Rivian’s Hands-Free Driving Advances, but Gen 1 Owners Feel Abandoned as Driver+ Struggles to Inspire Confidence

This evening, while strolling through the “RIVIAN Electric Vehicles Discussion” group on Facebook, I came across a post that caught my attention. Jason Mueller, a Rivian owner, shared his thoughts about Rivian’s hands-free driving progress and the concerns that Gen 1 owners have regarding the reliability of Driver+. He wrote, “I'm glad to see Rivian making progress on hands-free driving. Has RJ made any comments about improvements for Gen 1? I realize the underlying hardware differs from Gen 2, but I wonder if early adopters will be left entirely behind. Driver+, in its current form, does not inspire confidence. To be clear, I’m not asking for Gen 1 to match Gen 2—I just want to feel confident using the existing capabilities. Lane centering is subpar as it excessively wanders from side to side. If a double solid line marks a carpool lane, the truck doesn’t know which line to follow and drifts more. On my last road trip, it swerved twice due to overpasses, which was unsettling. Rivian should at least be able to improve the existing hardware to provide a more reliable and confidence-inspiring experience.”

This sentiment is echoed by many other Rivian Gen 1 owners who feel that Driver+ is still too unreliable to provide a stress-free, hands-free driving experience. While Rivian continues making advancements in its hands-free technology, early adopters worry that they may be left behind as newer models come with updated hardware. The concerns raised by Jason highlight critical issues that need to be addressed: poor lane centering, confusion with lane markings, and erratic behavior near overpasses.

The State of Driver+ and Its Current Limitations

Driver+ is Rivian’s attempt at an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that aims to provide a hands-free experience in specific conditions. However, based on feedback from Gen 1 owners, it appears that the system is far from refined. Lane centering is an essential component of any ADAS, but Rivian’s implementation is reported to be inconsistent. Drivers expect an ADAS to stay centered within the lane, yet many have reported that Driver+ tends to drift excessively. This kind of unpredictability makes it difficult for drivers to trust the system.

Another issue that has been raised is how Driver+ struggles with lane markings, particularly when dealing with double solid lines in carpool lanes. These markings can confuse the system, causing the vehicle to drift rather than confidently following a designated path. For drivers who frequently use carpool lanes, this can be a major inconvenience.

Finally, perhaps the most concerning issue is the system’s behavior near overpasses. Some Rivian owners have reported that Driver+ swerves suddenly when approaching or passing under overpasses. This kind of erratic behavior can be unsettling and potentially dangerous, especially at highway speeds.

What Other Owners Are Saying

Jason’s concerns were met with a variety of responses from fellow Rivian owners. Some shared similar experiences, while others voiced different opinions about the direction Rivian is taking with its Driver+ technology.

Harvey Payne commented, “I’ve rented Kia gas cars in Hawaii with better ADAS than my Rivian. You’d think the hardware would be capable of at least matching Tesla Autopilot 1.0 from 2015, but it is not. Just give me reliable lane centering and adaptive cruise control on any road with lane markers, and for bonus points, make it work while towing.”

John Sykas offered a different perspective, saying, “I don’t want hands-free driving. It’s hard enough to spot deer, bears, and turkeys crossing rural roads. With no lane markings or pavement, driving at night means looking up at the tree line against the sky to see the road. I don’t think hands-free driving is possible except on highways or in city conditions.”

Trey Johnston expressed his frustration with the lack of updates for Gen 1 vehicles, stating, “Rivian made it seem like the ‘new’ technology in the Gen 1 models could at least match the capabilities of a 2016 Tesla. I feel misled if they have stopped improving Gen 1. While Rivian was slightly better than my Hummer, GM's system is steadily improving, while Rivian remains stagnant.”

Rivian’s Path Forward: Can Gen 1 Be Improved?

While Rivian has yet to make a clear statement about future software improvements for Gen 1 Driver+, many owners are still hoping for updates that can enhance the reliability of their vehicles. Hardware limitations aside, software updates could potentially improve lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and the system’s ability to handle more complex road scenarios.

Related Articles

Many Rivian owners have switched from Tesla, citing superior build quality. This article explores why some Tesla owners are making the switch to Rivian, highlighting key differences in build quality, ride comfort, and ownership experience. While Tesla’s Autopilot remains a strong feature, some find Rivian’s design and material quality to be more appealing despite concerns with Driver+.

One Rivian R1T owner experienced an alarming reboot while merging onto a highway. This article delves into unexpected software issues that some Rivian owners have faced, emphasizing the importance of system stability, especially in high-speed driving conditions.

Another owner discovered clicking noises in their R1S, hinting at a potential issue that other owners have noticed. Mechanical concerns, even minor ones, can affect confidence in the vehicle, and this piece investigates a recurring issue that has caught the attention of the Rivian community.

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The Rivian R2 concept could bring new ADAS advancements, but Gen 1 owners hope they won’t be left behind. Rivian’s future models may introduce cutting-edge driver assistance features, but current owners want to see meaningful improvements to their existing vehicles as well.

Meanwhile, Rivian remains one of the top-ranked EVs in terms of owner satisfaction. Even with concerns about Driver+, many Rivian owners still express high levels of satisfaction with their vehicles overall.

What Do You Think?

What has been your experience with Driver+? Have you noticed any of the abovementioned issues, or do you feel confident in Rivian’s hands-free driving system?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.