Overview

• Chief software officer Wassym Bensaid replied on X that clearing error codes after a 12‑volt battery replacement currently requires a diagnostic tool and said Rivian is building an in‑vehicle service menu to enable similar owner repairs.
• YouTuber Zack Nelson said Rivian refused to sell him replacement 12‑volt batteries and warned that using off‑the‑shelf parts could void his warranty, then billed him $775.04 for an in‑shop swap.
• Nelson posted an itemized invoice showing $511.30 for parts, $231 for labor, and $53.74 in tax, fueling complaints about cost and limited parts access.
• Nelson’s post has drawn broad attention on social platforms, surpassing 1.6 million views and about 21,000 likes as users argued over right‑to‑repair rights.
• Commentators cited the Magnuson‑Moss Warranty Act and FTC rules that generally bar conditioning coverage on branded parts, and reporters noted Rivian’s warranty language requires authorized service but does not explicitly address owner 12‑volt replacements.