Displays Rebooting Unexpectedly While Driving - Video Included

[Collyay]

I have been having this issue since 11/2024. When it first happened I thought it was a simple problem and scheduled service. Could not get it into service until 2/2025. Service could not identify or reproduce the problem even though I had a timed stamped photo. It continued to happen intermittently, we do not drive the car too often as we both work from home. It happened again 3/13 at night (when I wasn't the driver) but it startled the driver who then panicked and swerved, I immediately scheduled service because I realized that this isn't a one off or normal, mobile service is scheduled for 6/12. In the mean time I was asked if I had any supporting media and if I had a USB inserted, I did after the first incident. Service (through the app chat) asked me the make and model of the USB (ScanDisk 512mb - edit: 512GB not mb) and to try to reformat the drive, then see if the issue returns. I did. A few days later the issue occurred again while turning to enter an on ramp. Then it happened again about 20 min later. I parked properly ejected the USB and then it happened two more times. The last time I was able to capture a video. Is this happening to anyone else? (Yes I do see the other posts - my R1T does not do this?) I feel I'm getting the runaround about a potentially serious issue (yes I have done a vehicle restart more than once) - I asked a computer guy (fellow Rivian owner) if a USB could cause this and he said no. What is going on, I don't feel safe driving it now that it is occurring more frequently (4x in one night), should I be concerned?

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[NY_Rob]

How poorly written would the Rivian Infotainment code be if a potentially bad/failing USB flash drive could cause multiple Infotainment system reboots? What is this Windows 3.1 with a bad floppy?

Remove the flash drive, then when the system reboots again, let them know you didn't even have a flash drive inserted and to stop wasting your time having you chase ghosts.

 

[Collyay]

How poorly written would the Rivian Infotainment code be if a potentially bad/failing USB flash drive could cause multiple Infotainment system reboots? What is this Windows 3.1 with a bad floppy?

Remove the flash drive, then when the system reboots again, let them know you didn't even have a flash drive inserted and to stop wasting your time having you chase ghosts.

Lol! Thanks - I did! And after I ejected it it crashed two more times on the drive home. If my laptop did this I'd return it! Service then tried to tell me to do a vehicle restart (left steering wheel button and hazard) - a ghost I already chased more than once! Why I am sharing, not happy about it.

 

[NY_Rob]

Lol! Thanks - I did! And after I ejected it it crashed two more times on the drive home. If my laptop did this I'd return it! Service then tried to tell me to do a vehicle restart (left steering wheel button and hazard) - a ghost I already chased more than once! Why I am sharing, not happy about it.

Sorry, but already know they're jerking your gherkin at this point!

 

[R1ship]

Happened to me several times too - not sure of the cause

 

[portdirect]

This issue was plaguing my truck: I couldn’t drive more than 60 miles without the infotainment system rebooting, and I had to manually reboot just to put the truck into Drive. Ultimately, replacing the AXM2 unit resolved it. When you bring your truck in, ask the technicians to examine the “tombstones” that Android (running in kiosk mode) writes—these logs can reveal whether there’s a hardware failure or if the system simply needs to be reflashed.

Interestingly, my experience aligns with yours: I was initially told the problem was caused by a “USB hub” plugged into the center-console port, even though it only contained a Samsung T7 SSD. It took extensive diagnostics for them to rule out that theory.

Edit: Having watched your video, I see your symptoms differ slightly from mine. I experienced a full reboot—displaying the Rivian logo and a blank screen for 30–45 seconds (aside from the speedometer). Your video looks more like individual display applications crashing and restarting. I’m not minimizing your issue—just noting that the behavior isn’t exactly the same.

 

[Mathme]

After about 45 minutes of driving Monday, my screens rebooted. First and only time (so far) this has happened in 25k miles.

 

[Collyay]

This issue was plaguing my truck: I couldn’t drive more than 60 miles without the infotainment system rebooting, and I had to manually reboot just to put the truck into Drive. Ultimately, replacing the AXM2 unit resolved it. When you bring your truck in, ask the technicians to examine the “tombstones” that Android (running in kiosk mode) writes—these logs can reveal whether there’s a hardware failure or if the system simply needs to be reflashed.

Interestingly, my experience aligns with yours: I was initially told the problem was caused by a “USB hub” plugged into the center-console port, even though it only contained a Samsung T7 SSD. It took extensive diagnostics for them to rule out that theory.

Edit: Having watched your video, I see your symptoms differ slightly from mine. I experienced a full reboot—displaying the Rivian logo and a blank screen for 30–45 seconds (aside from the speedometer). Your video looks more like individual display applications crashing and restarting. I’m not minimizing your issue—just noting that the behavior isn’t exactly the same.

Interesting, thank you. On almost every other occasion the center screen and driver screen went completely blank at the same time, then restarted with just the logo. The video does show the Nav freezing not a center screen restart. But of course that was the only time that happened.

 

[Collyay]

After about 45 minutes of driving Monday, my screens rebooted. First and only time (so far) this has happened in 25k miles.

Hmmm ... that's how mine started at under 10k miles. Now 6 months and 2.5 thousand miles later it's rebooting 4x in a 22 mile 1hr drive? I'll update after my mobile service appointment if there is a resolution. I know that in other posts on this forum some said an AXM2 ECU or some "telemetric module" had to be replaced.

 

[Collyay]

Others have commented in similar posts that this is "normal" or a "right of passage." "It doesn't effect driving." But when I'm barreling down the highway in a 7,500lb beast and possibly using lane centering or even navigating in traffic it creates a startle factor, causes distracted driving, and a lack of situational awareness that can be very dangerous. In my video when the nav rebooted it inaccurately told me that I was a 1/4 mile away from the ramp and I was actually less then 25 feet away. Kind of like 30 years ago, when my mom would yell at my dad "take this exit!" and we'd abruptly swerve through traffic to make it!! Not okay when you come to rely on these systems - I just want Rivian to solve this problem (not ignore it) for what I otherwise think is a great product, I was an early adopter and love my Rivians! This is a SAFETY issue, it is effecting too many Rivian drivers, it needs to be resolved.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Others have commented in similar posts that this is "normal" or a "right of passage." "It doesn't effect driving." But when I'm barreling down the highway in a 7,500lb beast and possibly using lane centering or even navigating in traffic it creates a startle factor, causes distracted driving, and a lack of situational awareness that can be very dangerous. In my video when the nav rebooted it inaccurately told me that I was a 1/4 mile away from the ramp and I was actually less then 25 feet away. Kind of like 30 years ago, when my mom would yell at my dad "take this exit!" and we'd abruptly swerve through traffic to make it!! Not okay when you come to rely on these systems - I just want Rivian to solve this problem (not ignore it) for what I otherwise think is a great product, I was an early adopter and love my Rivians! This is a SAFETY issue, it is effecting too many Rivian drivers, it needs to be resolved.

Bro I was with you until you blamed Rivian for the safe operation of your vehicle. All these systems are ASSISTANCE systems and they tell you straight out to be responsible for your vehicle. What’s wrong with missing the exit and taking the next one?

I travel frequently, and in those travels I miss my exit and I get off on the next one and backtrack. It isn’t like you’re walking to your destination. It’s not a safety issue unless you drive like shit. Yeah the system should work, but ultimately it’s on you to operate the vehicle. Do better.

 

[Collyay]

Bro I was with you until you blamed Rivian for the safe operation of your vehicle. All these systems are ASSISTANCE systems and they tell you straight out to be responsible for your vehicle. What’s wrong with missing the exit and taking the next one?

I travel frequently, and in those travels I miss my exit and I get off on the next one and backtrack. It isn’t like you’re walking to your destination. It’s not a safety issue unless you drive like shit. Yeah the system should work, but ultimately it’s on you to operate the vehicle. Do better.

Well Donald - I'm not sure I agree. As an example of a complex system, the next time you're flying into Newark or DC or maybe in a military helicopter or even just flying in a 737 and the pilots tell you the navigation systems rebooted or that air-traffic control can no longer see us, let me know how the people around you react? When the screen in front of a Rivian driver suddenly goes blank, the primary driver's display, it's the startle factor that can lead to distracted driving that can then lead to an accident. In aviation it's called the Swiss-cheese affect.

When you become accustomed to the information being provided to you by these Rivian systems, systems provided by Rivian to increase safety and situational awareness (where you are in relation to the other vehicles, road markings/lines, exits and etc.), when they fail it's serious. They did not need to include these systems, but they did for safety, so when they fail its a safety issue. It's not about missing an exit.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Well Donald - I'm not sure I agree. As an example of a complex system, the next time you're flying into Newark or DC or maybe in a military helicopter or even just flying in a 737 and the pilots tell you the navigation systems rebooted or that air-traffic control can no longer see us, let me know how the people around you react? When the screen in front of a Rivian driver suddenly goes blank, the primary driver's display, it's the startle factor that can lead to distracted driving that can then lead to an accident. In aviation it's called the Swiss-cheese affect.

When you become accustomed to the information being provided to you by these Rivian systems, systems provided by Rivian to increase safety and situational awareness (where you are in relation to the other vehicles, road markings/lines, exits and etc.), when they fail it's serious. They did not need to include these systems, but they did for safety, so when they fail its a safety issue. It's not about missing an exit.

Yawn. I went to flight school, and in that school they teach you how to read your analog instruments. Would it be acceptable for a pilot to drive a plane into the ground because their computer wasn’t telling them how to fly? No, it would not be acceptable. Take responsibility for your vehicle, assistance systems are there to assist, NOT take the responsibility for the safe operation of the vehicle.

 

[Collyay]

Yawn. I went to flight school, and in that school they teach you how to read your analog instruments. Would it be acceptable for a pilot to drive a plane into the ground because their computer wasn’t telling them how to fly? No, it would not be acceptable. Take responsibility for your vehicle, assistance systems are there to assist, NOT take the responsibility for the safe operation of the vehicle.

Only because I like a good discussion. 1) What analog gauges? 2) I'm a well trained driver, I take responsibility for the things I am responsible for 3) Here's an example of a software issue and people who were startled, poorly trained by their airlines, and did not react appropriately:

Not sure why you're arguing/defending this Rivian software glitch? It's something that needs to be addressed/fixed. It will make Rivian even better.

 

[R1TCntrlMaIzzy]

Should the systems not reset as one is driving? Yes.

Many of us know it does and will happen. well those of us that are more current with the posts in the various forums, groups and, I believe even more so, those of us that are involved in the tech, computing, s/w environment. We are more prone to expect the resets. Even when they are not welcomed.

Most people do not expect this.

Should the driver always be aware of their surroundings and in control? Yes

Will some people panic and possibly end up in a bad situation? Yes, it is bound to happen. I would bet if a serious accident were to occur and a reset was part of the cause, Riv would be at the least, partially at fault.

Should the Riv team properly address the matter, in particular when they have fixed similar situations with a module replacement? Yes.

Let’s be real a damn removable device should not cause a failure in our vehicles. In theory could it? Yes, it is a “computer”. this is not your home desktop, laptop, a server on a rack or otherwise. The level of protection against a removable device causing our vehicles from resetting should be much higher.

So, this poster alluded to not feeling safe. Most humans would state the same. Sure, you, I and many others would react differently. But, we are humans, not robots and not everyone will react the same.

The more I read the replies to, too many of the posts, it is more of a humiliation, denigrating, negative feedback than the welcoming vibe all should feel.

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