Consumer Reports Evaluates Rivian’s Reliability
Rivian, a notable electric vehicle manufacturer, has been making waves in the automotive industry since it launched the R1T in 2021. This all-electric pickup was the first of its kind to become a mass-produced model in the U.S., outpacing competitors like Ford and Tesla. Rivian also debuted the three-row R1S SUV a year later, sharing its platform with the R1T.
Consumer Reports Evaluates Rivian’s Reliability
Despite being relatively new, Rivian faces challenges when it comes to vehicle reliability assessments. Currently, Consumer Reports (CR) evaluates Rivian’s two models on the road, but there is limited data on earlier model years. Thus, the assessments are based on a small number of owner surveys, leading to inconsistent reliability rankings.
Reliability Rankings and Consumer Reports Findings
In its recent evaluation, Consumer Reports ranked Rivian last among 22 automotive brands for reliability. The automaker achieved only below-average reliability scores, with specific mentions of poor performance across its models.
- Rivian R1T (2022): Below-average reliability
- Rivian R1T (2023): Poor reliability
- Predicted reliability for Rivian R1T (2025): Also rated as poor
Other electric pickups, like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Ford F-150 Lightning, have shown better dependability compared to the R1T. In fact, no electric pickup from the 2025 models was rated higher than below average for reliability.
Insights on Rivian R1S
The Rivian R1S reflects similar reliability challenges, with the 2023 model carrying a poor ranking. As with the R1T, prior years lack sufficient reliability data, complicating the assessment further. The 2025 version is also predicted to fall within the lower reliability scores, alongside competitors like the Cadillac Lyriq and the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
Owner Satisfaction Scores
Despite low reliability ratings, both Rivian models enjoy high owner satisfaction scores, indicating some positive feedback from current owners. In contrast, several competitors, including the Kia EV9 and Tesla Model X, have higher reliability ratings but do not match Rivian’s satisfaction metrics.
As Rivian continues to develop its electric vehicle offerings and expand its customer base, more comprehensive data will be necessary for a fair assessment of long-term reliability. Until then, potential buyers may want to weigh reliability and satisfaction scores carefully when considering Rivian’s all-electric models.
