Advice Sought - Rivian Key Band

[tps5352]

This is a request for advice/help.

• In 2025 I purchased a Rivian Key Band (ZY4_ _ _) from the legitimate original owner whose Gen 1 vehicle had unfortunately been in an accident and was “totaled.”
  
  
• A few months later, in 2026, I took it in to my local Rivian service center and was told that it was still “attached to an owner” (but a new owner, I discovered) and that I needed to contact Rivian customer service by phone, and that it should be able to be unpaired if the original owner got involved.
  
  
• I subsequently discovered that, unbeknownst to the first owner, the original vehicle had been salvaged (by the insurance company?) and shipped overseas to Ukraine!
  
  
• Meanwhile, I spoke to Rivian by phone, and in person (at a second service center). And, when he heard about the problem, the original owner graciously got involved and spoke to Rivian by phone and in person where he lives.
  
  
• What we each heard on different occasions varied slightly; but the bottom line was that Rivian cannot (or will not) unpair the Key Band from the original car and its new owner (in Ukraine). Frustratingly, under the auspices of "privacy" Rivian will also not contact the new owner or provide his/her contact information. I even volunteered to surrender the Key Band so it could be sent to the new owner. No dice.
  
  
• This makes this otherwise desirable and valuable accessory (in otherwise perfect condition and with attractive yellow highlighting) basically worthless (to anyone but an unknowable "owner" somewhere in Eastern Europe).

Can anyone offer a reasonable solution to this conundrum?

Are there private businesses anywhere that can somehow unpair this device? Do I need to seek out the black-market services of a teenage hacker?

I have to say that so far I am very disappointed in Rivian as a company. Under these unusual circumstances, where the car had been legally “totaled” in the USA, then shipped after-the-fact far away to a war zone of all places and to a country with no active Rivian presence, the reluctance to help out two customers here at home (the original owner and myself) is perplexing to me, to say the least. (And by now, who knows what has happened to the original vehicle? Is it in the hands of the Russians? Blown up by drones? Stripped for parts?)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

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[SwampNut]

Imagine the uproar if Rivian were willing to change the primary security device on the Rivian you bought used. This is why I started my transfer before leaving sight of the previous owner.

 

[1stPlace]

Seems like a similar risky proposition trying to buy a used Gen 1 Key Fob too. If it is any consolation, my launch edition wristband never worked 100% of the time. So the value proposition of it being your only key on adventures may not actually be there in the first place.

Rivian holds the data that pairs the key band, so this cannot be solved on the device side. And Rivian does not seem to be willing to budge in this particular case for you. My suggested solution would be to dissolve a plastic key card down to the basic chip and wire and make your own personal wristband.

Rivian is not putting resources into supporting these key swaps. @tps5352 it is a hard truth to hear. I don't like it either--especially with dropped support and stock for Gen 1 fobs. Anyone that has issues with this personally, I suggest providing your feedback directly to Rivian however you can rather than just piling on this or other threads.

 

[Snakelipdog]

I've contacted Rivian dozens of times, as to WHEN will a new KEY FOB for GEN1 R1S be available. Their response has always been; "Sorry not sure when they will be avaliable!" This is been the answer for going on 2 YEARS!

 

[tps5352]

I've contacted Rivian dozens of times, as to WHEN will a new KEY FOB for GEN1 R1S be available. Their response has always been; "Sorry not sure when they will be avaliable!" This is been the answer for going on 2 YEARS!

In one conversation I had with seemingly knowledgeable and friendly service staff-person (Rocklin, California), he said that Rivian is rumored to be working on making the software changes necessary for Gen 1 vehicles to recognize and be able to use Gen 2 fobs. When will that be? Who knows? (Maybe never.)

 

[tps5352]

Imagine the uproar if Rivian were willing to change the primary security device on the Rivian you bought used. This is why I started my transfer before leaving sight of the previous owner.

Yes. In the months since then I have become much more knowledgeable about Rivian key bands. I would know how to buy one and what questions to ask,...now. Live and learn.

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