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As a long-time Rivian observer and enthusiast, I’ve been closely following every update that hits the R1S and R1T lineup. So, when I noticed the buzz around Rivian's latest software update for the 2025 R1S, I was eager to learn how it performs. But what I discovered from owners already running the update has left me and many others in the Rivian community scratching our heads, especially when it comes to autonomous driving.

This evening, as I scrolled through the always-active “RIVIAN Electric Vehicles Discussion” Facebook group, a post by Rivian owner Patrick Mattes immediately caught my eye. Patrick shared his real-life experience with the latest update on his 2025 R1S, and his words are something every R1S owner should read before proceeding with the update.

Patrick wrote, “So I installed the new update on my 2025 R1S, and while some of the new features are awesome, autonomous driving definitely took a hit. The automatic lane change feature completely disappeared from the menu and stopped working. I was especially excited to try the new hands-free feature, but after a solid 30-mile highway drive, it never even showed up. After a couple of restarts, I did get the auto lane change feature to come back, but that was a frustrating hour of troubleshooting that I never expected to deal with in a vehicle at this level.”

Patrick’s experience is resonating with many other R1S owners who are either hesitant to install the update or facing similar issues. For many of us who bought Rivian's expecting cutting-edge autonomous driving technology, hearing that automatic lane changes and hands-free driving are glitchy or outright missing is a serious concern.

Under Patrick’s post, fellow Rivian owners chimed in with their thoughts and concerns. Graylynne added, “I have the update ready to install on my R1S Dual, but I’m debating whether to proceed because I’ve heard mixed experiences.” Her comment captures the uncertainty many owners are feeling, should they risk losing key features they rely on?

Another owner, James, mentioned, “Yes, I noticed. I restarted the vehicle with no success, but I’ll try again tomorrow after letting it charge and rest overnight.” This highlights a troubling reality: some Rivian owners are now spending time troubleshooting basic functionalities that should be seamless in a modern, premium electric SUV.

What’s New in the Update, And What’s Missing

Interestingly, this latest software update does introduce some impressive new features and refinements, such as enhanced user interface responsiveness, better media controls, and minor efficiency tweaks. But when headline features like autonomous driving regress, it overshadows the rest of the improvements.

One of the most anticipated additions was the hands-free driving mode, Rivian’s answer to Ford’s BlueCruise or GM’s Super Cruise. According to initial reviews and community expectations, this feature was supposed to make long highway drives a breeze. But Patrick’s experience, along with others in the community, reveals that the rollout of hands-free driving might not be ready for prime time, or may be inconsistently enabled.

The automatic lane change feature, which has been available and appreciated by many R1S and R1T owners, suddenly vanishing is another major blow. Imagine driving on a highway, relying on your vehicle to perform the lane changes you’ve grown accustomed to, only to find that the feature is gone. That’s not just an inconvenience; it's a safety concern if drivers have mentally adapted to expect a certain level of vehicle assistance.

A Pattern of Growing Pains?

This incident raises an important question: Are Rivian’s software updates maturing too fast for their own good, leaving gaps in functionality as they push new features out? Some owners feel like beta testers rather than customers of a finished product.

We've seen something similar before, as I wrote in I Picked Up a 2025 Rivian R1S Tri This Weekend and Am Looking for the Best Wall Charger Option and How Regen Performs, where new features and behaviors related to regenerative braking surprised owners, sparking community debates.

The Community's Love for Rivian, But With Caveats

It’s important to note that most Rivian owners, including Patrick, remain highly enthusiastic about their vehicles. People love the design, powertrain, off-road capabilities, and unique adventure-ready spirit that Rivian has built into the R1S and R1T.

Just look at I Am Loving Our New Rivian R1S Tri-Motor Road Trip from Palm Springs to Las Vegas Shows Its Comfort—many drivers continue to rave about the overall driving experience. Still, software reliability, especially around autonomous driving, needs to catch up to that physical excellence.

Echoes from Previous Issues

This isn’t the first time Rivian owners have had to deal with critical feature glitches. As I previously reported in My Rivian R1S Motor Started Whining During Regen and Then Smelled Like Burnt Metal with No Warning Lights, hardware issues combined with limited diagnostics have left owners in difficult positions.

More recently, as detailed in I Just Traded My Tesla Model X Plaid for a Dual-Motor Rivian R1S, Here’s My 800-Mile Comparison, expectations are high when it comes to autonomous driving technology. Seeing features go backward is not what customers who switched from other brands expected.

My Own Thoughts

Personally, as someone who has been following Rivian since the very beginning, I have to say this situation is frustrating. I’m all for software innovation and cutting-edge tech, but when a new update takes away features that people rely on every day, that’s a problem. Rivian has done an amazing job building vehicles that feel like the future, but these software issues make them feel unfinished. I’m rooting for Rivian to figure this out because I still believe in what they’re trying to do, but they need to get serious about quality control.

Should You Install the Update?

If you are an R1S or R1T owner wondering whether to install this latest update, the answer seems to depend on how much you rely on autonomous features. If you’re someone who regularly uses automatic lane changes or hoped to enjoy the new hands-free mode, you might want to hold off until Rivian addresses these bugs.

For those more focused on other updates, like infotainment, efficiency, and minor UI tweaks, the update could still be worth it. But proceed with caution, and keep in mind that you might lose features you use daily.

What Rivian Should Do Next

Rivian needs to act quickly to restore confidence in its software updates. Whether that’s a hotfix to address missing features, clearer communication about which trims and hardware qualify for hands-free driving, or direct support to help owners troubleshoot, Rivian cannot afford to let owners feel unsupported.

This is especially true as more Rivian owners are making very long successful road trips like this 1,300-mile journey using all Tesla chargers. On long trips, autonomous features are not just perks, they reduce driver fatigue and increase safety.

The Moral Lesson: Patience and Caution

If there’s a moral to this story, it’s that while Rivian’s vision for the future of EVs and autonomous driving is exciting, we as customers must stay vigilant. Before hitting "install," take a moment to read the latest experiences from fellow owners. Share your own, so others can benefit from your insight. And let’s all remember that with cutting-edge technology, sometimes waiting for the dust to settle is the smarter move.

Now, Over to You

Have you installed Rivian’s latest update on your R1S or R1T? If so, did you experience any issues with autonomous driving features like auto lane change or hands-free mode? Or are you still holding off on the update? What’s making you hesitate?

Let’s discuss in the comments below.

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.