- JerryRigEverything says Rivian refused to sell him replacement 12V batteries.
- Rivian reportedly charges $775 to replace the pair, fueling right-to-repair anger.
- Reactions online split between defending Rivian’s policy and calling it unfair.
If there’s one thing people like Zack Nelson enjoy, it’s rolling up their sleeves to build, tinker, and repair things themselves. Better known on YouTube as JerryRigEverything, Nelson is a long-time Rivian fan and an R1T owner.
That admiration might have taken a hit. His latest encounter with the automaker has left him frustrated after trying to buy a simple set of 12-volt batteries, only to be told he couldn’t. According to Nelson, Rivian refused to sell him replacements and even threatened that installing third-party parts could void his warranty.
DIY Blocked
In a post on X, Nelson said his R1T’s 12V batteries died after three and a half years. He rightly called the situation “a very common and easy repair.” But when he reached out to Rivian to purchase replacements, he claims the automaker refused to sell them to him directly. Instead, Rivian reportedly warned that using third-party parts could void his truck’s warranty.
More: Judge Blocks Automakers’ Bid To Limit Independent Shops’ Right To Repair In Mass
Again, we’re talking about everyday 12-volt batteries here, not the main battery that powers the truck while it’s driving. To add insult to injury, the price of having Rivian do the battery swap is almost laughable.
According to Nelson, Rivian charged $775.04 to replace the pair of 12V batteries. “That’s what I paid for my first car and it came with a 12V battery,” he joked.
Beyond that, he contrasted Rivian’s policy with Tesla’s saying, “I could snap my Cybertruck in half and Tesla would give me a manual on how to glue it back together. But Rivian won’t even let me replace a 12V battery on my own.”
As of this writing, over 1.3 million people have seen the post on X, over 1,300 have replied to it, and almost 1,000 have re-shared it. Rivian has yet to reply or make a comment on the situation.
Owners Push Back on Social Media
That’s not stopping owners from sounding off. In a post on Reddit simply titled “Well this is tough,” owners are calling Rivian’s actions here a “scare tactic.”
Calling out Rivian’s warning to Nelson, one said, “Obviously the average owner is going to feel pretty intimidated by that line. They just bought a six figure truck. That is very much the point here.” Another added, “This is a horrible look for Rivian and from my viewpoint violates their whole “Adventure Vehicle” facade. BS.”
Carscoops reached out to both Nelson and Rivian for comment but hadn’t received a response from either at the time of writing.
Lead image Rivian / Ohmmu
