Looking Stupid Waiting for the Unlock !!!!!

[ElGuano]

Compared to our Tesla, I'd say:

Tesla proximity-unlocks correctly about 90% of the time. The other 10%, a tap on the door handle extends them, which is also fine from a convenience standpoint.

Our Gen2 R1T proximity-unlocks correctly about 80% of the time. 10% of the time a tap on the door handle works. The other 10% it doesn't, requiring pulling the app out and unlocking manually.

So, not super far off in terms of percentages. But functionally, this feels like the Tesla works "100% of the time" whereas the Rivian doesn't unlock occasionally.

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[Vivsies]

Why not simply use the turn off proximity locking at home feature instead?

I have this off at home and it still randomly locks/unlocks in the driveway. I've toggled every variation of these settings and nothing matters. I leave it to where my phone is the only key for proximity locking but it still happens.
Taken it to the SC specifically for this issue with multiple (like 10+) timestamps logged (where I've heard the lock sound unexpectedly I'm the middle of the night) and they couldn't diagnose anything.
If it was pure inconvenience, but I have to park in the driveway and it's obvious when a rivian is unlocked....

 

[PrairieColonel]

I have an iPhone 14, and my experience is inconsistent unlocking. While I can not prove this (nor have I made a record of events), it seems that some of the over the air updates have affected this. With the latest, 2025.18.01, I need to almost touch the door handle with my phone before it opens. I keep the app open on my phone all the time.

 

[cohall]

iPhone 14 Pro. No real issues. Very occasionally it doesn't unlock when I approach (maybe 1% of the time), but simply pushing any side button of my phone while it's in my pocket seems to wake everything up and unlock the car. No biggie for me. I've certainly never spent 2 minutes standing in the rain waiting for it to open.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Minimal issues with my Gen 1. Various models Pixel phone (currently 8 Pro). It presents handles by the time I walk to it in almost every situation. I second "keep the fob in your pocket and keycard in your wallet". Also "turn off unlock at home", I just really hated that it would wake up every time I walked to my garage; easier to tap the fob or app when I do need it open at home.

So bizarre that this seems to really affect some people, but others not at all. And certainly a lot of things can affect it (phone power saving settings, etc.). Good luck!

 

[RivianEC]

Why not simply use the turn off proximity locking at home feature instead?

I do this for my home and when we spend a week or more out of town and even with the key fob, I have to press it multiple times to unlock.

That said, I understand Rivian is still working to resolve these issues while also trying to develop new features. Just this month or so, I’m finding more roads are open to Driver+ for the first time in a while!

 

[bigsky]

Considering that proximity locking/unlocking uses BT and that all phones that have it are or should be compliant with the BT standard, perhaps something else with the vehicle is going on.
I never have had any issues with my Android phone. PAAK (a godsend) and proximity locking work like a champ 100% of the time. I keep my phone in my front pocket.

Can't say that I deliberately walk to my R1S from a given direction always or perform some body contorting ritual to activate it; I just walk up to it sideways; from the rear, from the front, straight for the driver door, whatever, vehicle unlocks perfectly once I get within 3 ft. or so of the door. LIkewise, it always locks itself up once I get some 4 car lengths away. I know it because I hear the owl hoot.

Your experience really sucks and hope you get it resolved.

 

[bigsky]

It sucks that the Gen2 doesn’t come with a key fob. I’ve never liked PaaS. The card keys are a solid backup but not for daily use. Then their is the wristband key. On the Gen1 you can enable or disable it in the app. Indications are that it works on the Gen2 but you have to call service to get it enabled.

Rivian has successfully taken something that is very easy and made it difficult.

Even though it’s $250, I’d happily buy a key fob. Oh yea, IT’S NEVER IF F***** STOCK!

If Gen 1 key fobs work with Gen 2 vehicles and can be transferred to a new owner/vehicle, I will be glad to sell you that worhtless, ICE-age, detestable, repugnant, abhorrent POS key fob (all MY opinion) that I never will use, amen. Will make you a deal that you could not refuse. Brand-new for all intents and purposes; the only time I touched that thing is when I took delivery.

 

[2kwik4u]

Yes it is frustrating. But it is not a design flaw. Its evolution and It's intentional, sort of. Having spent a career in tech and software development there comes a time when new software has to break with older hardware and OS if it is to move forward. The more versions of hardware and OS a piece of software must work with the more expensive it becomes to maintain and limits taking advantage of new hardware and OS capabilities. It's frustrating, but it is reality.

No, this isn't the reality of what "has to happen". There is zero real world use case that mandates the need to remove physical access. It's a bougie "look me too" feature that is far more sizzle than steak. I'm not accessing a dataset, I'm not trying to log in to a server, I'm trying to access a physical asset to use it for physical work. If you want it as a feature, fine, add it, but don't remove the physical backups that allow unconnected access.

This system is so slow, with no redundancy, that my wife won't drive it alone. Period. Citing safety issues in downtown areas where she doesn't feel safe standing alone outside a vehicle that won't let her in and might not let her drive away if needed.

I'll gladly (and I would wager most others would top) trade the security of a BT handshake for the instant and reliable unlocking of a proven coded RF solution.

My Audi had keyless entry. When it failed, there was a small panel that could be removed, and a key pulled from the fob, and access granted......know how I got in my Rivian when it failed? Called a tow truck to literally pry the door open far enough to reach metal pole inside and pull the handle.

PaaK without physical backup is a poor design choice that benefits the manufacturer only in terms of part count and complexity.

It's an asinine design choice and Rivian wasn't forced into anything.

 

[RivAW]

My truck just likes to mess with me. Hands full, phone in pocket…nothing will work until I pull the phone out. Hands empty preparing to retrieve phone from pocket and the truck wakes up and unlocks when I’m 5 feet away…..it’s just playing games

 

[tjsainsb]

Never had a problem with my Pixel 6a and my Gen1R1S. Until I got a new 9a and the lastest Rivian update I've rthe last couple weeks. Now I stand around using PAAK frustrated. I'm not sure if it was the Rivian update, the new phone, or an Android update that would have caused the same problem if I still had my old phone. I carry my fob usually, but there are times (e.g., entering stadiums) when I'd rather carry less stuff. I'm starting to get worried I'll be locked out sometime though.

 

[bigsky]

I'll gladly (and I would wager most others would top) trade the security of a BT handshake for the instant and reliable unlocking of a proven coded RF solution.

Give me my PAAK access to my EV or give me death, full stop.
In my view, RF solutions, e.g., ICE-age key fobs are legacy bs, meant for dumb cars, i.e., ICE cars.
PAAK and EVs are two peas in a pod, one of the greatest gifts EVs have given us.
Have used PAAK in my Tesla and now my Rivian, 5 years combined usage. If I have used PAAK 300 times, 300 times it has worked flawlessly, as intended. Nothing, absolutely nothing else, much less a worthless POS key fob beats walking up to your car, phone in pocket, and not having to do a damn thing to get in and go, or get out. Just walk normally; EV unlocks as you approach, get in, press brake pedal, EV comes to life, switch to D, off you go. In and out of your car, no fumbling for a POS device. Approach, walk away normally, not one thing to do to make it work but have phone somewhere on you.

Every technology isn't perfect. ICE-age key fob bull, had better hope the battery does not die.
Besides, in my anecdotal, 100% reliable situation, should PAAK ever not work, I would just pull out my key card somewhere in my wallet. Use it, off I go. PAAK, key cards are the greatest gifts for access given to EV owners. I for one will never go back to that key fob crap.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

If Gen 1 key fobs work with Gen 2 vehicles and can be transferred to a new owner/vehicle, I will be glad to sell you that worhtless, ICE-age, detestable, repugnant, abhorrent POS key fob (all MY opinion) that I never will use, amen. Will make you a deal that you could not refuse. Brand-new for all intents and purposes; the only time I touched that thing is when I took delivery.

My guide tells me that they are not compatible. But thanks for the offer..

 

[mkhuffman]

It sucks that the Gen2 doesn’t come with a key fob. I’ve never liked PaaS. The card keys are a solid backup but not for daily use. Then their is the wristband key. On the Gen1 you can enable or disable it in the app. Indications are that it works on the Gen2 but you have to call service to get it enabled.

Rivian has successfully taken something that is very easy and made it difficult.

Even though it’s $250, I’d happily buy a key fob. Oh yea, IT’S NEVER IF F***** STOCK!

I purchased a R1S fob for my T. It works just as it should, and the hatch button drops the tailgate.

I don't use it. I purchased it for my wife to use. She has yet to drive my truck. LOL. She promised to learn how to drive it last weekend. I think maybe she will do it next weekend.

For me PaaK has been flawless except for the one time it wasn't. But it was a total failure, not just bad signal. For some reason all the keys stopped working. It was not just the key on my primary phone, but my emergency backup phone also failed.

The fix? It took a couple full system reboots and eventually the keys started working again. Of course this was after I removed PaaK from my primary phone and reinstalled it under the advice of customer support. That didn't work, but the reboot did.

On a side note, PaaK has been a notorious failure item on the Ford Mach-e. It is a difficult technology to get right and having the latest version of phones and software matters. Unfortunately for those who love their old phones.

 

[bigsky]

I used my PAAK again today. My R1S beast actually unlocked doors for me some 20+ ft. away before I got to it. Priceless.

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