A man goes viral for discussing the second major issue he’s had with his Rivian in just 31,000 miles.
In a TikTok that’s generated over 41,000 views as of this writing, Dz Watts (@dzwatts_realtalkdaily) showcases why he simply has had enough with Rivian.
Rivian, You Need to Figure It Out
“Let me tell you why I’m getting over this Rivian,” Watts begins. “As you can see here, we got our front passenger tire straight, and we got the other one turned.”
Watts explains how this is the second major component failure on the suspension he’s experienced with his Rivian in 31,000 miles. This has created a love/hate relationship for Watts.
“I can not get another three-row SUV at any kind of price point that is going to go as fast as this thing. That’s why I love it,” Watts reveals.
However, with any love can come pain.
“What I hate about it is the fact that in 30,000 miles, I’ve already had two suspension failures,” he shares.
FROM THE TRENDING NEWS DESK
Viral bits from across the social media landscape
Our team of experts tracks what's trending so you don't have to—from viral videos to online debates that have everyone talking.
Now, the Rivian SUV seems like a durable vehicle to handle off-roading. Well, turns out the suspension failure took place while parking in a mellow grass field.
“A grass parking lot where there are Civics and all sorts of different sedans parked there—that managed to be enough to break the suspension in this off-road beast,” he says.
Considering the build of the Rivian, it is shocking to hear the vehicle had an issue in a grass parking lot.
“It blows my mind. I would never honestly take this thing off-road at any level,” Watts continued.
Watts does mention that the Rivian is still under warranty, but this does not alleviate his concerns.
“What’s going to happen when every 15,000 miles, I get a $4,000, $5,000, or $10,000 suspension failure on it?” he ponders.
Additionally, Watts mentions how access to a service center is limited where he is located. Apparently, the closest one is 109 miles away, and this wouldn’t be the cheapest tow job.
“It’s not even going to be a viable vehicle for me to keep anymore. This was something I was planning on driving into the ground, and now, just at 30,000 miles in, I don’t know if it’s gonna be something that we even keep past that point,” he says.
“Any vehicle with two major suspension failures would be off my list. Forever,” one TikTok commenter added.
“I really wanted a Rivian R1t but when the warranty ends at 60k and I've heard so many of these failures it scares me,” another added.
“You are still driving it into the ground, it’s just happening a lot faster than you thought it would,” a third replied.
Gallery: 2025 Rivian R1S First Drive
What Loaner Did the Rivian Driver Receive?
On top of the suspension issues, Watts Rivian is grinding his gears with the loaner car it gave him.
“This is now being sold by Rivian as a $110,000-$130,000 vehicle. … Let me show you the rental car I’ll be driving for the next week or two while we wait on parts,” Watts shares.
A Hyundai Palisade is the car Rivian loaned to Watts.
“Because you are buying an expensive vehicle, you should have another one when it’s [expletive] broken,” Watts vents.
Watts is disappointed at not getting another Rivian as a loaner, especially because when he owned Teslas, the company made sure to give him a Tesla as a loaner.
“Rivian, you are not doing a good job. … If you are wanting to keep your customers, you’re going to need to do better,” Watts concludes.
Are Rivians Reliable?
According to Consumer Reports, Rivian ranked last in reliability out of 22 brands in 2025. Rivian scored a 14 out of 100 points, which is the lowest score given.
However, in another survey done by Consumer Reports, Rivian ranked #1 overall in owner satisfaction. Rivian earned a 5/5 ranking, with owners saying they would buy from the manufacturer again.
How is it possible that the brand scored so low on reliability but so high in customer satisfaction?
One Reddit user weighed in: “Those results (high satisfaction, low reliability) track from my experience.”
The user continues to share the maintenance nightmares involving his wife’s Rivian R1S.
“My wife loves her R1S more than any other car we've ever had, but in one year of ownership it's been to the service center 3 times and had another two mobile service visits. The last service center visit was booked two months out and took 3 weeks to complete AFTER they had the car, and nothing they were doing was that complicated,” he shared.
While owner satisfaction is high right now, we’ll see if things change if reliability continues to be an issue going forward.
Motor1 has contacted Watts via a website contact form. This story will be updated if he replies.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motor1.com?
Take our 3 minute survey.- The Motor1.com Team
