Rivian's built-in Wi-Fi and emergency SOS system malfunctioned, leaving the user unable to stream music or adjust network settings.
Many Rivian owners are embarking on long-distance road trips using the vehicle's trip planner or third-party charging maps. However, some Rivian owners, like Michi, are experiencing issues with the WiFi and SOS systems in their vehicles. In this article, we will provide a troubleshooting guide for these problems based on user reports and available information.
WiFi Connectivity Issues
Rivian owners have reported interruptions, especially when transitioning from home WiFi to the vehicle's cellular network. This can cause audio streaming glitches, such as with Amazon Music or Alexa commands.
To work around these issues, ensure stable coverage and consider toggling WiFi off and on again in the vehicle settings, or rebooting the infotainment system to re-establish a fresh connection. Rivian is aware of some cellular and WiFi-related software bugs and plans to issue software updates to fix these anomalies. Keeping your vehicle’s software updated is essential.
Alexa & Amazon Music Glitching
Streaming issues may relate to buffering differences, meaning momentary data loss during cellular transitions leads to glitches. A full software update from Rivian is the expected resolution, so reporting issues and waiting for firmware updates are recommended.
SOS Button Issues
While direct details on SOS button troubleshooting are not clearly outlined, common troubleshooting steps for such vehicular emergency communication buttons include ensuring stable connectivity (WiFi/cellular), checking vehicle software is up to date, and restarting the vehicle systems or contacting Rivian support for diagnostics or service scheduling.
General Troubleshooting Tips
Use the official Rivian smartphone app for diagnostics, software updates, and roadside assistance requests. The app can remotely start vehicle updates to potentially fix infotainment and connectivity bugs. If persistent issues remain after updates and rebooting, schedule a service appointment through Rivian's support channels as some problems require deeper diagnostics.
Awaiting Software Updates
Rivian has acknowledged several infotainment and connectivity anomalies, including WiFi transitions affecting Alexa and music streaming, and has planned software patches to address these issues in the near future.
Conclusion
The primary method to address WiFi and SOS issues is to keep the vehicle’s software fully updated, ensure stable network environments, use the Rivian app for troubleshooting and support, and report any ongoing issues to Rivian service. Pending software updates are expected to resolve many anomalies related to WiFi, Alexa, and SOS functionality.
For Michi and other Rivian owners experiencing connectivity problems, it's essential to document everything and reach out to service early. Rivian as a company needs to address these issues through more robust support, faster parts availability, and proactive software stability improvements. Service delays can stretch out for months, not days, and a failed communications module is suspected to be the cause of some connectivity issues. If the WiFi options are greyed out, it likely indicates a failure of the vehicle’s communications module or internal networking hardware.
The SOS button malfunction is a more serious concern as it is intended for emergency support. The SOS button malfunction in Rivian vehicles can be dangerous, especially for drivers venturing into rural areas or using the vehicle for camping, hiking, or off-road exploration. A hard reset (pressing and holding the leftmost steering wheel button along with the hazard light button above the mirror) can trigger a deeper system restart.
Michi's next service appointment is scheduled for September 15th. It's important to note that Rivian's compatibility with Tesla Superchargers depends on location, and using the Tesla app can help identify compatible ones. Keyless entry through the phone key system is a feature in Rivians that relies on a functional communication backbone. Michi's issue isn't unique, as similar connectivity problems have been reported by other Rivian owners.
Trying every available reset method is worthwhile for Rivian owners experiencing connectivity issues. When the communication backbone fails, the car can become inconvenient or even unusable in specific situations. We hope this guide helps Rivian owners troubleshoot their WiFi and SOS issues and encourages Rivian to improve their support and software stability.
- Some Rivian owners are dealing with streaming issues related to their smartphones and gadgets, such as glitches with Amazon Music or Alexa commands, due to interruptions when transitioning from home WiFi to the vehicle's cellular network.
- To ensure seamless connectivity for gadgets like smartphones, Michi and other Rivian owners are advised to maintain stable network environments, use the Rivian app for troubleshooting and support, and keep their vehicle's software updated—as these steps can potentially resolve many anomalies related to WiFi, Alexa, and SOS functionality.
