Tow trucks refuse to help Rivian R1T abandoned on Arizona road so woman takes matters into her own hands
Published on Feb 20, 2026 at 3:39 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Feb 20, 2026 at 3:39 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Molly Davidson
A Rivian R1T sat stuck on an Arizona road for months.
It ended up there after the driver lost traction on an ice patch back in February.
Then a snowstorm came through.
And after that, no one would tow it.
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Why three towing companies refused the stranded Rivian R1T
The electric pickup reportedly slid on ice and rolled backward onto a steeper, narrower road than the one it had been driving on.
That stretch had a mountain on one side and a steep drop on the other, which made access difficult for large recovery vehicles.
Later that night, a snowstorm buried the truck.
When the snow melted, the mud beneath it had shifted, leaving the Rivian in an even harder position to recover.
Arizona resident Wendy Carlson noticed the truck while walking her dog and decided to see if something could be done.
She contacted three towing companies.
All three declined the job.
The concern wasn’t the location alone.
It was the fact the vehicle was electric.
A towing company owner explained the battery pack sits underneath the Rivian R1T and is extremely expensive to replace if damaged.
He said the battery alone can cost around a third of the vehicle’s value.
With that kind of liability, the recovery became a major insurance risk.
So the truck stayed where it was for nearly six months.
@saywhatwendy Meanwhile somewhere in Arizona 🫣😵💫 It slid backwards down the icy hill in February, and landed in this ravine, and has been stuck there since then. Several tow companies have declined to tow it out due to liability. Batteries are for sure dead now. #riviantruck #rivian #arizona #mountains ♬ original sound – Barstool Sports
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The TikTok post that finally got Rivian’s attention
After getting nowhere with tow companies, Carlson turned to TikTok.
She posted about the stranded Rivian R1T and asked for advice.
The video gained traction, and eventually Rivian saw it.
The company then sent out a vehicle to carry out the recovery.
The operation was successful.
Despite being stuck for months, the truck was reported to be in relatively good condition.
The owner is now driving it again while waiting for insurance to address the dents and scratches.
Three towing companies passed on the job.
One viral video brought the solution.
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With roles at TEXT Journal, Bowen Street Press, Onya Magazine, and Swine Magazine on her CV, Molly joined Supercar Blondie in June 2025 as a Junior Content Writer. Having experience across copyediting, proofreading, reference checking, and production, she brings accuracy, clarity, and audience focus to her stories spanning automotive, tech, and lifestyle news.
