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The Hidden Dangers of Third-Party ADAS Tools on Rivian Vehicles
Kyle from Out of Spec just shared a video where his Gen 1 R1T kept throwing motor fault errors. After Rivian service dug in, they determined the most likely culprit was the Comma AI third-party tool he was using.
Kyle honestly got lucky here, it turned out to be false errors. But other owners might not be so fortunate. If a tool like this causes real damage, Rivian has no obligation to cover the repairs under warranty. That could leave you with a very expensive bill.
I get why people try this stuff. Gen 1 Rivians have limitations in their ADAS, and it’s tempting to look for more capability. But this is a textbook example of why I don’t recommend third-party hardware or software that overrides factory systems.
The upside is Rivian is already addressing these gaps. Gen 2 vehicles and the new Rivian Autonomy Platform are a major leap forward with stronger hands-free driving and a better foundation for the future. That’s the path I’d trust rather than risking my vehicle on an outside tool.
Please be careful, what looks like an upgrade can quickly turn into a service nightmare.
Always remove aftermarket electronics and mods, ESPECIALLY something as extreme as this, before going in for service. They will almost always point fingers at it even if it has nothing to do with the issue. I’ve seen service deny warranty for something as simple as a dashcam plugged into 12v.
While products that modify CAN messages such as this do have the potential to cause temporary errors or command components dangerously, I don’t believe in this case CommaAI has any communication on the motor can busses. I would love to know more technical details of the errors, and I’m curious if they come back.