2023 Rivian EDV

The defect

Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 EDV vehicles. The driver's seat belt pretensioner cable may become damaged.

The risk

A damaged seat belt pretensioner cable may not restrain the occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

The remedy

Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update. In addition Rivian will inspect and replace the driver's seat belt pretensioner assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 16, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1770.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 34,824 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2023-2024 EDV, R1S, and R1T vehicles. The headlights may be improperly aimed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."

The risk

Improperly aimed headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, decreasing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

The remedy

Rivian will inspect and adjust the headlight alignment as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 28, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1445.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 2,334 vehicles across all model years covered

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened September 22, 2025 · closed February 25, 2026

the seat belts

On September 22, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 25011 to investigate and assess allegations of seat belt performance concerns in certain Model Year (MY) 2022-2023 Rivian Electric Delivery Van (EDV).  ODI has received fourteen (14) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) reporting potential failures of the driver’s front outboard seat belt anchorage system. The anchorage utilizes a steel-braided cable linked to the seat frame, which supports the seat belt webbing that secures the occupant in the event of a crash.  The VOQ describe instances in which the steel-braided cable frayed, unraveled, or completely severed, potentially leaving the occupant inadequately restrained during vehicle operation.  A partial or complete separation of the seat belt pretensioner anchor cable can significantly degrade occupant restraint performance in a crash.  A damaged cable may also prevent the pretensioner from removing belt slack at the onset of a vehicle crash impact, which could reduce airbag effectiveness and increase the risk of injury. ODI’s investigation sought to determine whether the seat belt assembly’s integrity, design, durability, mounting position, installation method, or manufacturing deficiencies could have contributed to the reported condition. Following the opening of the investigation, Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) determined that the seat belt pretensioner anchor cable contained a safety defect in the subject vehicle population and filed a Part 573 Defect Information Report. Recall 25V-816 is intended to address MY 2022-2025 Rivian EDV vehicles. Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update and will inspect and replace the driver’s seat belt pretensioner assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on January 19, 2026. This recall action seems to resolve the concerns reported by customers.  The recall scope includes MY 2024-2025 vehicles in addition to MY 2022-2023 vehicles identified in this investigation.  Accordingly, ODI is closing Investigation PE25011. The agency will continue to monitor field performance, complaint trends, and recall completion rates to assess the adequacy of the remedy.  ODI reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future developments. To review the ODI reports cited in this Closing Resume, go to NHTSA.gov and search the associated ODI Report Identification Numbers.

The rear axle beam on this vehicle is cracked. The beam is nearly cracked all the way through with just a small amount of material still holding it together. An image is attached showing the part failure.

NHTSA complaint 11731587. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

During inspection we found the rear axle of this vehicle has a crack through it traveling vertically through the axle. The break is on the driver side rear of the vehicle and extends about 80% up the entire axle width. The attached images are taken from the rear of the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11716783. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

During operation the seatbelt connection to the pretensioner fell apart. There is a plastic housing that the seatbelt anchor is connected to. That metal anchor came apart from inside of the plastic housing and could not be reconnected. Vehicle will need a new seatbelt installed. The pretensioner mounting cable is still intact, just the connection plate to the plastic housing failed. The attached image shows the plastic housing and mounting cable separated.

NHTSA complaint 11716787. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The seatbelt cable completely snapped- it's a huge metal cord and should not have failed.

NHTSA complaint 11699227. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The ANCHOR - SEAT BELT_PTP 1_5 PRE-TENSION POINT snaps on these vehicles very often

NHTSA complaint 11693751. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.