A Rivian R1S owner raised a serious safety concern after trying to show his children how to manually open the rear door if the electronics fail. Unlike a conventional handle, the R1S emergency release is tucked behind a decorative panel. The manual says to pry up the leather insert under the armrest, remove it, then pull a hidden cable. In practice, the panel snapped during the demonstration, and the owner couldn’t find the cable at all. A setup like this hardly invites instinctive use when seconds matter.

The social post quickly drew attention. The author said that in an emergency his kids wouldn’t be able to get out. He also noted that the broken panel can’t be repaired and must be replaced at a service center. In his view, expecting a child to follow that sequence—especially under stress—is unrealistic. It’s difficult to argue with that logic: a fail-safe needs to be simple enough for the least experienced passenger.

This episode revives a familiar debate: whether automakers have gone too far in abandoning straightforward mechanical solutions in the name of design and a “digital experience.” Yes, vehicles with electronic locks must provide a manual override, but the way it’s executed here raises eyebrows. A fail-safe should be obvious, durable, and usable without instructions—otherwise it undermines its own purpose.

Owners are already urging the company to revisit the design, and experts suggest regulators could push for simpler, more intuitive mechanisms to prevent passengers from being trapped. Given the scenario described, it’s easy to see why that call is growing louder.