Issue With the Rivian Charging Network

[ficheh]

I have used the Rivian charging network ever since they installed them in Yosemite NP. Up thru December of 2025 it worked great. Just plug in and it chargef my car. I just got here today, 3/3/26, and Rivian has decided that it was time to monetize the network. Ok, so I sign up and sttach my credit card. I got here with 6% (16 miles) of range. The charging stall is up and clearly says to use a specific code to identify this charging port on the app (which I had just installed). I open the app and NOWHERE on the app is there any reference to this code that is on the display. The display also has a qr code (the code is in the didplay svreen so not a scammer code). This code only gets you to the app, not a screen where charging would begin. After much work looking around on the app, I find my location (9006 Yosemite Lodge Dr) in the app. The app lists 10 chargers (where I am parked there are 4 chargers). The chargers on the app are listed 1-10. The map shows where I am as 9/10. I assume that means chargers 9 and 10. I plug my car in and my car says "ready to charge". The charger display doesn't say anything different than before. I try on the app to start charging, eventually trying all the ten different chargers. Nothing happens. My car says no charging has started. I call Rivian. They adk questions to determine my location. I tell them that the app says I am at 9006 Yosemite Lodge Drive. The agent on the phone has a diffucult time finding these chargers, but does eventually find them. He asks which charger I'm at. I give him the code and tell hom the code is NOT LISTED on the app. After much back and forth, he says that he will reboot the charger. After a while he says to try it again and to hit the start charging button in the app. Again nothing happens. I try the other cable on the stall. Nothing. He says he will tryto reset the charging stall. This time the stall does something and starys displaying shsyem tests. I get hopeful. After it finishes, which took several minutes., he says try it. I plug in again, hit the start charging button in the app and the display says "authorizing". I get hopeful again. The display then says "waiting..." with the dots constantly moving. After several minutes I ask him if it is going to start. He has no idea. My car says no power is coming into my car and to check with the charger. It has been around 30 minutes and my car is down to 14 miles of range remaining. I tell the agent that I can't just sit here for hours waiting for it to start and will have to find an alternate charging system. He says he understands and apologizes forvthe system not working for me (fat lot of good that does me as my car gets closer and closer to 0 charge. I sauy thank you and tell him that this formerly useful charging system is now useless since they tried to monetize it. He says that was another division. Thankfully, there is a Tesla Supercharging location 11 miles away. No problems using that charging network. Just plug in. Less thsn 30 minutes latery 20 miles of range is up to 250 miles. Moral of this story is "the once easy to use level 2 Rivian charging network is now a totally useless waste of time that they now want to charge you for. WHAT A PIECE OF S#!%!!!".

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[Thedude]

That sucks but you gotta proofread the rant before posting. Started with 16 miles, dropped to 14 miles, drove 11 miles and started charging with 20 miles.

 

[DeanB1452]

I was in Yosemite last month. 9 of the 20 Rivian Waypoint chargers in Curry Village were still free, just plug in and walk away. I listed them on PlugShare too.

 

[VandalSibs]

Paragraphs would be helpful.

 

[BCondrey]

I'm not gonna read all that. I take it you had problems getting the charge to start. Reboot the vehicle, try a different stall, verify the CC on file, proceed to your plan B DCFC if all that fails. Adventure on and live well.

 

[ficheh]

That sucks but you gotta proofread the rant before posting. Started with 16 miles, dropped to 14 miles, drove 11 miles and started charging with 20 miles.

The 20 miles at the end should've been 10. The other #s are accurate. The 11 miles from the valley to the Twsla Superchargers only took 4 miles of range as the drive was downhill on highway 140. I think I did pretty well with only 1 typo in that really long story.

I was in Yosemite last month. 9 of the 20 Rivian Waypoint chargers in Curry Village were still free, just plug in and walk away. I listed them on PlugShare too.

Thanks, I'll try check out before I leave.

 

[ficheh]

Paragraphs would be helpful.

You are right. But when I'm pissed off, I don't think about ease of reading, Just getting it all out so I can let it go. Sorry.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

When you have a problem with your home utilities, who do you contact? the utility provider in question or do you go on the internet to rant at strangers? In real life, when is it ever acceptable to run up to strangers to launch into a tirade?

There’s no clear mention of whether it was a level 3 DCFC (RAN) or level 2 (Waypoint). No detailed account of steps you took, other than you “looked everywhere” but couldn’t locate what you needed. That isn’t the same as thoroughly reading info presented and still not findings resolution. In a panic you could have just scanned/skimmed and missed what you needed. At least admit that is a possibility. We’ve all made that mistake in life and can at least sympathize with that. Plus, there are multiple factors for any charging network to fail, including Tesla. Just think about what is required for a successful hand shake between the charger that is built into your car, the charging network (especially if a change in protocol is required), said network and the dispenser, the network and your credit card’s issuing bank. Plus, was the plug inserted fully and securely? were the contacts on the plug and port clean? were there others charging? Plugshare would have shown past/recent check-ins. These would indicate that maybe the problem is more specific to you, your car and/or credit card. Plus, YouTube alone has multiple videos on how to charge a non-Rivian at RAN.

Lastly, this is not a forum operated by Rivian. It’s also not an official channel for submitting feedback to Rivian (or to obtain tech support from). Rivian’s contact information is available at rivian.com and posted on the charging dispensers. Yes, we do discuss problems here. But I don’t see an invitation for discussion. I see “I’m mad so I’m going to throw a tantrum and shout into ether and dump my feelings on strangers… because it cost me nothing and I don’t care what it’s like for those on the receiving end; because they’re strangers.”

Advice: Got a problem? Work the problem. Strangers are bystanders. They aren’t your problem and they aren’t obligated to care. If you want strangers to care, you gotta give them a reason to. Shouting at them isn't that. What if roles were reversed? If you were one of us and it was one of us who wrote what you did. Would you feel more or less compelled to care?

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