My Brand New 2025 Rivian R1S Restarted Twice Today While I was Sitting In It

Imagine you're sitting peacefully in your brand-new Rivian R1S, enjoying a calm afternoon when suddenly, the screen goes dark, the music stops, and your expensive electric SUV abruptly restarts itself, not once, but twice in the same day. Sounds alarming, right?

That's exactly what happened to Jeff Shawrtz, a Rivian owner who shared his experience in the “RIVIAN Electric Vehicles Discussion Group” on Facebook. Jeff posted: “My 2025 R1S, which I picked up on March 23, has restarted twice today while I was sitting in it. The first time was while I was in line waiting to pick up my child from school, and the second happened while she was at dance class. Has this happened to anyone else? Should I submit a service ticket? Any recommendations would be appreciated, thanks.”

For any new owner, this kind of unexpected behavior from a premium electric vehicle is understandably unsettling. Jeff’s story resonated with other Rivian owners immediately, prompting discussions and speculations about what could cause such unexpected restarts.

Could It Be a Common Glitch or Something More Serious?

Carl, another Rivian owner in the group, quickly shared some insight: “Occasional display reboots are somewhat normal, often due to buggy software, cosmic rays, or similar anomalies, and typically don’t affect the core systems that operate or drive the vehicle. That said, I’ve only seen it happen once in a year and a half, so experiencing it twice in a single week is unusual and could be an early sign of an issue. Your best first step is to contact Rivian Service, though if you’re inclined to troubleshoot, try giving your vehicle a full restart and monitor whether the UI reboots again soon.”

Carl makes an interesting point. Modern electric vehicles, especially sophisticated ones like Rivians, can occasionally have software quirks. Sometimes, these quirks arise right after software updates, as I’ve previously discussed in my recent article: I Got a New Update in My 2025 Rivian R1S, and Autonomous Driving Took a Hit – No More Auto Lane Change or Summon Features.

Could Jeff’s sudden reboot issue be another unintended consequence of recent software updates? It's a definite possibility.

Should Jeff Be Concerned?

In my opinion, Jeff should definitely pay attention to this issue. Even though occasional minor glitches in vehicles packed with technology are relatively normal, two full restarts in a single day, just days after delivery, seems beyond typical. If I were in Jeff’s shoes, I’d immediately open a service ticket with Rivian. It might turn out to be something simple, but at the very least, it's important to document it early to safeguard against bigger issues down the road.

Jeff’s situation reminded me of another Rivian owner’s experience, where minor glitches quickly escalated into something more troublesome. In the article I Was Excited About My 2025 Rivian R1T TriMax, But Constant HVAC Failures Turned It into a Nightmare, the owner detailed how a seemingly minor glitch spiraled into repeated frustrations. Better safe than sorry.

Could This Affect Long Trips?

If Jeff is planning any adventurous trips or long drives soon, like towing a trailer across mountainous terrain, this random restart issue could become more significant. I previously covered a fascinating story where an owner faced unexpected challenges while traveling with their R1S: I Took My Rivian R1S on Its Longest Trip Towing a Trailer to the Ozarks and Faced One Close Call I Didn’t Expect. Jeff might want to check that out to avoid any unforeseen problems.

How Common Are Battery and System Issues?

With electric vehicles, it's always beneficial to understand what is and isn't normal behavior. For instance, another Rivian owner discovered surprising battery performance issues shortly after delivery, which he detailed in I Finally Joined the Rivian Club with a Dual-Motor Rivian R1S, But I Wasn’t Expecting the Battery to Drop 10 Percent. Sometimes initial quirks resolve quickly, but documenting issues promptly helps in case they persist.

Rivian or Tesla: Is Reliability the Deciding Factor?

As Jeff figures out his next steps, his experience raises the broader issue of reliability and trust when choosing an EV. Many buyers find themselves torn between a Rivian R1S and alternatives like the Tesla Model Y. I recently explored that comparison in my article I’m Choosing Between a Rivian R1S and Tesla Model Y as the Ultimate Adventure SUV for My Growing Family. Reliability might become a deciding factor for many prospective buyers, making Jeff’s issue particularly noteworthy.

What Should Jeff Do Next?

Given the unusual frequency of these restarts, Jeff should reach out to Rivian Service immediately. Rivian’s warranty coverage and their responsive customer support should provide peace of mind. Documenting every issue is essential for tracking recurring problems.

If Jeff finds similar behavior persists, sharing his experience might help Rivian engineers track down software bugs that otherwise might go unnoticed.

Moral Lesson for EV Owners

Jeff’s unexpected reboot experiences highlight a valuable lesson for all electric vehicle owners: never dismiss seemingly minor issues with your vehicle. Modern electric vehicles are packed with sophisticated electronics and software, meaning minor hiccups today could signal something more substantial tomorrow. Always document and communicate issues promptly, protecting yourself and possibly helping other owners along the way.

Join the Conversation: What’s Your Experience?

Now, I’d love to hear your stories. Has your Rivian or any electric vehicle you've owned ever rebooted unexpectedly, similar to Jeff’s experience? Did it resolve itself, or was professional intervention necessary?

Also, what other unexpected behavior have you seen in your EV that you initially overlooked, but later regretted not addressing earlier?

Let me know in the comments, your insights might help someone else.

Narek Hareyan is a young automotive journalist with experience in a golf cart dealership and an interest in the automotive industry. Follow Narek on X for daily news coverage about cars.