at 20K Miles for $340 Hankook iON HTs, and Got a Quieter Ride, Better Wet Grip, and the Same Range with 80k Mile Warranty
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian R1S owner has found the ultimate "cheat code" for EV maintenance after his $580-a-piece factory tires wore out in just 20,000 miles.
Side view of a Rivian R1T electric truck driving on a road with a rocky, green hillside background, motion blur showing speed.
At 60,000 Miles and Just Out of Warranty, a Rivian R1T Owner Says His Front Air Suspension “Completely Collapsed,” Triggering a $7,500 Repair, and the Service Center Admitted It’s a “Common Issue”
By Noah Washington on
One Rivian R1T owner is issuing a high-stakes warning after his front suspension "completely collapsed" at 60,000 miles, just days after his factory coverage expired.
Green Rivian R1S electric SUV driving in a downtown city street with modern buildings
During the Texas Deep Freeze, a Rivian R1S Owner Says He’s Using the SUV as an Emergency Garage Heater to Save His Tankless Water Heater, Running HVAC in “4–6 Hour” Sessions to Hold “58°+” Inside While Temps Drop to Single Digits
By Noah Washington on
When a Texas deep freeze threatened to burst his home’s plumbing, one Rivian R1S owner turned his luxury SUV into an emergency "thermal shield" for his garage.
Orange Rivian R1S electric SUV shown from the rear three-quarter view, parked on grass near a lake with autumn trees in the background during sunset.
After 3 Years and 80,000 Miles, My Rivian R1T Is One of the Best Trucks I’ve Ever Owned
By Aram Krajekian on
While EV horror stories dominate the conversation, one Rivian R1T owner reached 80,000 miles and realized the most surprising part was what never happened. His experience raises a question about what EV ownership really looks like long term.
Rivian R1T electric truck in modern parking garage with warm lighting
After Towing an 8,700-Pound, 30-Foot Camper 204 Miles, a Rivian R1T Owner Says “I Spent $148 in Supercharger Fees” Instead of Over $220 in Diesel in a Ram 2500, Adding That $40 Aero Wheel Covers Added 10 Miles of Range
By Noah Washington on
One Rivian R1T owner is proving that towing 8,700 lbs doesn't have to break the bank, spending just $148 on Supercharger fees for a 204-mile trek.
Low-angle view of a green 2025 Rivian R1S electric SUV driving through a modern city street with glass buildings
After a Drivetrain Failure Triggered a Full Battery Replacement, a Rivian R1S Owner Says Rivian Covered Everything Under the 170,000-Mile Warranty, “They Spent a Pretty Penny and It Cost Us Nothing”
By Noah Washington on
A faint, rhythmic whirring during acceleration was the only warning sign before this Rivian R1S required a total drivetrain and battery swap.
A black Rivian R1S electric SUV shown from the front three-quarter angle, parked in a dimly lit indoor parking garage with dramatic lighting strips on the ceiling.
After a Month of Trying to Spend $80,000, a Rivian R1T Shopper Says He Walked Away From Two Deposits Because of Missing Inspections, Hidden Condition Issues, and “Nearly Impossible” Communication
By Noah Washington on
A frustrated R1T shopper is warning others that Rivian’s "137-point inspection" is effectively a secret document that buyers are never allowed to see.
A 2023 Rivian R1T electric pickup truck in silver photographed from the front three-quarter view, displaying the vehicle's premium design and modern proportions.
A Rivian R1T Owner Says He Went From a Ford F-150 Raptor to a Tesla Model Y and Finally to a Used 2022 R1T Launch Edition for Under $50,000, He Adds, “I Instantly Fell in Love With the Torque That You Get With an EV”
By Noah Washington on
A former F-150 Raptor owner is calling his used 2022 Rivian R1T the "perfect daily driver" after finding a Launch Edition for under $50,000.
A dark-colored Rivian electric vehicle covered in heavy snow, showing the rear quarter view with illuminated taillights and snow-covered wheels in deep winter conditions.
A Rivian R1S Owner Says “It Got Sketchy Fast” During a Christmas Blizzard Drive, One Mountain Slide Later, He Still Calls the SUV a 9.2/10 Performer
By Noah Washington on
A Christmas blizzard pushed a Rivian R1S to its absolute limits, resulting in a "scary slide" that the owner attributes to heavy-handed braking in zero-visibility conditions.
Gray 2023 Rivian R1T electric pickup shown from front three-quarter angle at a charging station.
After a 3,638-Mile Road Trip to Key West, a Rivian R1T Owner Says “Charging Was Easy”, But Software Bugs and Erratic Range Estimates Added Surprises
By Noah Washington on
Across 3,600 miles of highway, a Rivian R1T owner proved that while charging is no longer the "Achilles' heel" of EV travel, modern software might be.
2024 Rivian R1S in dark gray parked on a brick driveway with a large tree and suburban house in the background.
A Rivian R1S Owner Used His EV to Power Christmas Dinner During a 4-Day Outage, Calling It a “Game-Changer” After Running an Oven, Coffee Pot, and Dishwasher
By Noah Washington on
When a four-day winter storm threatened to cancel Christmas, one R1S owner turned his SUV into a high-tech generator to feed nine hungry guests.
Rivian R1T and R1S electric vehicles parked outside a Rivian showroom at dusk.
A Rivian R1T Owner Uses a Thermal Camera to Reveal the ‘Heated Wipers’ Only Activate With Full Defrost, Warming to 77°F While Surrounding Glass Stays Near Freezing
By Noah Washington on
After two winters of testing, a Quad Motor owner confirmed that Rivian’s heated wipers cannot be operated independently, despite the hardware being fully capable.
My Rivian Update Forced Me to Use Samsung Wallet Instead of Google Wallet, and It Exposed a Big Android Problem
My Rivian Update Forced Me to Use Samsung Wallet Instead of Google Wallet, and It Exposed a Big Android Problem
By Narek Hareyan on
What started as a simple Rivian update turned into a frustrating Android wallet mess, and judging by owner reactions, this is far from an isolated issue.
Front view of a Rivian R1S electric SUV driving through an urban downtown street, featuring signature vertical LED headlights and a boxy adventure-focused design.
After 250 Miles on Rivian’s .46 Update, an R1S Owner Says “Universal Hands-Free Isn’t Ready for Prime Time,” Calling the Driver-Attention Alerts “Way Too Sensitive” and the Road Coverage Inconsistent
By Noah Washington on
Rivian’s latest update finally brings navigation maps to the center of the driver display, yet owners are annoyed that the view automatically vanishes the second autonomy mode is engaged.
2025_Rivian_R1S_Front34_Green_UrbanDowntown.jpg
After 19,000 Miles, a Rivian R1S Owner Says OEM Pirelli Tires Were “Driving Me Loco,” While Michelin LTX Platinums Transformed the Ride
By Noah Washington on
After 19,000 miles, an R1S owner ditched his factory Pirelli tires because the vibration and road roar were "driving me loco," despite having thousands of miles of tread left.
Rivian R1T performing a tank turn in dirt
From The GMC Hummer EV’s Crabwalk, to the New Geely EX5’s Sideways Driving, These Are The Unexpected New Ways That EVs Can Maneuver
By Chris Johnston on
The GMC Hummer EV proves that steering can be entertainment and utility at the same time in ways gas trucks can’t match.
A dark green Rivian R1S electric SUV shown from the front quarter angle, demonstrating its off-road capabilities while navigating rocky terrain in a wooded setting.
Rivian R1S Owner Adds a Hair Dryer to His Emergency Kit After Discovering Ice Can Lock the Charging Port, Saying It’s “Not for Me. For My Rivian”
By Noah Washington on
While Rivian drivers love their vehicles, many are calling for heated ports or manual doors to avoid being stranded by a simple ice jam.
A silver Rivian R1T electric pickup truck is shown from a front three-quarter angle, parked on a beach with the ocean and hanging moss-covered trees in the background.
2026 Rivian R1T Owner Says Delivery Day Included “Two Pretty Good Dents” and a Tonneau Cover That “Wasn’t Working Properly”, Adding “I Hope This Isn’t Going to Be a Pattern”
By Noah Washington on
A brand-new 2026 Rivian R1T owner took delivery only to immediately find "two pretty good dents" and a V2-powered tonneau cover that "wasn't working properly."
Forest green Rivian R1S electric SUV shown from a front three-quarter angle, parked on a city street with modern architecture and greenery in the background.
After Leasing a Gen 2 Rivian R1S Max Pack Instead of a Lucid Gravity or Volvo EX90, One Owner Says the Suspension Is “Absolutely Abysmal,” the A/C Can’t Keep Up, and the Software Is So Buggy It’s “Hard to Recommend” After One Year
By Noah Washington on
The R1S owner, who chose it over the Lucid Gravity, is furious that the software is so buggy it's "unreliable," with the A/C vents randomly closing.
A red Rivian R1T pickup truck is parked next to a lime green camper trailer in a desert landscape with rocky mountains in the background, photographed from a side angle.
A Rivian R1T Owner Towed the New Pebble Flow Electric Trailer and Watched Efficiency Jump to 1.76 mi/kWh, Saying Tow Assist Made the Truck Recalculate the Trailer as “5,000 lbs Instead of 6,500,” Adding 22% More Range and Turning a Risky 4% Arrival Into a
By Noah Washington on
The R1T’s navigation system predicted a risky 4% arrival SOC on the final leg home, until the owner activated the Pebble Flow’s Tow Assist feature.
2025 Rivian R1T electric pickup truck parked on a beach with ocean and trees in the background.
A Tesla Repair Shop Owner Says Rivian “Reminded Me of Tesla in Their Early Days” After His R1T Received a $28,000 Warranty Repair, Including a Complete Subframe Retrofit Without Removing His Mods
By Noah Washington on
The $28,000 R1T warranty fix was performed flawlessly without requiring the owner to remove his aftermarket rock sliders or Comma 3X self-driving system.
A media member gives EVs a thumbs down
Suddenly, It’s Fashionable For Influencers, Content Creators, and Even Media To Go Negative In Their Coverage of EVs and EV Manufacturers
By John Goreham on
Smell that? There is blood in the water, and the sharks are circling EVs. It was once verboten to talk badly of EVs, but now EVs are getting negative coverage from some very unlikely corners.
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