Late, as usual, but there seems to be no response to this question.

A rivet is a mechanical fastener. I'm unaware of anything called an
'electronic rivet', in automotive or elsewhere.

Where used in an electromechanical assembly, their electrical conductivity
is usually discounted, but their mechanical properties (in ensuring security
of an electrical contact of the fastened elements) are not.

Some parts are intended be applied like a rivet and may or may not be
solderable, in which case it would be considered an electrical/electronic
component. The connection will have the usual issues - some unique to
mechanically-formed part processes that depend on gas-tight electrical
connections and the presence of dissimilar metals. In general, the industry
attempts to partition crimped and soldered connection methods, in order to
maintain control of the quality of the product of the two different
processes involved.

In the early stages of the electronics industry, eyelets were sometimes used
as printed circuit through-hole conductors. As I recall, that was a can of
worms. 

Ideally, an electrical contact or solder joint is attempted without the
involvement of external, uncontrolled mechanical stresses, so I'd be
surprised to see rivets used as unassisted electrical contacts, without
extreme care, in an automotive or other non-stationary environment.

I'm unable to locate any references to the reliability or failure rates of
riveted connections, though soldered, crimped or welded connections are
easily researched. Perhaps this is one reason for the lack of response to
the question.

RL

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