R1S Gen 2 Dual Max: Buy back program advice?

[SreyaColvard]

First time Rivian buyer in Dec 2024..We are at our limits of owning a new Rivian which started having problems within days of getting a new one and it's been to service already thrice. The joy of a new car and a fancy long range EV has been lost for us.

The third time, just 6 months in, it just died in our driveway before going out, we had to get it towed and it was a nightmare. Obviously no one in our neighborhood will buy a Rivian now. They've heard all our stories and Rivian has very bad press in our neighborhood thanks to all our incidents where the new car arrived and was gone to the service center in the first week itself.

So we've requested a buy back and are about the begin the process. A replacement is an option. But given our loss of trust that this car can actually work, how do we know that replacement Rivian won't have issues? We've already been through so much stress with the 'new' car which turned into an unpredictable nightmare within days of getting it.

We love the features, smooth drive, maps, the long range, space, and doggy mode and mainly got this cos one of our dogs needs a stroller and we have a rather big one. No other EVs that go long range can fit our 3 dog crates, stroller and our stuff if we go longer distances for vacation. We're always nervous we'll be stranded somewhere in the highway and the doors or back wont open if the battery dies..The lease and space was more attractive from Rivian compared to Volvo EX90 which was our other option.

At this time we're moving forward with a buy back. What would you do given this experience? Should we consider a replacement or just move away from Rivian for good?

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[biker1284]

Rivian has sold well over 100k vehicles. If this was a common occurrence they wouldn't exist anymore. I'd take the replacement, especially if another car can't compete on features.

 

[comtns]

My R1S Dual Standard, leased in late March, has been fine. A few occasional glitches solved by reboot (both outer buttons on steering wheel for 15 seconds), and the phone key works from further away than I'd prefer, but a good vehicle. All the best with your decision.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

There’s a crew of 5 Rivian owners I know. 2 Gen1 and 3 Gen2.

4 of them are done with Rivian because of the reliability and service times. One (Gen2) loves her S but has less than 5k miles on it in a year.

Rivian reputation has definitely caught up with them.

Personally, I’d say take the buy back and get another car. Wait 3-4 years and, if Rivian is around and has improved their QC and SC experience, dive back in. They have potential, but just have the wrong leadership in place.

 

[ndmiller]

Have them buy it back, no brainer.

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

I’m sorry to hear about your experience. While it may not reflect the typical Rivian journey, I completely understand your frustration, and honestly, taking another shot at it probably isn’t worth the risk. What’s next? Hard to say, but it makes sense to move forward.

 

[MidnightRivian]

I vote for a replacement Rivian to meet your needs.

 

[lefkonj]

I understand your frustration but I have now owned 2 R1S, 1 for over 2 years and my current Gen2 since April. Love them had very few problems. if you aren't confident then look at the EV9 or Ioniq 9 otherwise right now this is the option for a large EV.

 

[jmgiardina]

First time Rivian buyer in Dec 2024..We are at our limits of owning a new Rivian which started having problems within days of getting a new one and it's been to service already thrice. The joy of a new car and a fancy long range EV has been lost for us.

The third time, just 6 months in, it just died in our driveway before going out, we had to get it towed and it was a nightmare. Obviously no one in our neighborhood will buy a Rivian now. They've heard all our stories and Rivian has very bad press in our neighborhood thanks to all our incidents where the new car arrived and was gone to the service center in the first week itself.

So we've requested a buy back and are about the begin the process. A replacement is an option. But given our loss of trust that this car can actually work, how do we know that replacement Rivian won't have issues? We've already been through so much stress with the 'new' car which turned into an unpredictable nightmare within days of getting it.

We love the features, smooth drive, maps, the long range, space, and doggy mode and mainly got this cos one of our dogs needs a stroller and we have a rather big one. No other EVs that go long range can fit our 3 dog crates, stroller and our stuff if we go longer distances for vacation. We're always nervous we'll be stranded somewhere in the highway and the doors or back wont open if the battery dies..The lease and space was more attractive from Rivian compared to Volvo EX90 which was our other option.

At this time we're moving forward with a buy back. What would you do given this experience? Should we consider a replacement or just move away from Rivian for good?

Something is wrong with a company that provides cutting edge, off road vehicles with poor build quality and even worse service. Many years ago, when KIA was floundering due in part to reliability problems, new company leadership offered a bumper to bumper 100k warranty. The thinking was the firm would either go broke correcting its errors or thrive by building better cars. Maybe this is what Rivian needs.

 

[SkiLizardHead2]

I have a 2025 Gen 2 R1S Dual Max perhaps similar to you that I took delivery in late Aug 2024. I was able to avoid the early 2025 issues with HVAC. Currently I have about 9K miles on it and my wife and I love it. It is more advanced in features and situational awareness of immediate surroundings (cameras and sensors) than my 2016 Tesla MX. The only area that older Teslas are still superior is the ADAS (autopilot) capabilities since tesla can be in autopilot mode on any highway that has painted lines. (But Rivian has announced improved driver assistance later this year and more improvements next year) I had only one mechanical issue with leaking hydraulic suspension that Rivian towed the car to Colorado Springs (300mi) for repairs. As to software - in the first few months of ownership (2024) there were a few bugs that SW updates corrected and or an occasional reboot. (But (crossing my fingers) never had the vehicle bricked) I have had great service from Rivian SC in Co Springs and mobile service where they did a factory recall on the 12V battery (which i did not have any issues). My 2016 Tesla had a few SW bugs and early mechanical issues which Tesla corrected - but your issues appear to be at another level. I know of two other Gen 1 R!S owners near me and they are happy with his.

I can understand your frustration but considering all the "Adventure" capabilities and the fact that Rivian has over a 100K vehicles on the road i would give Rivian another chance and consider another R1S - depending on the terms that Rivian is offering for a trade?

 

[Donald Stanfield]

My advice is to get something else and not a Rivian. My Rivian is hands down the best vehicle I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t change a thing. There are negatives to buying one, just as there are negatives to buying any product.

I know that service can be an issue, but that doesn’t bother me and the potential for problems with that are overshadowed by the technology and driving experience Rivian offers. From the tone of your question it seems that you cannot say the same thing.

Some people care less about tech and performance and more about reliability. Rivian isn’t for those people, Toyota is. Someday Rivian might get there, but realistically they won’t ever be a Toyota because reliability isn’t their ethos, performance is. For someone like myself I’m glad there is a manufacturer willing to take chances on cutting edge technology and offer it an affordable price point.

Look at what an R1S is up against, the EQG starts at 150 and the upcoming electric Range Rover starts at 180. The Mercedes is 30k more than my Rivian and the Range is 60k more. My tri is quicker and more versatile than either of those cars as well and the Ascend luxury is pretty close, so I went into it understanding that there might be issues and accepted that fact.

It sounds like you’re unwilling to put up with inconveniences so I’d pick something with more proven technology and reliability.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Something is wrong with a company that provides cutting edge, off road vehicles with poor build quality and even worse service. Many years ago, when KIA was floundering due in part to reliability problems, new company leadership offered a bumper to bumper 100k warranty. The thinking was the firm would either go broke correcting its errors or thrive by building better cars. Maybe this is what Rivian needs.

Or maybe they should drastically reduce the level of tech and go with something more reliable, or people could have more realistic expectations. You don’t get cutting edge tech at 100k and expect Toyota quality and reliability. Kia cannot touch the level of tech that a Rivian has, so the comparison is stupid.

 

[SreyaColvard]

I have a 2025 Gen 2 R1S Dual Max perhaps similar to you that I took delivery in late Aug 2024. I was able to avoid the early 2025 issues with HVAC. Currently I have about 9K miles on it and my wife and I love it. It is more advanced in features and situational awareness of immediate surroundings (cameras and sensors) than my 2016 Tesla MX. The only area that older Teslas are still superior is the ADAS (autopilot) capabilities since tesla can be in autopilot mode on any highway that has painted lines. (But Rivian has announced improved driver assistance later this year and more improvements next year) I had only one mechanical issue with leaking hydraulic suspension that Rivian towed the car to Colorado Springs (300mi) for repairs. As to software - in the first few months of ownership (2024) there were a few bugs that SW updates corrected and or an occasional reboot. (But (crossing my fingers) never had the vehicle bricked) I have had great service from Rivian SC in Co Springs and mobile service where they did a factory recall on the 12V battery (which i did not have any issues). My 2016 Tesla had a few SW bugs and early mechanical issues which Tesla corrected - but your issues appear to be at another level. I know of two other Gen 1 R!S owners near me and they are happy with his.

I can understand your frustration but considering all the "Adventure" capabilities and the fact that Rivian has over a 100K vehicles on the road i would give Rivian another chance and consider another R1S - depending on the terms that Rivian is offering for a trade?

Yes we are just starting the buy back process. The email they sent us after evaluating our case mentions replacement and we are considering that option. This is why I made this post. We do love the car and the features. It's just been a very disappointing and stressful new car experience until now which makes us hesitate to take a replacement. It's hard to say how many of their cars are just badly quality and which one we will end up with.

It's encouraging to o learn about your positive experience with Rivian.. When I look at posts on this forum , the frequency of similar issues or serious issues seems high.

The first time the new Rivian stalled before our winter trip to Santa Barbara we had a terrible support experience they wouldn't consider that a new car wasn't working. So we had to escalate..they took the car and gave us a replacement Gen 1. We didn't have the app tied to it and just used the key card. We didn't run into a single glitch and charged in various places along the way. That actually gave us confidence at first.

But our Gen 2 has had one problem after another each time needing a major fix such as the computer module needing replacement in addition to the 12 v battery issue. That says something when it happens multiple times in the first six months of purchase. Rivian have done their bit to give us Uber credits and refund the first month lease because the car wasn't even with us the first month after going to service in the first week itself. It does seem Rivian is draining cash big time. But are they really watching quality? A lot of the other comments seem skeptical about build quality. We are as well and while the replacement seems tempting, we're not confident the quality of the new one will be solid.

It helps to hear about your positive experience. Thanks!

 

[mkg3]

Yes we are just starting the buy back process. The email they sent us after evaluating our case mentions replacement and we are considering that option. This is why I made this post. We do love the car and the features. It's just been a very disappointing and stressful new car experience until now which makes us hesitate to take a replacement. It's hard to say how many of their cars are just badly quality and which one we will end up with.

It's encouraging to o learn about your positive experience with Rivian.. When I look at posts on this forum , the frequency of similar issues or serious issues seems high.

The first time the new Rivian stalled before our winter trip to Santa Barbara we had a terrible support experience they wouldn't consider that a new car wasn't working. So we had to escalate..they took the car and gave us a replacement Gen 1. We didn't have the app tied to it and just used the key card. We didn't run into a single glitch and charged in various places along the way. That actually gave us confidence at first.

But our Gen 2 has had one problem after another each time needing a major fix such as the computer module needing replacement in addition to the 12 v battery issue. That says something when it happens multiple times in the first six months of purchase. Rivian have done their bit to give us Uber credits and refund the first month lease because the car wasn't even with us the first month after going to service in the first week itself. It does seem Rivian is draining cash big time. But are they really watching quality? A lot of the other comments seem skeptical about build quality. We are as well and while the replacement seems tempting, we're not confident the quality of the new one will be solid.

It helps to hear about your positive experience. Thanks!

Keep in mind that people with good/normal experience do not come to the forum and post for the most part. People do post problems so its natural that you see far more issues and problems threads than good.

That said, my recommendation is to have them buy it back and not replace it. Think about the problems you've experienced and remove the brand, vehicle features and emotions. Pragmatically, most would want a fresh start with something different.

I own G1 R!S, 2023 model, and have not had any major issues over the 27K miles and amost 2 years. 2 service center visits (one early to make adjustments and one their service campaign for the suspension knuckle tightening) and 3 mobile service at home (trim replacements, compact spare tire install, and 12v battery replacement).

I tell you this so that you know that I am not one of those with all the issues and problems. It's my wife's daily driver and if I was concerned about the reliability of the vehicle, I would not put her in it; however, If I were in your shoes, I just want a clean start.

Good luck.

 

[SreyaColvard]

My advice is to get something else and not a Rivian. My Rivian is hands down the best vehicle I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t change a thing. There are negatives to buying one, just as there are negatives to buying any product.

I know that service can be an issue, but that doesn’t bother me and the potential for problems with that are overshadowed by the technology and driving experience Rivian offers. From the tone of your question it seems that you cannot say the same thing.

Some people care less about tech and performance and more about reliability. Rivian isn’t for those people, Toyota is. Someday Rivian might get there, but realistically they won’t ever be a Toyota because reliability isn’t their ethos, performance is. For someone like myself I’m glad there is a manufacturer willing to take chances on cutting edge technology and offer it an affordable price point.

Look at what an R1S is up against, the EQG starts at 150 and the upcoming electric Range Rover starts at 180. The Mercedes is 30k more than my Rivian and the Range is 60k more. My tri is quicker and more versatile than either of those cars as well and the Ascend luxury is pretty close, so I went into it understanding that there might be issues and accepted that fact.

It sounds like you’re unwilling to put up with inconveniences so I’d pick something with more proven technology and reliability.

I agree with all your points except that what happened to us creating high stress situations with the Rivian needing to get towed, cameras not working when it was brand new, and the software totally stopped working in the first week or purchase.. these are not 'inconveniences'. Being stranded somewhere in the first 6 months of getting a new Rivian is a safety issue. Cameras and computer modules breaking down are a safety issue as well for a new Rivian owner.

While we are fascinated with tech being in tech ourselves, we prioritize safety and peace of mind in our car experience.

However, you are right in that the price of Rivian and tech offered doesn't match up to other brands you mentioned. That and the space and dog options is what drove us to pick Rivian over other brands. We still love everything about the Rivian except the unreliability which is a priority for us. It's disappointing to have to even make this choice as this was our first full EV after having a plug in hybrid for years and reliability of brands like Subaru and Honda can't match up to the Rivian experience.

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