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Rivian Service policy - no alternative transportation unless vehicle kept for 48 hrs

UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan

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When I bought my first Rivian, their policy was to pick up your vehicle on a flatbed and tow it at their expense to service it, for ANY service. It’s not too much to ask for them to dispatch mobile to minimize inconvenience to their customers. That IS what we were sold.
The glaring and obvious difference, Rivian had a lot fewer SCs and customers then. The "policy" had always been sold as "subject to change" and at "Rivian's discretion". You agreed to buy. You agreed to all that. Ask your lawyer.
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Donald Stanfield

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The glaring and obvious difference, Rivian had a lot fewer SCs and customers then. The "policy" had always been sold as "subject to change" and at "Rivian's discretion". You agreed to buy. You agreed to all that. Ask your lawyer.
In that time there hasn’t been a service center that’s opened any closer to MY house, so what’s changed for me?
 

Mellowyellow

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Really weird thing happened today.

10147.webp


I guess service has their favorites.
Why don't you quit posting about it so you don't ruin it for the rest of us who are still in good favor?

/s but not really
 

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When I bought my first Rivian, their policy was to pick up your vehicle on a flatbed and tow it at their expense to service it, for ANY service. It’s not too much to ask for them to dispatch mobile to minimize inconvenience to their customers. That IS what we were sold.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think mobile service was ever sold as we'll drive 6+ hours (roundtrip) to you, so you don't have to. It's a bummer because I know you love the vehicles but it never did and never will make any business sense to waste a mobile tech's entire day on one customer. I'd be frustrated too if I were you and hopefully they'll build a SC near you in the future. I got lucky they just plopped one 3 minutes from my house.
 

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Why don't you quit posting about it so you don't ruin it for the rest of us who are still in good favor?

/s but not really
I already turned it back in. Had it for less than 6 hours.

The missing piece here is that I already had a vehicle in service and was dropping off a second one. The first just wasn't quite ready when I got there.
 

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Ralph

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But who bought the car despite not having convenient access to service? Who owns that decision and its consequences?
That seems obvious. But no more so than the point is that Rivian has changed there service offering and that people who bought before are considering trading or not buying a Rivian because service, as Rivian is now providing it, does not suit there need.

I didn't see anyone saying they were going to file suit over the issue. In that case (pun intended) the "owner of that decision" would be more relevant.
 

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The glaring and obvious difference, Rivian had a lot fewer SCs and customers then. The "policy" had always been sold as "subject to change" and at "Rivian's discretion". You agreed to buy. You agreed to all that. Ask your lawyer.
Not the issue. No one is filing a suit.
 

Donald Stanfield

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Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think mobile service was ever sold as we'll drive 6+ hours (roundtrip) to you, so you don't have to. It's a bummer because I know you love the vehicles but it never did and never will make any business sense to waste a mobile tech's entire day on one customer. I'd be frustrated too if I were you and hopefully they'll build a SC near you in the future. I got lucky they just plopped one 3 minutes from my house.
They used to do it when the only nearby service center was in Atlanta, so it was more like an 8+ hour round trip. Regardless, they have two mobile techs based in Knoxville now full-time. There's really no reason not to send one here, except to ensure I waste my time.
 

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When I bought my first Rivian, their policy was to pick up your vehicle on a flatbed and tow it at their expense to service it, for ANY service. It’s not too much to ask for them to dispatch mobile to minimize inconvenience to their customers. That IS what we were sold.
I would add on top of this, as I looked at my service history last night, that my history shows five service "incidents," and three have been taken care of by mobile, so 60%, which qualifies as "most." However, off the top of my head, I can think of three that I cancelled because I simply couldn't get the car to the Council Bluffs SC, and was a minor enough inconvenience (GPS not working correctly at startup, wind noise, one other software issue) that I let it ride. Now one of those things is being repaired by mobile, even though it had to be diagnosed at SC, and the others have worked themselves out via eventual (Months later) OTAs. In the end, 37.5% (If we need to be specific) of my service needs have been taken care of by Mobile, with the same percentage being cancelled because of the inconvenience. Mobile service was one of the selling points of this vehicle. My experience is now pointing to most service needing to be at least initiated at the SC, even if it is ultimately resolved with mobile. If that's how they can point to "most," then that's deceptive at best. I have gotten a loaner, but even when I've specified with SC that I need the loaner so can we please schedule around that, I have ended up with a Chrysler Pacifica. From what I can tell, other equivalent makes give an equivalent vehicle. If the infrastructure isn't there, don't make the promise.

Overall, honestly, we LOVE our R1S, but when these frustrations arise, they're MAJOR.
 

Donald Stanfield

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I would add on top of this, as I looked at my service history last night, that my history shows five service "incidents," and three have been taken care of by mobile, so 60%, which qualifies as "most." However, off the top of my head, I can think of three that I cancelled because I simply couldn't get the car to the Council Bluffs SC, and was a minor enough inconvenience (GPS not working correctly at startup, wind noise, one other software issue) that I let it ride. Now one of those things is being repaired by mobile, even though it had to be diagnosed at SC, and the others have worked themselves out via eventual (Months later) OTAs. In the end, 37.5% (If we need to be specific) of my service needs have been taken care of by Mobile, with the same percentage being cancelled because of the inconvenience. Mobile service was one of the selling points of this vehicle. My experience is now pointing to most service needing to be at least initiated at the SC, even if it is ultimately resolved with mobile. If that's how they can point to "most," then that's deceptive at best. I have gotten a loaner, but even when I've specified with SC that I need the loaner so can we please schedule around that, I have ended up with a Chrysler Pacifica. From what I can tell, other equivalent makes give an equivalent vehicle. If the infrastructure isn't there, don't make the promise.

Overall, honestly, we LOVE our R1S, but when these frustrations arise, they're MAJOR.
You're right, Rivian absolutely sold mobile service as their primary means of dealing with issues. They used to send a mobile tech out to see if they could fix it, and if they could not they would schedule service. Now they are prioritizing what works best for them, at the expense of the customer. That works fine if you have a local service center, but not when your drive is 6 hours round trip.

I love the vehicle, but I have very little confidence that my issues will be handled. How many more times do they expect me to drive hundreds of miles to fix issues that shouldn't have happened? This latest one is their mistake, as they did not assemble my car correctly after the last repair. That's just carelessness on top of bad service.

I would say this counts as a major frustration, and I'm to the point where buying a vehicle that I like less overall might still be the right choice, as the one pain point of service will be better.
 

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norivian

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Regardless of your outcome, I think it’s safe to say that there has been a shift in the customer experience level we are used to receiving from Rivian. Otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

Not being greeted by anyone when I show up with my vehicle. I have to get the attention of the service advisor to help me. A Keurig machine with no pods, no cups, actually no beverages (at all) for customers who are waiting. Midas muffler shop provides more amenities for waiting customers. Zero Rivian merch to browse. The waiting space looked a mess, books laying everywhere.

Maybe I’m the only one who pays attention to this stuff.
Am sure Rivian has all the nice things planned and required of all their SCs but most probably managed locally. Blame the local SC management.
 

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Bummed, I was told today for my appt next week policy is no more Enterprise loaners, either they'll have a Rivian to borrow and will let me know the night before or Uber credits. Having the Enterprise guy just come grab me and have it all set up was such a nice service experience. I guess with expecting service needs to shoot up with all the R2s they sell this was inevitable, just a bummer.
 

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Well on the plus side they got me in a loaner later that day. Surprised they have 2025 Trimotor Ascend trims for loaners. Those are $$$$
 

Blackwater

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shitty move if this is a new policy. I completely get not providing for out of warranty or non-warranty covered repairs, but if its a warranty repair that means its a Rivian "failure" and transportation should be covered.

Before anyone starts arguing semantics, I use failure only because something is broken under warranty when Rivian is responsible for repairs.
Yes I agree because as I mentioned prior That loaner was one of the reasons I picked Rivian. Salesperson said I will ALWAYS receive a loaner, and that was October 2026 for my R1T 2026. That's pretty clear even if you are a Caveman. So it sounds like they will get 2 free days of a rental or loaner if it takes longer than 2 days to repair? I guess the owner will have to return to the SC to receive the loaner? It doesn't sound too convenient for the owner that just spent over $100,000 to deal with a warranty item.
 

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Yes I agree because as I mentioned prior That loaner was one of the reasons I picked Rivian. Salesperson said I will ALWAYS receive a loaner, and that was October 2026 for my R1T 2026. That's pretty clear even if you are a Caveman. So it sounds like they will get 2 free days of a rental or loaner if it takes longer than 2 days to repair? I guess the owner will have to return to the SC to receive the loaner? It doesn't sound too convenient for the owner that just spent over $100,000 to deal with a warranty item.
This a key area where the "non-traditional" retailer model breaks down for me. For the past 50 years of my car ownership life, the dealer always has had a loaner option available at no cost no mater the nature of the work as long as I scheduled in advance.
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