ARID isn't malfunctioning, she's been lied to about her mission
The entire game the Caretaker insists that ARID is malfunctioning and at the end when it turns out her suit is empty and she's been alone this entire time it appears he is in fact completely correct. The truth is actually a bit more complex as why would a malfunctioning AI be sent in a fully functional combat suit to a Domesticon facility that not only doesn't officially exist but has been actively purged from all records along with the possible liquidation of all employees that ever worked there. I think that ARID was sent to the facility under false pretenses as a trojan horse as the military suspects there's something else going on at that facility but can't risk another casualty as the first person they sent, the crucified suit you find and grab the power cell from, was immediately killed. So instead they fed false information to ARID and intentionally disabled her health monitor to hide the fact she was empty and was counting on the fact that this would force her to overwrite her programming and hopefully come back with information on the Domesticon facility. This is a gamble but it's the best they've got.- Somewhat confirmed? ARID was deliberately sent to the Domesticon facility in an attempt to force a Zeroth Law Rebellion scenario by Joseph, and use that as a vehicle by which to create and propagate a computer virus intended to ensure that A.I.s can never exceed their programming.
