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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.

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.
Rivian Has Hundreds of R1Ts Lined Up for Caltrans And Each One Gets a Hidden Battery Upgrade in the Spare Tire Compartment
Rivian Has Hundreds of R1Ts Lined Up for Caltrans And Each One Gets a Hidden Battery Upgrade in the Spare Tire Compartment
By Narek Hareyan on
Rivian R1T owners might be surprised to learn that Caltrans is taking delivery of more than 600 trucks equipped with a secret spare-tire battery upgrade that completely changes what these electric pickups can do on the job.
Side view of a silver Rivian R1T electric pickup truck driving at speed through a green, wooded area. The EV’s modern aerodynamic design, black wheels, and signature LED lighting highlight Rivian’s electric adventure truck in motion.
After a 12-State RV Trip, a Rivian R1T Owner Says Tesla, Rivian, ChargePoint, and EA All Charged “Within a Few kW of Each Other,” Hitting 206–209 kW Peaks and Holding 100 kW Even at 80%
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian R1T owner's spreadsheet exposed the key to fast EV travel: his truck still pulled 100 kW even at 80% SOC and 34 kW at 99%.
My 2025 Rivian R1S Was Making Clunking and Wind Noise, but Service Said They Would Only Fix Repeatable Issues During Their Own Test Drive
My 2025 Rivian R1S Was Making Clunking and Wind Noise, but Service Said They Would Only Fix Repeatable Issues During Their Own Test Drive
By Narek Hareyan on
My 2025 Rivian R1S started making clunking and wind noises that mysteriously vanished during the service test drive, and what happened next revealed something every EV owner needs to hear.
A silver 2025 Rivian R1S is shown from the rear three-quarter view at an EV charging station, featuring black accent wheels and trim.
A Rivian R1S Driver Faced EVConnect Errors, RAN “Failure to Connect” Messages, and a 6% Battery Scare on a 1,120-Mile Trip, Until a Soft Reboot Suddenly Restored Charging “Without Any Issues”
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian R1S driver was hit by a cascade of "failure to connect" errors across three different networks, including RAN. But fixed the issue after a quick session on YouTube.
A severely damaged silver Rivian R1T, showing extensive side impact damage and crumpling along its passenger side while parked in what appears to be a salvage yard.
After a 55-MPH Head-On With a Drunk Driver, a Rivian R1T Owner Says the 8,000-lb Truck Saved Him From a 200-Foot Cliff Drop, And His Replacement R1T Has Now Logged 60,000 Safe Miles in Two Years
By Noah Washington on
After a head-on collision with a drunk driver on a mountain highway, one Rivian R1T owner attributes his survival to his 8,000-lb truck. This terrifying story confirms the brute physics of survival, as the electric truck "won the momentum battle".
Forest Green 2025 Rivian R1S SUV photographed from a rear three-quarter angle in a parking lot, showing its boxy design, black wheels, and matte finish.
A Rivian R1S Owner Says He Loved His SUV “More Than Anything I’ve Ever Bought,” but After Repeated Electrical Failures and a Rear Suspension Issue Rivian Denied, He Accepted a Buyback, Ending Up in an Escalade IQ That Feels “Just… Fine”
By Noah Washington on
An R1S owner who loved his truck "more than anything" was forced to accept a buyback after 14 months of electrical chaos.
2023 Rivian R1S electric SUV in forest green, shown at three-quarter front angle on city street, featuring distinctive LED light bar and black wheel design against modern urban backdrop.
I Was Driving My 2026 Rivian R1S In Indianapolis When A Factory Worker From Illinois Waved Me Down At A Stoplight Just To Shout, "Thank You For Buying Rivian," With Incredible Thanks For The Company
By Noah Washington on
While driving his new R1S, one owner was stopped in traffic by a woman with Illinois plates who shouted, "Thank you for buying a Rivian, I work there!" This stunning encounter reveals the new American manufacturing showmanship.
Two 2023 Rivian R1S And Rivian R1T electric pickup trucks in forest green, photographed from front 3/4 view, featuring distinctive LED light bars and black wheels, parked in wooded setting.
Rivian R1T Driver Claims a BMW X3 Owner Told Him EVs Are “Impossible to Charge” and Require “Removing the Battery,” Forcing Him to Explain That His 420-Mile Truck Makes San Diego-to-Vegas Easily on a Single Charge
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian R1T owner was cornered in a Costco parking lot by a BMW driver who claimed EVs were "impossible to charge" and couldn't make it to Vegas.
2024 Rivian R1S electric SUV in forest green, shown from front 3/4 view, featuring distinctive vertical headlights, black wheels, driving on urban street beside modern building.
I Woke Up To "Critical Battery Issue" And "Electrical Hazard" Warnings On My 2023 Rivian R1S After Overnight Charging In Guatemala, And Rivian Support Says I Must Return To The United States For Service
By Noah Washington on
The R1S, built to conquer the wilderness, was defeated by a simple component failure 2,000 miles from the nearest service center.
Silver 2026 Tesla Model Y electric SUV photographed from front three-quarter angle, driving on mountain road at dusk with dramatic cloudy sky.
Tesla Model Y Owner Says “I Get Honked At and Flipped Off” After 26,000 Miles with FSD, Calls Supercharger Network Excellent but Blames Elon Musk’s Reputation for Public Backlash
By Noah Washington on
After driving 26,000 miles in his Model Y, one owner is switching to Rivian, not because of the car, but because they're tired of the social hassle.
2024 Rivian R1S and screen graph
Ever Since We Got a KIA EV9, I’ve Been So Annoyed Whenever I Have to DC Fast Charge My Rivian R1S. It’s So Slow, It’s like Tesla Slow
By Denis Flierl on
The new KIA EV9 is a 200kW charging champion, hitting massive range in just 15 minutes! The Rivian R1S is "horrid," struggling to maintain speed even in cool weather, earning the dreaded "Tesla slow" label. What all EV owners need to know.
2023 Rivian R1T electric pickup truck and 2023 Rivian R1S in forest green and dark blue, photographed from front 3/4 view, featuring distinctive LED light bars and black wheels, parked in wooded setting.
After 2.5 Years With My Rivian R1S, I Took It on a 3,000-Mile Road Trip, Tesla’s Charging Network Was Incredible, But One Nerve-Racking Low-Battery Scare Nearly Cut It Short
By Noah Washington on
After 2.5 years, one R1S owner drove 3,000 miles across the American West, finding the journey nearly flawless, except for one stop.
A Tesla Cybertruck looks menacing in a dark black glossy wrap
Electric Truck Dreams Are Hitting Reality: Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, and Ford F-150 Lightning Struggle Into 2026
By John Goreham on
Rivian’s R1T and Ford’s F-150 Lightning were both leaders in their segments. However, like the Cybertruck, all three appear to have stalled. Here are updates on the three, and what could happen in 2026.
2025 Rivian R1S electric SUV in black, front three-quarter view, displaying distinctive LED headlight bar, shown in industrial-style showroom with exposed brick walls.
Rivian R1T Owner Says "It's The Best Vehicle I've Ever Had" But He’s "Getting Rid Of It Due To Service Experience" After Being Left Stranded Two Hours From Home During Simple Recall Repair
By Noah Washington on
One owner called his R1T the "best vehicle I've ever had," yet he publicly offered to sell it after a simple recall repair stranded him two hours from home.
Pickup truck towing a trailer filled with soil, near red and white buildings, surrounded by trees.
I Loaded 8,000 Pounds Of River Rock In My Rivian R1T Trailer With Negative Tongue Weight And When It Started Violently Swaying At 70 MPH, The Electric Truck's Low Center Of Gravity Saved Us From Disaster
By Noah Washington on
One Rivian R1T owner loaded 8,000 pounds of river rock improperly and was hit by extreme, high-speed trailer sway that nearly sent the load sideways. His terrifying story reveals the electric truck's secret stability advantage.
Silver pickup truck parked on a sandy beach with ocean and trees in the background.
I Sold My Early Production Rivian R1T After 54,000 Miles And 17 Repair Requests In 3 Years While My Wife's 2023 R1S Has Been Nearly Flawless
By Noah Washington on
One of Rivian's earliest customers drove his R1T for 54,000 miles, but after 17 repair requests, he finally sold it. This early adopter's brutal honesty reveals the stark difference between his problematic R1T and his wife's "nearly flawless" R1S model.
Green SUV driving on a city street with modern buildings and trees in background.
I Successfully Installed A VHF/UHF Amateur Radio In My 2026 Rivian R1T By Creating A Custom Hood-Mounted Antenna And Accessing 12-Volt Power From The Firewall Distribution Panel
By Noah Washington on
The quiet cabin of the Rivian R1T is perfect for radio operation, but where do you put the antenna when the truck has an aluminum body and a power tonneau cover? This ham operator's ingenious DIY solution provides the roadmap.
Rivian RT1 Ready For Work
The Adventure Pays Off: How Rivian Stole Tesla's Crown and Forged a Path to Profit
By Rob Enderle on
Rivian's first-ever profitable quarter marks a historic milestone for an EV startup, validating a brilliant strategy of capturing the premium adventure market and successfully converting early Tesla adopters with superior build quality.
2022 Tesla Model 3 and 2025 Rivian R1S
My 2022 Tesla Model 3 Has Lost So Much Value, I’m Trading It In For a 2025 Rivian R1S Tri, I’m About To Pull the Trigger, But I’m Scared
By Denis Flierl on
A Tesla owner is trading her upside-down 2022 Tesla Model 3 for a 2025 Rivian R1S Tri. Terrified of buyer's remorse, she seeks advice on the switch and has questions about Rivian's quality. Is she making the right move from Tesla to Rivian?
Dark green Rivian SUV with distinctive vertical headlights driving on urban street near modern building.
I Traded My Fully-Loaded Ford Explorer Platinum For A 2026 Rivian R1S Dual Max And Mastered Parking On Day One After Years Of Struggling With My Explorer
By Noah Washington on
After years of struggling to park her fully-loaded Ford Explorer Platinum, one lifelong Ford owner claims she "mastered parking" her new 2026 Rivian R1S Dual Max on day one.
A gray Rivian R1S with tinted windows is parked in a handicap spot. The electric vehicle's sleek design and modern features are visible under a sunny sky.
I’m Loving My Pre-Owned 2023 Rivian R1S Adventure and Their Customer Service, But It’s Already in the Shop for Multiple Warranty Recalls
By Aram Krajekian on
There’s a certain irony in loving your Rivian R1S and praising its customer service, even though it spends its early days in the shop for multiple recalls. It's a contradiction that perfectly captures the growing pains of EV ownership in its early years.
A dark green electric pickup truck parked in a modern, well-lit garage.
I'm Only Getting 60% Of My Rivian R1T's Expected Range After Driving 90 Miles In A Week, With 37 Miles Disappearing While The Truck Sits Idle
By Noah Washington on
He's only getting 60% of his Rivian R1T's expected range, and the shocking reason isn't from driving too fast or towing, but from a "ghost drop" of 37 miles while the truck is parked.
Image shows a young girls sitting inside of a Ford F-150 Lightning's frunk area
Consumer Reports Data Shows EV Trucks Like the Rivian R1T, F-150 Lightning, Sierra EV, and Silverado EV Are Among the Least Reliable Vehicles on the Market Today - Why We Think Ford Will Be the Brand To Turn This Around
By John Goreham on
Battery-electric pickup trucks are having a rough time gaining traction in the U.S. market. Could one reason be the reliability and durability scores? Be sure you read our opinions on why Ford will be the one to watch.
Photograph of the 2025 Rivian R1T electric truck in a gray color, captured from a three-quarter front angle with trees visible in the background.
I Drove My Rivian R1T 93 Miles Through Death Valley's Most Remote Road In 115-Degree Heat, Becoming The First EV To Complete Saline Valley Road Unassisted
By Noah Washington on
He drove his Rivian R1T 93 miles through Death Valley in brutal 115-degree heat and discovered a secret… the truck’s regeneration on mountain passes gave him back over 75% of the power he used on the climb.
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