Experienced a Damage to My Rivian's Door After Disabling the Motion Camera for the First Time
In a recent incident, Rivian owner Katie Sheehy Kobs found her vehicle, a Rivian R1T, damaged after parking it in a hotel lot. The damage occurred on the back quarter panel, an integral part of the vehicle's body shell that is not easily replaceable without cutting and welding.
This story serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of electric vehicles when parked in shared spaces, especially when protection features are turned off. In this case, Katie had disabled the motion-activated Gear Guard system in her Rivian, a feature that serves as a deterrent and a peace-of-mind feature for Rivian owners.
Rivian's electric SUVs, like the R1S, are equipped with 11 cameras and multiple radars, providing a 360-degree view to support features such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Highway Assist, and Lane Change assistance. These cameras enhance situational awareness even in poor weather and lighting conditions.
Disabling the motion cameras would significantly diminish these safety features, increasing the risk of blind spots and collisions. Moreover, the motion cameras help detect movement around the vehicle, which is crucial for security purposes when the vehicle is parked. Disabling these cameras would impair the vehicle's ability to detect and record suspicious activity or potential vandalism, reducing protection against theft or damage.
Many of Rivian's driver aids depend on continuous inputs from cameras and sensors. For example, Highway Assist and other semi-autonomous functions use this data to make driving safer and more efficient. Turning off the camera system could cause these features to malfunction or disengage, negatively impacting the driving experience.
In some jurisdictions, disabling safety-related camera systems in vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance technologies might have legal implications or affect insurance claims if an accident occurs without recorded footage or if safety systems were intentionally disabled.
Community support is a strong asset for Rivian, with its online community providing quick technical clarifications and repair shop recommendations. In this case, Kirby Powell suggested Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) for fixing the damage, while Richard J. Webb advised finding a competent PDR company to handle the repair. PDR is a specialized technique that can often restore body panels to their original shape without requiring sanding, repainting, or replacement, provided the damage doesn't involve cracked paint or deep structural dents.
Aram Krajekian, an automotive journalist bringing a fresh perspective to his coverage of the evolving automotive landscape, encourages Rivian owners to be mindful of the potential risks and consequences of turning off the motion camera system.
For daily news coverage about cars, Aram can be followed on X and LinkedIn. To learn more about Rivian and its vehicles, image sources include the "RIVIAN Electric Vehicles Discussion" public Facebook group and Rivian's gallery.
Damage isn't always as bad as it looks, especially on clean, polished EVs, and professional inspection is always the first step before panicking. The balance many owners feel between annoyance and acceptance when dealing with minor but frustrating vehicle damage was reflected in comments.
[1] Rivian. (2021). Rivian R1T. Retrieved from https://www.rivian.com/vehicles/r1t [2] Rivian. (2021). Rivian R1S. Retrieved from https://www.rivian.com/vehicles/r1s [4] Rivian. (2021). Rivian Safety. Retrieved from https://www.rivian.com/safety
- The incident with Katie Sheehy Kobs' Rivian R1T underscores the importance of keeping technology-based features, such as the motion-activated Gear Guard system, active in electric vehicles, as they provide crucial security and peace of mind when parked, especially in shared spaces.
- Regardless of the increased vulnerability of electric vehicles and the potential risks associated with disabling certain technology features, such as motion cameras, Aram Krajekian advises Rivian owners to maintain a balance, being mindful of potential consequences while embracing the evolution of the automotive lifestyle, which increasingly integrates technology in electric vehicles like the R1T and R1S.
