A Rivian R1S owner has reported that his vehicle became undriveable after a minor collision in a parking garage, with the automaker attributing the issue to a built-in safety feature.
The owner, who shared his experience on Reddit under the username JCarlosLima, stated that his SUV sustained only a cracked taillight and a scratched bumper after bumping into a pillar. However, he said that after inspecting the damage, the vehicle failed to shift into drive, reverse, or neutral. Attempts to restart the system were unsuccessful.
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“After attempting multiple system reboots, I called Rivian support only to learn this was apparently a ‘safety feature,’ requiring the vehicle to be towed,” the owner wrote. He added that retrieving the vehicle from the low-clearance garage required multiple tow trucks, followed by another tow to a repair facility.
My Rivian R1S turned into an 8,000lb brick in my office garage – A cautionary tale
byu/jcarloslima inRivian
Rivian has not publicly commented on the case, but the incident highlights the increasing reliance on software-driven safety mechanisms in modern vehicles. While such features are designed to enhance security, concerns have been raised about the lack of manual override options in scenarios where a minor impact leads to a complete shutdown.
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The owner has not disclosed the repair costs, but previous reports suggest that Rivian models can be expensive to fix even for minor damage. Some industry experts have also questioned whether such a system could pose risks in off-road or high-traffic situations where drivers may need to move their vehicles despite minor damage.