Clever Technician Proves It Doesn't Cost $41,000 To Fix a Rivian's Dented Rear Bumper

Rivian has ramped up production in 2022. The young automaker expects to double last year's production until the end of 2023. Thus, more deliveries are happening, and many R1T and R1S EVs reach an ever-increasing number of customers. Accidents are common on our roads, so some fender benders become inevitable.

That's how some unlucky Rivian owners found out that fixing a dent (even a minor one!) could translate into unbelievable quotes from certified shops. Earlier this year, we told you about an R1T owner who learned that repairing their vehicle's cosmetic damage would cost $42,000. No matter how you look at it, that estimate is absurd.

However, that person wasn't the only one dealing with such wild figures. More Rivian customers have received similar quotes from approved shops. Even though Tesla buyers warned people about the repair costs and multiple reports have shown that insurers would rather total the brand's EVs than deal with fixing them, nobody believed that an admittedly pricey pickup truck would incur such enormous repair bills.

Still, it happened. Most owners who have confirmed on various online platforms that they had to deal with fender benders showed that an estimate from a certified shop could be in the high $30,000s or low $40,000s.

One R1T owner from North Carolina decided to take matters into their own hands after receiving a repair estimate of $41,000. The shop said the bedside should be replaced. That's a lot of work! The Rivian R1T looks modern and neat because it doesn't have many single panels.

The simplified production process means everything comes together smoothly and quickly, so larger parts are used during the assembly. That's why there are virtually no panel gaps on Rivian EVs. It's also how a minor bumper dent can become a major headache.

Moreover, the insurer reportedly wanted to total the all-electric pickup truck because fixing it cost nearly half the vehicle's original worth.

Fortunately, they found someone in Florida who was willing to deal with repairing their R1T differently.

Certainly not like this!

The technician analyzed the photos the owner sent them in advance and said they would attempt a paintless dent repair. That's notoriously hard to achieve but not impossible.

The mission was even more challenging, given the size and intricacy of this dent. But that didn't stop them from believing the truck's rear bumper could be fixed. So, the truck was sent to Matt Boyette's shop.

After a careful repair process that took three days, the technician succeeded. The paintless dent removal worked with only some minor drawbacks that can be fixed easily by a paint specialist. Even a touch-up paint pen might do it. And it cost a lot less than $41,000. As a bonus, the owner also avoided dealing with a slightly negative vehicle history report.

The technician underlined that we're living in a "disposable society" and pointed out that things are not made to be repaired nowadays. He's not wrong. But it's unlikely that Rivian designed the R1T, thinking it would make bank through fixing dents. It's just an unwanted outcome of the sped-up and streamlined production process.