R2 emergency door opening sanity check

[Just Passing By]

So I've read the criticism of Rivian and other manufacturers emergency door opening system in this age of electric door latches. The issue has been raised in several threads already for R2 today, so here's a thread for it.

I certainly acknowledge that there is scope for improvement and it seems Rivian will address this for production R2 units anyway. However, it strikes me that there also seems to be a large disconnect on what constitutes an issue and what doesn't for emergency egress from a vehicle? Perhaps its simply because people don't see issues unless highlighted for them, like the recent news coverage on emergency egress and proposed legislation to address it.

For example,

1. If the emergency door latch release mechanism in the pre-prod R2 vehicles (and R1S) is an issue, then what's the position on putting kids or adults in the third row of an R1S? Or actually in any SUV third row, this isn't a Rivian specific issue. There's no opening window, or opening door option, for a third row at all, so what happens in an emergency then?
2. As others have observed, cars for the last 50+ years at least have had child locks on the rear doors preventing anyone from exiting at any time when the child lock is set.

Neither of these examples seem to have been an issue in the past, hence the disconnect, because I'd consider getting out of a third row in an accident, or trying to help someone else get out, far more of a problem.

Just interesting to me to see what people focus on and what seems to fly under the radar.

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[portdirect]

Most of the discussion is focused on internal electronic latches. Personally, I’m less worried about those, as long as there’s a true mechanical override (and thank god it looks like it can at least be used in the R2's back doors - I don't think its possible to use the mechanical override in the rear doors of the gen2 R1 unless it is already open - please someone make a video proving me wrong).

What concerns me more is the loss of mechanical exterior handles.

Historically, you could:

• Enable child locks
• Leave the doors unlocked
• Always open the rear doors from the outside mechanically

That gave you a predictable fallback. Even if kids couldn’t exit, an adult outside could always open the door, no power or software involved.

With Rivian:

• Gen 1 had mechanical exterior handles, but software auto-locks at ~15 mph (with no way to disable) , so you could still end up locked out.
• Gen 2 moved to electronic exterior handles that are basically switches. No mechanical override.
  • R2 appears to follow the same approach.

That’s the real regression in my view - things went from bad to worse. I still bought three of them - so clearly not enough to stop me, but I don't like it.

Interior overrides can be improved with better labeling and ergonomics. But removing mechanical exterior actuation eliminates a long-standing layer of redundancy. Now exterior access depends entirely on vehicle power and software state.

That’s a bigger architectural shift than most people seem to be discussing: the new Chinese regulations ban the R1 Gen2 exterior handles just as much (if not even more) than the interior ones.

It seems only really Volvo have managed to get electronic latching right AFIAK both the exterior and interior handles have two positions - pull them to the 1st and you active the electronic mechanism, pull them hard and they open further and active the mechanical.

 

[DuoRivians]

Zack covered the emergency latches on the R2 in his review.

I’m not too thrilled with this supposed redesign. The rear still requires removing a panel and pulling on a cord for emergency release.

I just want a manual release with manual handles.

Either Rivian should figure out how to allow manual handles to override child locks in an emergency situation, or just leave things as-is when it comes to child locks—more people have child locks disabled.

 

[1stPlace]

The Rivian design is electromechanical, which automatically unlocks the car when an accident is detected, according to the head of design Jeff Hammoud in a recent Motortrend podcast. This is probably the main safety benefit and reasoning of this design that is not really advertised or advocated much. However, if it works this way reliably as described, it probably is indeed a much safer design overall.

I don't have any skin in this game as a Gen 1 owner. I will say, sometimes I just don't like change, and pulling a mechanical lever to open a door is simply more satisfying. Clicking a button is OK if it has a good feel with the click, but if the door switch becomes one of those haptic buttons that don't actually even move or click, an unreasonable rage within me will come out.

 

[f1racer328]

It just blows my mind. Never have I heard anyone say "I wish my car had electronically actuated door handles"

I love how they auto stow and pop out when the vehicle is unlocked, but the entire part where you need an emergency release is horseshit.

I don't know how Rivian did the handles on the R2, but I hope they can be opened completely without any power, front and rear without any emergency release shenanigans.

 

[SANZC02]

Most of the discussion is focused on internal electronic latches. Personally, I’m less worried about those, as long as there’s a true mechanical override (and thank god it looks like it can at least be used in the R2's back doors - I don't think its possible to use the mechanical override in the rear doors of the gen2 R1 unless it is already open - please someone make a video proving me wrong).

What concerns me more is the loss of mechanical exterior handles.

Historically, you could:

• Enable child locks
• Leave the doors unlocked
• Always open the rear doors from the outside mechanically

That gave you a predictable fallback. Even if kids couldn’t exit, an adult outside could always open the door, no power or software involved.

With Rivian:

• Gen 1 had mechanical exterior handles, but software auto-locks at ~15 mph (with no way to disable) , so you could still end up locked out.
• Gen 2 moved to electronic exterior handles that are basically switches. No mechanical override.
  • R2 appears to follow the same approach.

That’s the real regression in my view - things went from bad to worse. I still bought three of them - so clearly not enough to stop me, but I don't like it.

Interior overrides can be improved with better labeling and ergonomics. But removing mechanical exterior actuation eliminates a long-standing layer of redundancy. Now exterior access depends entirely on vehicle power and software state.

That’s a bigger architectural shift than most people seem to be discussing: the new Chinese regulations ban the R1 Gen2 exterior handles just as much (if not even more) than the interior ones.

It seems only really Volvo have managed to get electronic latching right AFIAK both the exterior and interior handles have two positions - pull them to the 1st and you active the electronic mechanism, pull them hard and they open further and active the mechanical.

Almost all manufacturers have been using the auto lock at minimum speed for many years now. This is not new to Rivian. I can’t remember the last vehicle I had that did not do this.

 

[manitou202]

Here is the latest lawsuit against Tesla's door handles. There is simply no justification for not including a mechanical over-ride that is intuitive to use. It's as simple as that. Yes it's very, very, unlikely to ever happen, but at the same time it's just a car. There are other options that don't have this design flaw.

As an engineer I don't get how this would ever pass a design/user FMEA or a risk analysis.


"The mother of 20-year-old man who died after becoming trapped in his burning Tesla Model Y is suing the company over its electronic door handles. It’s the latest wrongful death case centering on Tesla’s door handles, which have triggered numerous customer complaints over the years and is now under investigation by the federal safety regulators.

The lawsuit states that Samuel Tremblett was unable to escape his Model Y after crashing into a tree on October 29, 2025 in Easton, Massachusetts. Tremblett pleaded with 9-1-1 operators to rescue him, saying “I can’t breathe. It’s on fire. Help. Please. I’m going to die.”

Tesla’s door handles, which operate electronically and sit flush against the vehicle for improved aerodynamics, have attracted scrutiny in recent months after numerous cases in which occupants have become trapped in their vehicles after a crash. The suit includes details of at least 15 people who have died since 2016 in Tesla vehicles after being trapped inside by the electric door handles."

https://www.theverge.com/transportation/874283/tesla-door-handle-wrongful-death-tremblett

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I hear this complaint a lot, but for me it's a non-issue. Lots of things have to go wrong at once, and it isn't very likely to happen.

 

[portdirect]

The Rivian design is electromechanical, which automatically unlocks the car when an accident is detected, according to the head of design Jeff Hammoud in a recent Motortrend podcast. This is probably the main safety benefit and reasoning of this design that is not really advertised or advocated much. However, if it works this way reliably as described, it probably is indeed a much safer design overall.

Almost all, if not all, modern cars do this afiak - which is why they are not hyping it. Theres nothing to hype - it’s parity not an advantage.

Almost all manufacturers have been using the auto lock at minimum speed for many years now. This is not new to Rivian. I can’t remember the last vehicle I had that did not do this.

BMW, Honda, Acura, Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover at least (but to be fair not all) let you control this. Eg https://www.lexus.com/content/dam/lexus/drivers/documents/lps/2023/23_ES_LPS_CST.pdf

It just blows my mind. Never have I heard anyone say "I wish my car had electronically actuated door handles"

I love how they auto stow and pop out when the vehicle is unlocked, but the entire part where you need an emergency release is horseshit.

Gen1 showed you can have both - electronically popped out, but mechanically actuated and worked even when not popped out (eg car wash mode).

 

[BigSkies]

My personal threshold for safety includes the following:

1. The method of opening the door in an emergency is identical to opening the door in everyday use. This is because the mind heavily relies on muscle memory in high-adrenaline situations.
2. Opening the door is generally intuitive.
3. A power failure in the vehicle (12V or High Voltage) will not disable the latch or locks.

It looks like the R2 fails on the first point. That's too bad, as I'm really liking everything else about the vehicle. I'm not ready to make a purchase, but safety for my kids outweighs all the other positives when it's time.

And yes, I'm not okay with this on my current Model Y either. I hadn't appreciated how dumb the design was until after I purchased it.

 

[1stPlace]

I enjoy the debate of whether this is overall safer or not, and whether potentially incoming regulations will improve or further complicate the issue... It is hard to visualize and fully evaluate the cost/benefit. Safety data will also be difficult to collect and assess while accounting for other variables.

I currently stand on the side of not changing the past decades of engineering until these new latches are actually proven to be safer, in part because I just don't see the benefit or convenience to the change for the consumer--I see it as a compromise that should only be justified because it is actually safer.

 

[SANZC02]

I understand people’s concern about being trapped in a car during a crash but this is not new. People have been trapped in cars long before electronic latches were created.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I think there's much misinformation in the media on this topic (shocker). Watch MotorTrend's recent podcast featuring Jeff Hammoud. He talks about what Rivian has done about this issue and even before it became red meat in media—anything negative that could be hung on EVs in particular.

If you really want to be prapred? RTFM and carry a glass breaker with a integrated seat belt cutter. EDC pocket knives with all of these features have been around for decades and some are cheaper than what you spend for lunch for two at a diner. Like this Kershaw: https://a.co/d/05MfKnc0. Even cheaper options are available.

Like SANZC02 says, above. This is NOT a new problem. People are way too reactionary and easily whipped up into a frenzy.

 

[BrayBay]

I think there's much misinformation in the media on this topic (shocker). Watch MotorTrend's recent podcast featuring Jeff Hammoud. He talks about what Rivian has done about this issue and even before it became red meat in media—anything negative that could be hung on EVs in particular.

If you really want to be prapred? RTFM and carry a glass breaker with a integrated seat belt cutter. EDC pocket knives with all of these features have been around for decades and some are cheaper than what you spend for lunch at a diner.

Like SANZC02 says, above. This is NOT a new problem.

Don't want to be that guy, but here's the time stamp link: in case someone doesn't want to listen in the whole podcast for this specific topic.

Good podcast though, definitely recommend a full watch.

 

[Thedude]

Electronic door releases are just another example of needless “advances” for the sake of themselves. They do nothing but turn a simple system into a complex system for no real benefit. Just have a mechanical pull handle on the inside of the door like almost every vehicle built in the last 100 years. You can still have an electronic outer door handle that sits flush for the extra .01kwh/mi savings without compromising the ability to easily exit the vehicle under any condition.

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