After 45,000 km behind the wheel of a 2025 Rivian R1T, one owner has tallied up the real-world verdict. The electric pickup serves as a daily work tool, routinely covering 300–500 km a day, which quickly laid bare both its strong suits and its weak spots.

Before the refresh he ran an early R1T, and that truck amassed 13 faults. The second-generation model behaves better, yet it isn’t without issues. The first red flag was the tire-pressure monitoring system: the truck spent three weeks at the service center, and the glitches still pop up from time to time. The owner links it to radio interference from the two rear electric motors, a theory that doesn’t sound far-fetched given the hardware packed back there.

Fresh off the assembly line, the R1T also needed a wheel alignment. Next, the bed outlets stopped working after a weekend with a small fridge left plugged in. Later on, the service team replaced the front subframe because the pickup was running too close to its maximum allowable weight with accessories installed—namely a roof, a rack, and a bed cover. It’s a pointed reminder that add-ons can quietly eat into payload margins.

The most contentious item for the owner is the premium audio: bass is on the shy side and the overall sound fails to impress, though others may find it perfectly adequate. On the flip side, the air suspension and long-distance ride comfort remain standout strengths and make the kilometers roll by with ease.

Would he buy the R1T again? He says the answer is both yes and no. The truck appeals to him, but he would lean toward an R1S or the upcoming R2. As for used first-generation R1Ts, he gives them the nod: with prices now under $60,000, they can be a smart buy.