58 consumer complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2022 Rivian R1t. Click any complaint to view the full owner description.
STRUCTUREApril 16, 2026
Subframe has cracked. It is a known issue for my vehicle as the welded subframe isn’t strong enough to hold the weight of my vehicle over time. Thus compromising the structural integrity over time, leading to severe safety hazards like unpredictable handling, poor stability, and potential failure of critical components. This can lead to accidents if not resolved. Rivian currently knows this is an issue and charges customers who are out of warranty over $11k to repair.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 12, 2026
12 volt battery was replaced under warranty on date 07/08/2024 at miles 14059. Again, 12 volt battery needs to be replaced at 29343 miles as of today's date 04/12/2026. This is highly unusual. Please look into it. Prakashkumar Patel, MD
SUSPENSIONApril 9, 2026
Passenger front suspension failure due to failed hydraulic pump (at 67k miles), resulting in wheels rubbing against interior, making vehicle almost inoperable without placing occupants at risk. It was immediate and without warning inside vehicle. When I spoke with technician they informed me that it was occasionally reported in earlier models. I was unable to view component.
SUSPENSION,WHEELSApril 9, 2026
We were driving on the highway going 70 MPH when we heard a loud bang, and then the car immediately catapulted to the right off the road and slammed into the concrete right median, spun around hit a sign and then ended up in the right bridge barrier (shoulder). During the crash 6 airbags deployed from the impact of the crash. The highway patrolman stated that you could see the driver-side rear wheel started skidding based on the marks on the road. We thought it was a blown tire. But the tires were all in tact. The driver-side rear wheel was turned out and it was clear that the toe-link joint had separated from the wheel axel and this is what caused our crash. The car has been totaled by insurance company and taken salvage yard in Knightdale, NC. We were both wearing seatbelts, and I (the passenger) was thrown around during the crash and ended up going to the hospital with neck and back pain. I have severe neck misalignment and soft tissue damage on my neck and back. I was unable to work for 4 days after the accident and still am not able to sleep well due to pain. We were in the right hand lane of the highway and did not hit any other cars, but if we had been in a different lane we could have hit another car and caused more injuries and damage. The problem that caused the accident was the problem that was listed on the product recall, we had an appointment to get it fixed the next day. We had the car towed to the Rivian service center where they verbally confirmed it was the toe link that separated. It was inspected by the police, the Rivian Service Center and our insurance adjuster. There was zero warning prior to the loud bang other than the recall notice We
SUSPENSIONApril 8, 2026
The 2022 R1Ts has a welded subframe that is prone to cracking due to the vehicles weight. The symptoms are a metal on metal clunking and creaking sound from the front end. In 2023 Rivian replaced the welded subframe on the R1T with a cast subframe that is stronger. I raised this issue to Rivian on 3 separate service appointments over the course of 3 years while my vehicle was under warranty, each time I was told that the sounds are normal. Now that my vehicle has just passed the 60,000 mile warranty period I am now being told that the truck needs the subframe replaced with the gen 2 retrofit kit at a cost of $11,500. As you can see by this Reddit thread, this is a systemic issue with the 2022 R1T and many customers have experienced cracks in the welded subframe- [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
SUSPENSIONApril 8, 2026
Massive damper leak. Per research online, this is happening with a lot of the same vehicles. If it fails, it will place the vehicle in turtle mode even on the freeway which could be dangerous.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,WHEELS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEApril 7, 2026
I was driving late night to a campsite in a very rural part of the Big Island of [XXX] , about 45 minutes from where I live. I was by myself except for my dog, in the passenger seat. I was on a country road with a 30 mph speed limit, going about 25 mph. I engaged the cruise control and it immediately went up to 40-45 mph, far faster than the limit and far faster than was safe given the wet conditions and windy road. As I tried to slow the car down, using the steering while cruise control adjustment buttons, I steered through a curve and rather than turn with the road, as I had intended, the truck slid off the road to the left, effectively hydroplaning, into two trees, at about 40 mph. The airbags deployed as the truck came to a complete halt against the two trees. The car automatically called 911 as I sat there trying to assess what had just happened, whether I was hurt, and whether my dog was hurt. I told the 911 operator that the truck had called them automatically adn that I was ok and I would call in the morning after assessing what had happened. I am waiting for the police report and also waiting for the incident report from Rivian, which has an on-board log of events. I don't know why the cruise control engaged at such a high speed, rather than at the posted speed limit, but this appears to be a known flaw with Rivian's cruise control that I was not aware of. The cruise control and software are available for inspection by NHTSA. There is also an active recall on this vehicle that I was aware of but had been unable to schedule for service yet b/c it required shipping the truck to [XXX] on a barge. I had only had the truck on island for a little more than a month. From previous operations I had no reason to believe that the cruise control was faulty. It is possible that the recall issue may have been a contributing factor to the crash but I don't know b/c the vehicle has not been inspected yet by Rivian. They have scheduled an adjuster to come on April 14. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELSApril 1, 2026
2022 Rivian R1T, VIN [XXX] . Recurring suspension defects since delivery June 2022, documented across 18 service visits over 3.5 years. Rivian performed multiple repairs including Gen 2 suspension component replacement. This defect has never been permanently resolved. On July 11, 2025, El Segundo service center [XXX] ) repaired the front end lowering in standard parking mode — causing the vehicle to sit unlevel and knock the tires out of alignment when driving off. They repaired the suspension and corrected the alignment. In August 2025 a related defect appeared: when exiting camp leveling mode, the vehicle does not return to drive height. Instead it behaves as though still entering camp mode, forcing a slow drive-away during which the vehicle behaves erratically, knocking tires out of alignment — the same mechanism as the July parking mode issue. I reported this to Rivian in fall 2025. Despite scheduling three appointments — January 21, February 10, and March 14, 2026 — El Segundo failed to complete service all three times due to inability to provide a promised loaner vehicle. Suspension unserviced since July 11, 2025 — 9 months. On March 31, 2026 I filmed the front end lowering in parking mode recurring — same defect supposedly repaired July 2025. Vehicle self-leveled when I manually raised the suspension, but recurrence after a Rivian repair attempt is a safety concern. Video dated March 31, 2026 available. Service appointment also deleted from Rivian app March 14, 2026 including active recall remedies FSAM-1795 and FSAM-1794 — addressed in separately filed NHTSA complaint. Surviving record altered by Rivian Service to state ride height appears normal before any inspection, contradicting my report and app video submitted January 2, 2026 at 9:34am. Formal complaint delivered to Rivian CEO via USPS Certified Mail March 18, 2026. No substantive response as of April 1, 2026. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
SUSPENSION,SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHERApril 1, 2026
2022 Rivian R1T, VIN [XXX] . On March 14, 2026, my service appointment at El Segundo Rivian service center [XXX] ) was deleted from the Rivian app along with all service requests and a timestamped customer message thread documenting my visit that day. Deleted items included active recall remedies FSAM-1795 (seat belt retractor bolts improperly torqued, NHTSA notification mailed ~March 9, 2026) and FSAM-1794 / NHTSA 26V003 (rear toe link improper reassembly, risk of joint separation while driving, notification mailed ~February 24, 2026), plus tire rotation, windshield replacement, and suspension repair. Both recalls were issued within 3 weeks of the deletion. This was the third of three consecutive failed appointments — all failed because El Segundo could not provide a promised loaner vehicle (January 21, February 10, March 14, 2026). The only surviving record [XXX] ) was altered by Rivian Service — they inserted the statement that ride height appears to be as expected and does not show variance before any inspection, directly contradicting my written report and a video I submitted through the Rivian app on January 2, 2026 at 9:34am documenting the defect. Rivian also added an all-caps requirement to replicate the issue on a test drive prior to intake despite existing written and video documentation. Rivian has a federal obligation to complete FSAM-1795 and FSAM-1794. Neither has been reinstated as of April 1, 2026. Formal complaint delivered to Rivian CEO via USPS Certified Mail March 18, 2026. Only response was a generic form letter (Inquiry #xxx) stating matter appears resolved. See also separately filed NHTSA complaint re suspension defect, same VIN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
SUSPENSIONMarch 30, 2026
Incident Overview: In late February 2026, at approximately 114,000 miles, this 2022 Rivian R1T suffered a comprehensive failure of its kinetic (hydraulic) suspension system. The failure occurred during normal on-road operation at approximately 60 mph in temperate (60F) conditions. The vehicle has no history of off-road use or heavy hauling. Safety Risk & Critical Failure Mode: The suspension is a safety-critical system essential for vehicle stability, emergency braking, and predictable handling. A loss of hydraulic integrity in this system directly compromises the vehicle’s ability to maintain ride height and damping control. High-Speed Exposure: The initial failure manifested while traveling at 60 mph. Although a warning lamp was triggered, the vehicle’s functional safety logic failed to initiate a "limp mode" or restricted speed state. This allowed the 7,000lb vehicle to continue at highway speeds with a compromised high-pressure hydraulic circuit, posing an unreasonable risk of loss of control. Lack of System Redundancy: A localized hydraulic leak resulted in a cascading collapse of the entire architecture. Per the 10,662 service estimate, the repair requires replacing the front and rear dampers, hydraulic pump, manifold, and all fluid lines. This suggests a design-level vulnerability where a single-point failure in the hydraulic circuit necessitates a total system overhaul, indicating a lack of modularity or redundancy. Safety Protocol Gap: After diagnosing the leak, the authorized service center deferred to my personal judgment regarding operational safety. This forced an untrained consumer to make a critical safety determination on a high-pressure system while the vehicle remained capable of full highway speeds. Technical Confirmation: An authorized Rivian service center confirmed the failure on March 3, 2026, and determined a full system-wide replacement is required. All components are available for inspection. No prior warnings or symptoms were presen
STEERING,SUSPENSIONMarch 25, 2026
The vehicle experienced a failure of the air suspension system, initially presenting with warnings indicating the vehicle was raising and advising not to drive to avoid damage. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle became visibly uneven, tilting approximately 2–3 inches to the driver side. I took the vehicle to Rivian service, where they confirmed the air suspension had failed. The repair was not covered under warranty, so I initially declined service while attempting to escalate the issue. During this time, the condition worsened significantly, with the vehicle continuing to tilt and the suspension actively lowering while driving. On multiple occasions, the vehicle became unstable and began bouncing uncontrollably, making it difficult to steer and maintain control, creating a serious safety risk and potential for collision. The issue was ongoing and reproducible. I ultimately proceeded with the repair and had the suspension system replaced; however, following the repair, the vehicle is now tilting in the opposite direction (passenger side), indicating a continued or recurring failure. The vehicle is available for inspection, and a follow-up service appointment is scheduled. The cause appears to be a failure of the air suspension system and/or improper repair, though the exact root cause is unknown.
STEERING,SUSPENSIONFebruary 9, 2026
My vehicle is subject to an active safety recall involving a rear toe bolt that Rivian has identified as potentially shearing and causing loss of vehicle control and a crash. I am located in Ketchikan, Alaska. Rivian does not offer mobile or field service for this recall and requires the vehicle to be transported to either Anchorage or Seattle for repair. Transport to Anchorage is not possible, and while transport to Seattle is possible, there is no viable or predictable way to return the vehicle to my location, potentially leaving me without my primary vehicle for several months. Rivian has stated they will not cover transport and has not provided a feasible alternative. This leaves me without reasonable access to a safety recall remedy and effectively requires me to either operate a vehicle with a known safety defect or surrender it indefinitely. I am reporting this as a lack of reasonable access to a safety recall repair.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTUREFebruary 5, 2026
Initially, my instrument screen on my vehicle went black and stopped working. I had to drive roughly 10 miles home without the use of my speedometer. After replacing the AXM module, the cruise control and lane-keeping functions intermittently stop working. The vehicle was at the service center on and off for 57 days before it was returned to me without a resolution. I’m told this issue is affecting 30 vehicles in the Rivian fleet; however, they don't yet have a permanent fix. I brought up my safety concerns and was assured that this issue will not affect the automatic emergency braking and other safety features, which I hope is true.
STRUCTURENovember 9, 2025
the electronic door handles are malfunctioning and not opening or staying open. when they stay in and dont present, the door remains locked and cannot be opened from the outside. This is a safety hazard if an occupant cannot exit the vehicle in an emergency and the door cannot be opened from the outside. I have already had one (drivers door) replaced and now both rear passenger doors are malfunctioning. this is an intermittent problem. I believe this to be a manufacturing defect that should be covered at the cost of the manufacturer.
STEERING,SUSPENSIONOctober 4, 2025
I was driving about 35-40mpg when the right rear toe link snapped due to inproper torquing. I believe the bolt had backed out then snapped. When I contacted rivian they initially blamed me for it before even in before inspecting the vehicle. Once they inspected it they stated it would be covered under warranty. There was no paint on the bolt to show proper torque had been applied. Which is a standard process for rivian. I had asked them to please check the left rear toe link as well and make sure it’s all torque properly or even replace the link since they are one time use parts. They did not check it they did not paint mark any of the left side. They did paint mark the right side. The result of this link snapping out my family in great danger by sliding across the road and almost going into the mountain side. We were on the freeway while this happened I would not be writing the report. I beg you to please look into this matter. I no longer feel safe putting my family into the vehicle as I am scared something else was not put on correctly. They also stated in the service report that the halfshafts were not seated properly which could have caused a catastrophic accident. Thank you
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMSeptember 28, 2025
Vehicle was flagged for software update 2025.34.01. Upon installation, the software produced an error. In response to initial support request, OEM pushed an unreleased and unpublished software update versioned 2025.34.20. The new update also produced the same errors, and additionally prevented the vehicle from being able to be shifted into the Drive position, rendering the vehicle immobile and unusable for a defined period of time.
POWER TRAINSeptember 9, 2025
Vehicle making excessive noise due to the half shaft. Half shaft has been changed twice in the last 3 years and still experiencing the same issue. Sometimes this results on excessive vibration on the steering wheel.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMSeptember 8, 2025
Vehicle lurched to a stop in a parking lot, unable to shift into gear. Warnings: “motor fault detected”, “system fault detected”, “all wheel drive permanently engaged”, “replace 12v battery. “ Currently being repaired under manufacture warranty. Manufacturer confirmed drive unit needed to be replaced. This could have been a terrible accident if it happened on the freeway. My wife and dog were in the car with me. There were no warning signs leading up to this moment. We were stranded 400 miles from home and needed several tows to get home and to the service center.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERSeptember 1, 2025
HVAC dumping water into drivers side carpet, creating mold, mildew, and slippery carpet. Vehicle was at Rivian service center 2 weeks ago to address this and other issues. This problem continues. Not sure if water is also intruding into electrical areas.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCESeptember 1, 2025
while driving on 85 south warning message appeared.
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGAugust 29, 2025
Tonight starting at 7:15pm to 8:00pm vehicle switched from all lights +foglights on to daytime driving lights or parking lights. It did this three times. I live in rural setting with hardly any public lighting and a lot of wildlife. I have contacted Rivian regarding this issue multiple times, they tell me the auto high beam selector must be on, auto high beam is not on, they tell me it must be a setting I enabled to which I sent them a recording of the settings showing them I have not enable any settings and anyhow why would auto high beam setting cause all headlights to go off and automatically switch to auto lights or parked lights? Vehicle was taken to rivian service center two weeks ago, picked up vehicle Wednesday 27th august 2025 afternoon. At the most recent service visit this issue was to be addressed, handled and rectified. I was unable to capture it on recording and this evening I installed a camera to record this problem.
STEERING,SUSPENSIONJuly 26, 2025
The suspension system has failed three times. The entire system has been replaced by the dealership twice under warranty. The most recent failure has not been addressed, as the dealer is now refusing to make further repairs. The suspension issues significantly affect vehicle handling and steering during normal operation. Under heavy acceleration, the vehicle becomes difficult to control, posing a serious safety risk.
SUSPENSION,WHEELSMay 27, 2025
Catastrophic failure of rear upper control arm / suspension resulting in temporary loss of control. Occurred driving straight at 35mph without any prior damage or symptoms.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMMay 22, 2025
Defective charge port door that has no manual release. If it gets stuck, the vehicle can no longer be charged, potentially stranding the driver. Only solution is a service visit.
SERVICE BRAKESApril 22, 2025
The vehicle brakes stopped working on the highway moving at 75 MPH. It felt like the brakes were locked mechanically after all the vehicle electronic fault codes appeared in the dash. The incident occurred [XXX] traveling down a highway right after a vehicle battery charge at a charging station. While driving, all error lights came on, including turtle mode, high voltage battery pack fault, front collision warning failure, failure in all 4 motors, failure of ABS and traction control, and most importantly failure in brake. Tried pulsating the brake, pressing as hard as possible on the brake pedal, but the brakes would not activate. The pedal was mechanically locked like when you try to turn a steering wheel without a key - that kind of lock. We pulled to the emergency lane and let the vehicle coast to a stop. We did a soft vehicle reset and then a hard vehicle reset. It continued locked. After about 5 minutes, all the error lights went out and vehicle worked again. Drove it home and called Rivian, who had the vehicle towed to their repair facility. While this is the first time the brakes failed, it was not the first time all the error lights came on after a battery charge at a charging station. The first time it happened, i took it to Rivian and they said it was a software glitch and gave it back to me without any repair. If a software glitch can cause your brakes to lock up at highway speeds, this needs to be addressed. This has happened 3 times since December of 2024. I also have a video that i can’t upload, but can provide through email. I can’t trust this vehicle with my life anymore. The vehicle has been in service over 12 times with suspension components replaced multiple times, vehicle error faults that can’t be traced to an issue, and now brake failure. This needs to be thoroughly investigated or someone can get killed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
AIR BAGSFebruary 8, 2025
The front passenger seat sensor does not respond to a 135lb 5’9” person resulting in the airbag being disabled. This has been an issue since we purchased the vehicle and has not been resolved with 4+ visits to the service center. No other vehicles we have driven have ever had this problem.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERFebruary 1, 2025
Our rear passenger interior door handle stopped working today. We were unable to open the door from the inside of the car. I messaged Rivian support and we tried a software reset and checked to make sure the the child safety lock wasn’t on. Neither worked so I have scheduled a mobile service appointment for 2/11/2025. Checked inside the door panel and part of the door pull was broken off and loose inside the door. It looks like the cable barrel for the door release could have been anchored there a that was the point of failure.
SEAT BELTSSeptember 5, 2024
Rear center seatbelt not bolted down at manufacture. Vehicle was brought in to a Rivian service center, for an NVH complaint coming from the rear seats. It was discovered that the rear seat belt was not secured properly to the vehicle frame.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERApril 12, 2024
Rivian updated it's the dashboard screen software on or about February 7th 2024 This update introduced a Short Cuts Access Panel UI change that displays from the left side of the center dashboard screen, 1. when the icon 3rd from the top-left is pressed, 2. The vehicle in shifted into Park. The delay time for this access panel UI to graphically slide in and display new buttons takes about 1.5 - 2 seconds after the vehicle is placed into Park. The driver may have the intent to use currently displayed buttons on the screen, like 'camera selection', 'open garage'. With driver intent underway and finger in motion or on touch screen surface, the Short Cuts panel is presented interrupting an intended press, or causing a complete different vehicle action to happen, such an example: the 'Open Tailgate' button was slid into position over the 'change rear camera' button. Where the driver's intent was to change the camera view because that was the button present to the driver just before and just after shifting the vehicle into Park, the move was made to press the 'change camera' button. Instead just before the finger could register the press on screen, the panel displayed a new button under the drivers finger and unsecured the vehicles tailgate. Had this unintended press happen while the vehicle was in a space that would have released the load or it would be otherwise dangerous to exit the vehicle and re-secure the tailgate all because the UI changed without the driver intent to display this changed panel of buttons. Rivian should not presume the drivers intent is to access the 'Short Cuts' panel, The panel should present on request of a button press, or by optional means that still puts driver intent back into UI display changes. If a driver has no intent to use 'Short Cuts' that are not always present on screen, the panel presentation is instead interfering with presently displayed input and causing unintended or even unsafe side effects.
AIR BAGSApril 5, 2024
The passenger airbag does not engage for my 115 lb girlfriend. The answer from Rivian is dangerous and takes no responsibility. Official complaint and answer from Rivian. Concern: - Customer states Their partner is unable to to trigger the airbag when sitting in the front seat Timestamp: 7:04-7:05 PM PST 2/4 Cause: - OCS operating as designed. Future OTA being planned to potentially address issue. How does a "future" update help keep my loved ones safe now???
STRUCTUREMarch 25, 2024
The front driver’s side door became stuck shut while inside the vehicle, forcing the driver to have to exit the vehicle by crawling across the inside of the vehicle and out the passenger’s side door. Repeated attempts to unlock and open the door from both inside and outside the vehicle (reaching through the door window to the exterior door latch) were unsuccessful. The manufacturer confirmed the problem and attempted to fix it on three occasions, replacing various door components and assuring me that the problem was fixed. However, the issue reoccurred each time and is still unsolved.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEFebruary 28, 2024
Four to five events of phantom braking have occurred on rural roads under the following circumstances: 1) Opposing traffic temporarily erroneously appears to be in your travel lane because of road architecture. 2) Full size or larger vehicle or trailer parked along road in direction of travel. All of these phantom breaking events occur while driving on lightly traveled rural two lane roads. Personally, phantom braking has never occurred while driving on urban roads (wider with more vehicular traffic) or any two lane highways with or without a physical median divider irrespective of traffic volume.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEFebruary 18, 2024
When towing a trailer with my Rivian R1T on interstate 75 I set my cruise control while going with the speed of traffic at approximately 60 mph. Instead of cruise control setting at the speed I was traveling, it instead sets at the posted speed limit. In most conditions, this wouldn't create a hazard as adaptive cruise control would keep the vehicle from accelerating more than the speed the vehicle directly in front of me is going. But when towing a trailer, the R1T disables the adaptive part of cruise control as well as emergency braking. Setting cruise control in this circumstance nearly cased me to rear end the car in front of my as I wasn't expecting the cruise control to set at nearly 10 mph faster than I was traveling when I set it. To be clear. This is not "resuming" a previous cruise control speed I had been set to, this sets at the posted speed limit.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCENovember 14, 2023
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? MANY components of the vehicle that run on software are completely unuseable. This includes ALL sensors, safety features, ADAS, ability to adjust suspension, regen braking, HVAC, Audio, etc. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I do not know what is working and what is not working. Zero sensors are working. Are the regen brakes working? I do not know. Are my turn signals working or headlights on? I have no way of telling. Not having the ability to adjust suspension, drive mode, etc. is also concerning. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, confirmed by Rivian support and confirmed that it is VERY widespread. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not yet. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. Happened after a failed OTA software update.
AIR BAGS,SEATSOctober 31, 2023
Front passenger seat does not always recognize that a passenger (my wife who weighs about 110 lbs) is sitting in the seat. The airbag off light will be on during various parts of a trip when my wife is clearly sitting normal in the seat with her belt buckled. I’ve brought the vehicle in twice to the manufacturer for them to fix the issue and both times they have stated that they can’t find a problem. I have video and shared with them both times. I feel uncomfortable allowing my wife to sit as a passenger knowing she isn’t being fully protected with airbags ready to deploy. Please help fix this problem. Thanks
WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKESSeptember 26, 2023
On 9/23/23 at approximately 4:10pm, my Rivian R1T suffered a catastrophic failure of the left rear brake. After exiting the freeway, I was slowing for a traffic signal primarily using the regenerative brake feature. I applied light pressure to the brake pedal which initiated a left rear brake failure. I attempted to move the truck out of the traffic lane. The left rear wheel was locked and would not roll. Upon removing the aero cover from the wheel, I observed the brake caliper in an abnormal position. The wheel had a sizeable hole in the middle of it. I surmised that the brake caliper shifted position during braking and damaged the wheel. The vehicle was towed to the Rivian Service Center in Phoenix, Az. A representative at the Service Center has told me that the wheel would not roll because the brake caliper shifted into the center of the wheel preventing it from turning. They have withheld further information about the root cause until they can investigate further. Had this event occurred at higher speeds, I have no doubt it would have caused a loss of control of the vehicle when the wheel locked or perhaps as a result of an inability to slow the vehicle. Rivian is still investigating the root cause of the brake failure. The only warnings received occurred after the event. I was presented with a Parking Brake Service Needed warning, and an indicator that no drive modes could be selected.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCESeptember 23, 2023
ACC phantom brakes on highways causing dangerous situations with vehicles following behind and also causing driver panic events particularly when phantom braking occurs most commonly on bends of highways or on single lane highways where it reacts to oncoming traffic. The most common way phantom braking triggers is while traveling on single lane highways with shoulders where there are objects on the side of the highway (either parked cars, trailers, or large structures) particularly when coming around a curve or bend (most unreliable on mountain highways). It will quickly react and cause the Rivian to rapidly brake/decelerate. When occuring on highways with bends it can cause unexpected reactions from cars following behind not expecting sudden braking of the vehicle ahead mid bend. The best way to mitigate is to apply pressure to the accelerator pedal to override the braking. It has happened numerous times since our ownership started 2 months ago. It’s received 3 over the air updates in that time and it continues to have phantom braking with update 2023.34.0.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCESeptember 23, 2023
Loses sight of vehicle ahead and will accelerate to set speed ignoring vehicle in front when in bends. It only seems to track vehicles in a straight line of sight ahead and not accommodate for steering. It’s most obvious on curves in highways and can easily be reproduced on cloverleaf on ramps or off ramps or even at low speeds when going around an obstacle.
SUSPENSIONSeptember 11, 2023
Was driving through an intersection in traffic when I heard a loud explosion/metal-on-metal sound from the front drivers side of the vehicle. Instantly received two warnings in the IP; one for "Performance Limited" and the other for "Service Suspension Soon". The IP also stated speed was limited to 80MPH. I didn't notice any difference in driving but decided to pull over and check. Upon checking I identified a hydraulic suspension line completely disconnected and leaking hydraulic fluid in the front driver side wheel well. The wheel well also appeared to be covered in hydraulic fluid. Over the next 10-15 minutes the suspension became uneven/lopsided and the passenger side wheels were touching the wheel well. I called Rivian service and they said it was not safe to drive and had it towed to the Rivian service center. Rivian service is backlogged and will not be able to inspect and assess the damage until 9/21. Ultimately, I don't think the warnings accurately conveyed the severity of the issue and don't understand why the vehicle would let you drive up to 80mph when rivian service said it was not safe to drive.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,EQUIPMENTJuly 10, 2023
Recent interaction with a driver alongside my vehicle. Driver begin merging into my lane. Used horn as well as decelerating to prevent collision. It appears horn was unheard by other driver. Believe the fact the horn is mounted very low on my vehicle and ducted in a way that it is not sufficiently loud to alert other drivers and prevent accidents Other posts on the Rivian forum note other Rivian drivers experiencing same issue with horn volume.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJuly 9, 2023
Critical battery issue, made the truck inoperable and stuck in my garage. Rivian replaced the main battery pack and the drained 12v batteries. One day after getting the truck back while I was driving, the truck motors stopped in a jarring fashion in the middle of dark one lane road. Error message said motor failure. Then got the same critical battery issue. Once the main battery dies it drains the 12v batteries; thereby, turning off the emergency lights. There is a major issue with the battery packs. It is incredibly dangerous that the motors shut down not allowing me to coast and move the truck to a safe spot. The 12v draining when there is a main battery pack failure; thereby, shutting off the emergency lights in a design flaw.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SEAT BELTSJune 10, 2023
We purchased our Rivian two weeks ago today from a private seller, and Rivian will not transfer ownership of the truck to us despite multiple calls, emails, and online chats. This is a safety, security, and privacy issue. There is a major recall that I cannot get fixed because Rivian will not transfer ownership of the vehicle from the previous owner to us. The previous owners have access to the vehicle, being able to disable our keys, and could access our vehicle at any point should they so desire. They can view all recordings from the truck, which means they are accessing private conversations and communications occurring in my own private garage. We've made it abundantly clear to Rivian that this is a security and safety issue, but they will not remedy the matter by transferring ownership (the truck is currently registered in the state of Florida, and the taxes, title, and tags have all been processed.
STEERINGMay 5, 2023
The inner left tie rod in my truck bent and then completely snapped while I was backing out of my driveway. The tie rods are available for inspection. I was unable to steer the vehicle after the tie rod broke, and the vehicle was unable to reverse or move forward. I could've crashed on the side of the road had I gone at higher speeds. The problem has not been reproduced, but has been confirmed at the Rivian service center. The vehicle and components have been inspected by a Rivian service technician. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure. They first appeared after I attempted to back out of my driveway at a very low speed (less than 5mph).
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGApril 15, 2023
I love my Rivian but . . . the headlights are LED or something, and the bulbs have a plastic cover. The bulbs do not generate much heat and we have been driving in snow storms and the snow accumulates on the plastic headlight covers and the bulbs do not generate enough heat to melt the snow, so the snow accumulates and the illumination decreases to the point they are no longer functional. Driving in the dark in a snow storm with no lights is a serious safety concern. Rivian simply says, treat the plastic covers with something like "RainX", but that is nowhere near a realistic solution. Feel free to contact me if needed, [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
AIR BAGSMarch 15, 2023
My wife weights 109lbs and the passenger airbag turns off regularly. This was reported to Rivian back in July 2022 and there hasn't been a fix provided. I can share a picture of both her in the seat and the airbag light off if this is an option. I'm hearing it reported by other Rivian owners.
AIR BAGSMarch 13, 2023
The Rivian front passenger seat sensor is set to detect passengers that are >=120 pounds (according to the rivian service center). This setting is WAY too high and prevents the air bags from activating when my 5’5” daughter who weighs 110 pounds sits in the front seat. I have seen the vehicle fail to recognize she is sitting in the seat and is putting her at undue risk of injury. My complaints are: 1) I could not find the activation weight published in their owners manual and therefore assumed my vehicle was defective. This required me bringing my vehicle in for service to find out the 120 pound activation weight. This should be more actively published and owners warned to not let humans weighing less then 120 pounds sit in the front passenger seat. 2) This weight limit is WAY too high. This will prevent many adult humans from being able to safely ride in the front seat.
STEERINGFebruary 27, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Rivian R1T. The contact stated while making a left turn the vehicle would not allow the contact to straighten the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to run off the road and struck a small tree. The contact was able to control the vehicle and was able to drive home. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the bolts of the steering system were tightened. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 12,000.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,BACK OVER PREVENTIONJanuary 30, 2023
******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS AN INADVERTENT DUPLICATE OF ODI# 11504269*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,BACK OVER PREVENTIONJanuary 29, 2023
While preparing to pull out of a parallel street parking space in my R1T with a car 3 feet in front of me, I stepped on the brake to engage Drive from Park. On releasing the brake, before stepping on the accelerator, the R1T surged at a high rate of speed hitting the car straight on, deploying the air bags in the car and blowing the rear window out of the car. The car was pushed past an empty space, 20 ft or more, into another parked car. This all happened in 2-4 seconds. The R1T surged as if the accelerator had been push to the floor surprising me and pushing me back on the driver seat. The R1T stopped when I braked. The car was totaled. The driver of the car was taken to the hospital with minor injuries but might lead to later back and neck injuries. At no time did the R1T's alarms activate. The R1T is estimated to go from zero to 60 MPH in 3 seconds. Although contacted and advised of the accident Rivian has not accepted responsibility or offered proof otherwise. The only way to prove if this accident was either driver error or systems error is to get an analysis of my R1T computer system for the 2-5 minutes before, during and after the accident. I have requested this report from Rivian 4 times and have spoken with 3 people and have 2 emails. At no time while speaking with Rivian employees was I told they cannot do the analysis, until the final response which came from the Rivian legal Department, sixteen days after my first request. The report stated - "Rivian requires a valid subpoena to provide vehicle data.” From my Rivian R1T computer screen: "Rivian Data Analysis: Shares precise location data with Rivian for data analysis, which are used to improve our products and services.” I do have an insurance case number and a police report number on this accident. We have owned the truck since 8/2022.
STEERINGJanuary 25, 2023
The vehicle constantly pulls to the right, causing a completely worn tire 10k miles. Rivian states no one but them can do an ailment and I need to drive 4.5 hrs each way to get alignment done, w/on reimbursement of time or tire. Their is no way this is factual that they are the only ones that can do alignment. If true they should pick truck up and fix it. No way one in six months should a tire get worn.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERDecember 12, 2022
Glass used on windshield is weak. I've had multiple chips on the glass in the first 3000 miles of use. Seems prevalent on other trucks as well.
SERVICE BRAKESDecember 7, 2022
The truck was parked on a moderate slope (maybe 10-15 degrees), on a gravel driveway in slightly icy conditions. After 1-2 minutes in "park", the steering wheel began turning and the truck started moving backwards down the slope. It stopped when I pressed on the brakes. I immediately moved the truck to a flatter area. I was able to reproduce this effect multiple times on similar slopes that day. I would put the truck into park. It would be stable and stationary for 1-2 minutes. The steering wheel would then start to turn and the truck would start to move. The front wheels were rolling. I think the back wheels were sliding, but I'm not totally sure. The truck is presently at the Rivian Service Center being inspected. I've attached a photo of the truck on a slope where I could recreate the problem. There was some ice in tire tracks from the day before, but the truck never lost any traction while driving. I have video from the inside of the steering wheel starting to move on one of these occasions.
SEATSNovember 26, 2022
The passenger seat has rocked back when you lean too hard into the back of the chair since taking delivery of the vehicle. Today I took a flash light and tried to find the cause, I found a missing bolt in one of the 4 points at which the seat attaches to the truck.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEOctober 19, 2022
Truck without warning, suddenly stopped and I was on one of the busiest streets in Los Angeles at an intersection, blocking a large amount of traffic and too dangerous to get out due to cars rapidly passing. Called Rivian support and they said it would take. two hours to get a tow truck to me even though AAA was only 20 min away, they would not call AAA. I was at risk of being rear ended. Fire department came and was able to move car to side of road. Rivian gave no assistance. Engine light came on and said call tow truck and do not drive, red lights, manual said it was dangerous.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCESeptember 23, 2022
I DO NOT OWN THIS VEHICLE. I WAS HOWEVER, INJURED BY THE DRIVER OF THE 2022 RIVIAN LAUNCH EDITION. I WAS REAR ENDED (WHILE I WAS STOPPED WAITING FOR A READ LIGHT) AT A RELATIVE HIGH SPEED FOR ROAD CONDITIONS. AFTER STUDYING THE OWNERS MANUAL, THERE ARE MULTIPLE COLLISION AVOIDANCE WARNINGS, AUDIBLE, VISUAL AND HAPTIC (VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL) WHEN A COLLISION IS IMMINENT. FURTHERMORE, THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING FEATURE AND BRAKE ASSIST SHOULD COMPLETELY PREVENTED ME FROM BEING REAR ENDED AND INJURED AS A RESULT. i APPEARS THAT THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY ACCELERATED INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE (7150LBS), THE "SKATEBOARD" LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE FRAME, THE 0-60MPH IN 3 SECONDS POWER (850HP - 908LB-FT TORQUE) AND THE PROTRUDING FRONT TOW HOOK, AND THE ABOVE SAFETY FEATURES NOT OPERATING AS DESIGNED, A HIGH CONCENTRATED AMOUNT OF FORCE STRUCK MY VEHICLE AND AS A RESULT IS WAS INJURED. (REPORTED TO CALFORNIA DMV) DATE OF ACCIDENT 06/29/2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMSeptember 6, 2022
When driving and when parked the digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen (2 screen) can spontaneously turn off. This results in the entire instrument cluster being inaccessible while driving. Parking the vehicle for 20 minutes will recover the screens, but then it continues to happen. Rivian is aware of the issue and initially closed my ticket but has reopened it. I haven’t received a timeline to get it looked at and while they have reviewed logs, they haven’t given me any additional informations. The attached video shows the issue when I was parked since recording the video while driving would have been unsafe :) The car will still go into park and reverse despite the instrument cluster being inactive.
POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURESeptember 1, 2022
The Driver+ (D+) feature on the Rivians have both adaptive cruise control and lane centering active at the same time. There is a function unknown to me that controls whether or not the D+ feature can turn on or remain on. In certain situations, the D+ features asks the driver the disable the system by pushing the right stalk upward with a red message on the gauge console screen. In other situations, the D+ feature forcibly disables with a similar red message on the gauge console screen. The messages themselves look very similar at first glance and require the driver to look down to discern between the two because the outcome for both scenarios is very different, particularly when D+ forcibly disables itself. When D+ disables itself (again the reasons are unknown to me at the time and not predictable other than maybe GPS location), there is a VERY brief warning to the driver then turns off and automatically brakes the vehicle. This D+ error is not as common as the other warning described above that asks the user to push the right stalk upward to turn it off. Once D+ forcibly turns itself off, the vehicle brakes aggressively. Due to muscle memory of the other similar-appearing error, it is normal to push the right stalk upward to disable it. Herein lies the issue: the vehicle is aggressively slowing down and pushing up on the right stalk (seemingly to disable D+) actually puts the vehicle into Reverse drive. This is because the vehicle does NOT require the brake pedal to be pressed to change into Reverse at low speeds (threshold unknown). This results in unpredictable and unexpected behavior of the vehicle within the matter of a few seconds. When the driver thinks they are disabling D+, they are unexpectedly putting the vehicle in reverse, so when accelerating from the stop caused by D+ the vehicle moves in reverse. This is most prevalent when using D+ in stop/go to light traffic and resulted in reversing on the freeway into another vehicle.
VISIBILITY/WIPERAugust 11, 2022
Roof glass used is a cheap quality product (almost like an acrylic piece). I do not believe it should be on an automotive product. Cracks started developing and growing rapidly all over. Initial point of crack could have been after I installed a bike rack with elbow resting on glass. Was using a ladder for standing next to vehicle. Did not notice the crack immediately but it started on that side and grew rapidly across the surface when parked. I had the glass replaced with out of pocket pay and have the old one with me. I believe there are 2 issues: 1) quality of glass product not meant for rugged use as a roof glass 2) lack of cross beam support for such a long span of glass used in the roof