What’s the deal with the locks issues?

[Indy300]

Hello everyone. First time post.
I am looking to buy an R1T (likely Gen1) and doing my research. I understand there have been a lot of issues with the door locks in the past. That problem seems maddening! I have read the owners guide on how things are supposed to work. Were the issues limited to certain model years? Were the issues corrected with software updates? What is the current state of the issue? I saw the recent announcement about the digital wallet key for iPhones, but that appears limited to Gen2, correct?

thanks for any insight.

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[COdogman]

Some are definitely having issues - that is real. I feel like it occurs more often with those who have more than one Rivian. Or if they don't have their proximity settings configured properly and their Rivian is nearby in their garage.... That's probably a generalization, but other than the occasional time I have my phone in my back pocket when I approach my truck, my PaaK works really well.

Hopefully some of those having issues can share their experiences.

 

[Rivdog]

I have a lot of issues and it’s been with an iPhone 14 Pro and now an iPhone Air. I actually don’t think it’s so much the Rivian as it is my phone. Sometimes it works perfectly fine and unlocks as I walk up, but usually it sits there for a while doing nothing. The gear guard video will be recording me for 10-20 seconds before it unlocks so the Rivian knows I’m there. No matter how long I wait, whether it be 2 seconds or 20, it always seems to instantly unlock as soon as I open the app on my phone (yes I keep it open in the background). Simply pulling my phone out of my pocket seems to almost always make it work instantly. I’ve also noticed that phone as a key doesn’t seem to work if I have my magnetic wallet on the back of my phone.

Still worth it for the convenience though. Gen 1 R1T and still loving it after 3 years, even being someone who really likes switching my cars up frequently. Can’t find a better daily driver for under like $150k IMO.

 

[Golfer04]

I've owned several R1Ts and my gen 1 had problems, but they also came with fob. If it bothers you just carry it and no issues. I had less of a problem on the gen 2 trucks. As a matter of fact this Tri PAK worked great. Update brought digital key and it also works.
Obviously a price differential, but I would buy a gen 2 over gen 1 now. Sounds like gen 1 will be left behind in future updates.

 

[SwampNut]

No issues for me with a modern-level iPhone. Gen 1. My neighbor reports some random unlock delays with both his older iPhone and the fob, after the SC replaced a wiring harness and control module in his.

 

[DD4ST]

I have an iPhone 14 that had some issues initially, but Rivian fixed that in a previous update (specifically for the iPhone 14’s). Since then no issues. The good news seems to be this seems to be a software fix, not harware.

 

[SwampNut]

The good news seems to be this seems to be a software fix, not harware.

The bad news is that a hardware change CAUSED it for my neighbor's iphone 14 Pro and fob.

 

[jrmbadger]

I have no issues with my iPhone 16 pro on gen 1. Opens 99.9% of the time when I approach. The only time it didn’t I just touched the handles and it opened.

Couple of thing to make sure is that you give the Rivian app all the permissions it wants and set location to always and you leave the Rivian app running in the background. Further your phone position is important. Putting the phone in your back pocket is likely to cause issues. We are like 70% water and water blocks Bluetooth well.

Finally, if you are having problems I’d watch the Bluetooth connections to verify that all four sensors “Rivian Sensor 1” … “Rivian Sensor 4” show up at some point in your devices. If you don’t have all four some may not be working.

 

[Mathme]

I'm petty similar to @Rivdog. PaaK works well, but if I walk up to the truck from the drivers side, I have to take my phone out of my pocket and touch the screen on it before it'll unlock. From any other angle or approach, the doors are open by the time I get to them.

 

[CO-Ed]

Gen 1 owner with no PaaK issues, including those mentioned here, but i do normally have my Android phone in my front pocket. This 2022 model is my only Rivian.

If I nit-pick about PaaK, it's about the distance I need to be away from the vehicle; if I get a parking spot right out front of the coffee shop, at the counter ordering a coffee I'm generally not far enough away for it to lock.

On the non-PaaK side, but about locking: I've got the truck configured not to lock at home and I've set my HOME location just outside my garage. But since the software in the truck maps the XY coordinate where you save your HOME location to a physical street address, if you're house isn't where Google thinks your street address is, it doesn't work right.

For me, Google Maps places my physical street address 0.25 miles away from my house (still on my property though). It works fine if I park 0.25 miles from my house, where Google places my street address, but my truck is constantly locking and unlocking in my garage as I move about my house with my phone. Wish it would use the XY i give it for HOME location and not where Google thinks my house is.

 

[DD4ST]

If I nit-pick about PaaK, it's about the distance I need to be away from the vehicle; if I get a parking spot right out front of the coffee shop, at the counter ordering a coffee I'm generally not far enough away for it to lock.

Yeah, I wish it LOCKED when I am a little closer. I have to walk 30-40 feet away.

 

[SyanVergio]

You might find that using a digital wallet key is smoother with newer models and right software settings. If you encounter persistent lock issues with Rivian, consulting a competent professional like a House locksmith can sometimes bring unexpected solutions. Keeping phone settings updated and the device charged helps too. I've heard new software updates greatly improve the phone as a key function on these trucks.

 

[rodhx]

I have an early truck, VIN 38xx, and have used PAAK exclusively for over four years. Various OTAs have affected sensitivity so range has seesawed through the updates but otherwise no real issues. At every point PAAK performance has been MUCH better than Ford could manage on the Mockey we had.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

The biggest issue I have with my Gen2 is locking and unlocking at home. I have my R1S set so it won’t use proximity to unlock when I’m at home. If I have it on, the car will unlock every time I go to the pantry (right next to the garage) then it will lock a few seconds later.

The problem with this is that I have to wait 30 seconds for the R1 to wake up before it’ll unlock when I’m using my phone. It’s a real PITA. I don’t understand why this wasn’t an issue on my Gen1 R1T but is on the Gen2. It’s one of the things that would keep me from buying another Rivian.

 

[racekarl]

I have a Gen 1 R1T and while my PaaK generally works as designed, my main issue is that it is defective by design: none of the proximity lock options provide a satisfactory experience when parked at home.

If you turn proximity locking off at home, you may experience additional vampire drain. The Gen 1 has relatively significant vampire drain, which is helped by locking the truck so it can go fully to sleep. Additionally, when it does go to sleep while unlocked, it takes a bit longer to wake when you get in since it's trigged by the door opening as opposed to the unlock. Plus, this leaves the truck unlocked, which may be a security concern.

If you leave proximity locking on at home, the truck will probably unlock and re-lock as you move around the house with your phone.

If you set proximity locking to lock-only at home, every time you go to leave you will have to take out your phone to manually unlock the truck.

As I understand it, Gen 2 addresses this deficiency in a couple of ways:
1. Reduced vampire drain so leaving proximity locking off at home (and the truck unlocked) is acceptable if you have secure parking.
2. By adding a button on the door that allows you to set proximity to lock-only at home and wake and unlock it without taking your phone out.

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