Proximity locking is annoying

[ATLRivvy]

I think people are thinking about this wrong.. the problem/annoyance isn’t the proximity locking. It’s the handle presentment.

Modern EVs largely have electronic locking mechanisms, not mechanical. “Unlock” just means it detects an authorized user and will respond to the open signal - this is passive. The problem is the handle presentment makes it an “active” response and that’s what turns people off.

My other EV has the exact same proximity sensing but being in proximity just means I can open the door, no handle presentment. Makes the whole thing effectively like a key fob. Just like it has been for 10+ years now, pull handle with key fob in pocket and you don’t need to push unlock.

The handle presentment is all flash and really no substance. Dumb design decision just like the electronically actuating console lid

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[aljommm]

I love PaaK. Don't want to carry a fob and the key card takes effort to get out of my pocket and touch the door handle. But when my hands are full I'm glad to see the door unlock and I can hook the handle with my elbow or a finger to open it. Of course I use the Lock only when Home setting - and that's the only problem. My daughter's driveway is 220 ft. straight line distance (and through a couple of houses) from my driveway, but my R1S thinks it's still at home and the PaaK won't unlock the car when I get close. Would be nice if the "home" had a smaller radius.

 

[llcsf]

I'm going to take a chance and post about something that bothers me a lot. I received a lot of criticism for my last few posts. I don't get it because we're all in the same boat. Anyway, moving on. The proximity locking and unlocking is very annoying. It constantly locks and unlocks over and over when I'm just walking around the truck. I usually leave the door open so it won't lock and unlock over and over. Then when I just walk up to it and want to get in, I often have to stand for a minute looking dumb holding groceries while the truck is deciding to unlock. I'm wondering if my body or part of my body is blocking the signal. When my key fob is in my pocket, if I turn so my body isn't between the fob and the truck, it seems like it unlocks. Why is proximity locking so bad? I'd also like to take this opportunity to urge Rivian owners to be kind to each other because the support from other owners is very important when things aren't going well.

i agree...it is not that good when both my wife and I approach the r1t (or sneak up on it) with deciding who the r1t is going to recognize as the driver...it should be a no brainer that the one with the owners iPhone, key fob or card should be set to the driver

 

[md2023]

On a day-to-day basis, it works great for me, and I really like it. When it is going to be annoying because I am going to be walking around the truck a lot (tailgating, camping) and not at home, I simply turn it off.
From time to time, for example, in a parking lot, when my phone is in my back pocket, it might take another 1/2 a second to open. This really doesn't bother me.
One improvement I don't need but wouldn't mind is being able to set more than one 'home' location - but no biggie.
Overall, thumbs up from me for proximity locking.

 

[GreggVA]

I find the feature very useful BUT would really to have more programmable options of what locks/unlocks other than just the drivers door and all doors. Drivers side option - During the week driving to work, backpack in the back seat; front doors option - wife and I on a day of grocery getting; drivers and frunk option - making a run to the store and walking back with arms full of crap; and so on.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

I think people are thinking about this wrong.. the problem/annoyance isn’t the proximity locking. It’s the handle presentment.

Modern EVs largely have electronic locking mechanisms, not mechanical. “Unlock” just means it detects an authorized user and will respond to the open signal - this is passive. The problem is the handle presentment makes it an “active” response and that’s what turns people off.

My other EV has the exact same proximity sensing but being in proximity just means I can open the door, no handle presentment. Makes the whole thing effectively like a key fob. Just like it has been for 10+ years now, pull handle with key fob in pocket and you don’t need to push unlock.

The handle presentment is all flash and really no substance. Dumb design decision just like the electronically actuating console lid

I guess I’m not following. Why do other cars that present handles not have this issue?

 

[ElGuano]

I guess I’m not following. Why do other cars that present handles not have this issue?

I think they do, but on top of ATLRivvy says:

1. The way Rivian presents handls (angled deploy) is very obviously "unlocked," which is probably intentional. The Model S deployed handles look kinda like static door handles and aren't as noticeable even when presented.

2. The Rivian will play its lock "chirp/hoot" even if the doors aren't opened. So if you walk by the car, you'll hear the door handles present, you'll see them out there, and you'll hear that lock chime a few seconds later. Maybe over and over again.

I didn't mind it the first few times I walked by the car at home. But if I'm outside doing work near the driveway or have to cross the car several times, it gets old VERY quickly, and that's what prompted me to turn off "unlock at home" entirely. If it unlocked/presented, but then locked silently afterwards, I'd probably keep living with it.

Again, it's not really the car's fault, it's just a limitation of unlocking whenever you get close enough, this kind of thing is going to happen.

 

[ATLRivvy]

I guess I’m not following. Why do other cars that present handles not have this issue?

Many do. The broader point is that handle presentment for an electronic door mechanism isn’t necessary and isn’t actually all that useful. A button accomplishes the same thing without the downside of showing the world the car is obviously unsecured.

Just like Start buttons aren’t really necessary in modern cars, neither are presented door handles like this

 

[SRO]

I'm going to take a chance and post about something that bothers me a lot. I received a lot of criticism for my last few posts. I don't get it because we're all in the same boat. Anyway, moving on. The proximity locking and unlocking is very annoying. It constantly locks and unlocks over and over when I'm just walking around the truck. I usually leave the door open so it won't lock and unlock over and over. Then when I just walk up to it and want to get in, I often have to stand for a minute looking dumb holding groceries while the truck is deciding to unlock. I'm wondering if my body or part of my body is blocking the signal. When my key fob is in my pocket, if I turn so my body isn't between the fob and the truck, it seems like it unlocks. Why is proximity locking so bad? I'd also like to take this opportunity to urge Rivian owners to be kind to each other because the support from other owners is very important when things aren't going well.

It works fairly well for me, but what I don't understand is for example when I go for groceries, after I park, I hear it lock when I am about 60' away and when I return, it opens when I get close most of the time (a bit frustrating). So I unload my cart and put the empty cart where it supposed to go which is usually close to the R1S and it locks again (more frustrating). Overall I like it but I wish it could be fine tuned.

 

[ENVErider]

Yes, your phone location does matter. For me phone in hand will work perfectly unlocking when I'm about 20' but in my back pocket, I too will sometimes stand there looking for the handles to present. If I turn 180degrees with butt towards the truck, boom doors unlock immediately.

While there are improvements that have been made and probably still can, I am happy having a truck that has four different key types I can choose: Fob, phone, card and bracelet.

You certainly have the right to dislike the functionality without trolls trying to roast you online. I look at some of Rivian's imperfections in another way. If tomorrow someone gave me all my investment in my R1T in cash, I'd just look for another R1T, I wouldn't even shop around for other models. Even with the list of imperfections that only a Rivian owner can understand, it's still the best overall vehicle that I've ever owned. I guess that's why a company can rank near the bottom of reliability and #1 in customer satisfaction (according to consumer reports).

 

[ENVErider]

It works fairly well for me, but what I don't understand is for example when I go for groceries, after I park, I hear it lock when I am about 60' away and when I return, it opens when I get close most of the time (a bit frustrating). So I unload my cart and put the empty cart where it supposed to go which is usually close to the R1S and it locks again (more frustrating). Overall I like it but I wish it could be fine tuned.

I get the same when phone is in back pocket and I think it's because the phone is facing vehicle as I walk away, but on approach, my body is blocking the signal. Experimenting I've noticed that it open earlier when my phone was in my hand on approach.

 

[SRO]

I get the same when phone is in back pocket and I think it's because the phone is facing vehicle as I walk away, but on approach, my body is blocking the signal. Experimenting I've noticed that it open earlier when my phone was in my hand on approach.

I’ll try that.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

Many do. The broader point is that handle presentment for an electronic door mechanism isn’t necessary and isn’t actually all that useful. A button accomplishes the same thing without the downside of showing the world the car is obviously unsecured.

Just like Start buttons aren’t really necessary in modern cars, neither are presented door handles like this

I agree. Handles that present are the dumbest idea. The Ford Mach-e has a button and I haven’t heard of too many issues with that mechanism, but I don’t really know.

 

[AlanP]

We can land men on the moon, but we can’t get the door handles to unlock reliably. Three years in and probably one of the things I like least about the vehicle .I’m always either standing in the rain waiting for the door to open or I’m with a group of passengers and we all stand around wondering what’s going on. Yes I will take my phone out of my pocket and try to open it manually through the app, but that doesn’t always work quickly as well.

All the cars I’ve rented recently you just walk up , pull on the handle and the door opens. Just seems so simple.

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