I Took My First Extended Trip in a 2025 Rivian R1T but Level 3 Charging Failure Left Us Stranded

Even the most promising EVs can have rough days on the road. For Bruce Ogden, who recently became the owner of a new 2025 Rivian R1T, not being able to complete a road trip due to car trouble became his frustrating reality. Encountering his story in the “RIVIAN Electric Vehicles Discussion” on Facebook, Bruce’s Rivian faced a charging failure resulting in him getting stranded and in a situation that would leave any EV owner feeling defeated.

His experience of how his 1.5-month-old R1T refused to charge at multiple Level 3 chargers is a disaster no one would be expecting from a truck they just bought. Trying to charge his truck at Rivian’s own Adventure Network and even a Tesla Supercharger, he still couldn’t catch a break. Here’s how he described the ordeal:

"We took our first extended trip in our 1.5-month-old 2025 Rivian R1T. When we arrived at the scheduled Adventure Network Level 3 charger, the truck refused to charge, displaying the message 'Unplug & Try Again.' We attempted two more charging towers with no success, then called tech support and even tried a Tesla Level 3 Supercharger, but still nothing worked. After performing two hard resets, the issue remained, and Rivian support determined that the truck had a Level 3 charging problem. We never made it to our destination and have now been sitting at a Level 2 charger for six hours just to get enough charge to return home. We're planning to pick up an R1S on Friday, but after this experience, my wife is having second thoughts. We love the truck, but this situation has been incredibly disappointing."

Imagine looking forward to a road trip in your brand-new electric truck, only to end up spending six hours at a slow charger just to make it home. That’s not the kind of adventure Rivian owners are expecting, especially from a brand-new truck. 

The EV Experience Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

When charging doesn’t work as expected, it throws the entire ownership experience off balance. Especially on a road trip, when time and trust are on the line. Bruce’s situation isn’t all unique though, as some owners have also had problems with charging their Rivian’s while other people’s cars have been totally fine.

Take Santiago Gomez, for example, who responded to Bruce’s post:

 “Crazy…first I’ve ever heard of this kind of issue. Definitely shouldn’t be discouraged getting the R1S though. Hopefully it gets resolved for you guys. I would love to hear what it turns out to be. PS, I recently did a 3k mile trip from MI to FL and back, almost all RAN and Superchargers…all were absolutely flawless.”

This is a reminder that one charging failure doesn’t necessarily signal a systemic problem. Reliability within the EV space and more specifically Rivian’s brand is still finding its footing. As someone who follows this space closely, I see a pattern that’s less about failure and more about the realities of an industry still ironing out all its quirks.

Then there’s Lucinda, who has had a mostly positive experience but still faced issues:

 “We got our 2025 R1T three weeks ago and successfully drove from Seattle to San Diego and back. We only had one charging issue, which turned out to be due to broken chargers.”

This split in experience highlights the fact that owning an electric vehicle can be inconsistent. Some people have a trouble-free run and never encounter major problems, while others, like Bruce, hit some setbacks.

The Road Ahead for Rivian

Even with promising infrastructure like Rivian’s Adventure Network, the reality of EV ownership can still include the occasional hiccup. Even some long-time Rivian drivers feel the company's software and autonomous features need serious work. And it’s not just charging as there have been other concerning issues, like a Rivian rebooting while merging onto the highway. That’s not the kind of thing you expect coming from a vehicle that runs you around $70,000 or more.

Customers expect more for what they pay, and with the price point that comes with buying a Rivian, they expect reliability on the everyday tasks that come with owning this car. This includes having charging that is more comparable to filling up a gas tank, as having fast charging is a strong selling point to be able to compete with major production vehicles.

Tesla’s Supercharger network has long been considered the benchmark for charging reliability, setting expectations for what seamless EV travel can look like. Rivian’s move to support Tesla’s network is a promising step, and in most cases, compatibility hasn’t been an issue so there’s no reason to necessarily point fingers at Rivian here.

Bruce’s experience seems to be more of an isolated glitch than a sign of broader problems. Still, as more Rivian owners rely on mixed networks for long-distance travel, the bar for reliability will only get higher. Meeting it consistently is what will truly set brands apart.

My Thoughts on This

As an automotive journalist, I’ve seen a lot of growing pains in the EV industry. Some brands learn quickly, while others struggle. Rivian has an opportunity to establish itself as a top-tier EV manufacturer, but the more that issues like this become prevalent to owners, the more damage it will do to its reputation.

The reality is, EV ownership is still not perfect. Even hardcore EV drivers who have managed without home charging have admitted to the challenges. Although not perfect, the industry is moving exponentially, but no one wants to be the driver dealing with a charging failure, let alone in the middle of covering a great deal of distance during a road trip.

EV’s still come with some trade-offs. While technology is advancing rapidly, the gaps in real-world reliability haven’t fully closed in every aspect. For those of us taking EVs beyond daily commutes, especially on long trips, even a single charging mishap can throw things off.  

There could be a variety of reasons why tech like this breaks down. Anything from a faulty charging connection between the vehicle and the station, to a software glitch, or even a miscommunication between networks during a roaming session. Some might wonder if it’s hardware-related, or if a recent over-the-air update potentially introduced instability. These are fair questions, and they highlight how much of the EV experience is now tied to systems most owners don’t see.

This is just how things go through when relying on a system that’s still growing at the pace of our expectations. Stories like Bruce’s don’t just give potential buyers doubts but, as we saw, committed owners like himself too. After all, it made his wife second-guess picking up their own second Rivian.

Important Lessons Learned

So, what can we take away from this situation?

Always Test Fast a Charge Before a Road Trip – If you own a Rivian (or any EV), it’s a good idea to test your vehicle at multiple charging networks before relying on it for long trips.

Have a Backup Plan – Level 2 chargers aren’t ideal for road trips as they take time and can add hours to your drive, but knowing where they are could save you from being completely stranded. 

Refining the Charging Experience Is Key – Rivian is still in its early chapters, and as its network expands and matures, continuing to improve charging reliability will be inevitable in building long-term trust with current and future owners.

Software and Hardware Issues Are Still a Concern – From getting stuck in the mud to unexpected breakdowns, Rivian’s reliability is still in question. With time, we will be able to tell the true strength of Rivian’s production.

What Do You Think?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever found yourself stuck at a charger when things didn’t go as planned?

If you were in Bruce’s shoes, would it make you think twice about going electric? Or would you chalk it up to part of the EV learning curve?

We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Aram Krajekian is a young automotive journalist with an interest in the automotive industry. Follow Aram on X and LinkedIn for daily news coverage about cars.

Image Sources: Rivian Gallery