RIVIAN SOLVES SOFTWARE SNAFU! SAFE TO UPDATE YOUR R1T AND R1S

EV Channels Review

This episode of the Out of Spec Podcast addresses a recent software update snafu experienced by Rivian owners. Host Francie welcomes Jose Castillo, founder of RivianTrackr, to clarify the situation. Castillo explains that a faulty internal build of software update 2023.42 was mistakenly released, causing infotainment systems to get stuck in a reboot loop for some users, though basic driving functions remained operational. He details the initial lack of clear communication from Rivian, which exacerbated owner anxiety. Rivian eventually pulled the update and developed a patch (2023.42.02) which was successfully rolled out to affected vehicles, followed by a corrected full release (2023.42.01). Castillo reassures listeners that it is now safe to update, emphasizing that while mistakes happen in software development, Rivian has learned from this incident and implemented better checks. He advises owners not to fear updates, as they are crucial for vehicle improvement and security, and highlights that the core driving and safety systems remained separate from the affected infotainment issues.