A recent WFTV9 story shared a wild tale about a Rivian R1S owner whose SUV suddenly stopped, started smoking, and left her locked inside. Thankfully, she was fine, but the whole ordeal made headlines. If this same thing had happened in a gas-powered car, would anyone have cared enough to write a story about it? Probably not—and that’s worth talking about.
What Happened
Jen Pereira had only been driving her Rivian R1S for a little over a month when things went south. One night, her car braked suddenly, the dash lights started flashing, and then smoke made its way into the cabin. Jen couldn’t use the emergency SOS button, so she called 911. Firefighters had to figure out how to get her out, eventually using a manual door release that, as it turns out, was working the whole time.
Rivian later explained that an electrical short caused the issue and gave her a full refund. Scary? Yes. But unique to EVs? Not really.
Why Do Stories Like This Make Headlines?
Let’s face it—if a gas-powered SUV broke down, started smoking, and trapped someone inside, it wouldn’t get this level of attention. So, why do EVs grab the spotlight for stuff like this? A few reasons:
- EVs Are New and Mysterious
- EVs are still the new kids on the block, and anything unfamiliar gets more scrutiny. A fancy all-electric SUV breaking down feels like a bigger deal than yet another gas car overheating on the side of the road.
- People Are Still Skeptical About EVs
- Some folks are hesitant to trust EVs, and stories like this just feed into those fears. It’s easy to wonder, “What if this happened to me?” even though gas cars have their own set of problems.
- EV Makers Have a Target on Their Back
- Companies like Rivian and Tesla are seen as pioneers, so they’re under more pressure to be perfect. When something goes wrong, it’s viewed as a potential EV industry-wide problem rather than just a one-off issue.
- Gas Car Failures Are Too Common to Care About
- Let’s be real—engine failures, brake issues, and even fires happen to gas-powered vehicles all the time. It’s so common that it’s not even newsworthy anymore.
A Little Perspective
While stories like this might make EV ownership sound risky, they don’t tell the whole story. Every car—gas or electric—has its issues. The difference is, EV problems tend to make the front page because they feel new and dramatic.
What’s important here is how Rivian handled it. They figured out what went wrong, offered a full refund, and are looking into how they can improve customer service. That’s the kind of accountability you want from any carmaker.
A Good Reminder for All Drivers
One takeaway from this story? Know your car’s emergency features. Rivian vehicles (and many modern cars) have manual door releases for situations like this, but it’s on the owner to learn how they work. If you’re buying a car with fancy tech, spend a few minutes reading the manual—it might save you a lot of stress down the road.
The Bigger Picture
At the end of the day, this isn’t just about one Rivian breaking down. It’s about how we treat EVs differently from gas cars in the public eye. Stories like this will probably keep making waves until EVs become as common as any other car. For now, let’s take these headlines with a grain of salt and remember that no vehicle is perfect.
Owning an EV is a lot like owning any car—it has its ups and downs. But for those of us embracing this new era of driving, it’s all part of the ride.
Shoutout to Jim for sharing this news story with me.