Rivian · NHTSA safety record

2025 Rivian R1S

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 54 safety complaints about the 2025 Rivian R1S with the US government. Of those, 5 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 4 people were injured and no death is recorded. 11 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the exterior lighting, named in 9 complaints, 17% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers August 2024 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

54 complaints on file

Complaints

Describe a crash

Mention fire

People injured

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14 · 26% 14 26%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 9 · 17% 9 17%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 9 · 17% 9 17%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8 · 15% 8 15%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8 · 15% 8 15%

SERVICE BRAKES 6 · 11% 6 11%

VISIBILITY/WIPER 6 · 11% 6 11%

STEERING 4 · 7% 4 7%

AIR BAGS 3 · 6% 3 6%

ENGINE 3 · 6% 3 6%

POWER TRAIN 3 · 6% 3 6%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 · 4% 2 4%

0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 54.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 35.

40 30 20 10

24 2024 25 2025 26 2026

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2024 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2025 Rivian R1S. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

11 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

26V597000 · September 16, 2026

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2027 R1S, 2022-2026 R1T, and 2027 R2 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be obstructed by a notification when in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk: An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1866. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 9, 2026.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 98,828 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

26V508000 · August 6, 2026

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025-2026 R1S and R1T vehicles. One or both front turn signals may fail to illuminate and flash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: Turn signals that do not function properly increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Rivian will inspect and replace the front turn signals as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 29, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1833. This is an expansion of Recall 25V387. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 31, 2026.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 3,829 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

26V009000 · January 15, 2026

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1T and 2022-2026 R1S vehicles. The bolts that secure the second-row driver and passenger side seat belt retractor assemblies may be improperly tightened.
The risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy: Rivian will inspect and tighten the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 2, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1795.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 869 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS

26V003000 · January 5, 2026

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1S and R1T vehicles that previously had service performed. The toe link may have been reassembled incorrectly during service procedures performed before March 10, 2025.
The risk: The toe link joint may separate, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Rivian will replace the rear toe link bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1794. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 24, 2026.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 19,641 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE

25V585000 · September 8, 2025

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles operating a software version prior to 2025.18.30. The Hands-Free Highway Assist (HWA) software may fail to correctly identify a lead vehicle.
The risk: Failure to detect another vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1744.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 24,214 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

25V537000 · August 21, 2025

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles. An improperly grounded connection inside the High Voltage Distribution Box (HVDB) may cause a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Rivian will inspect and repair the HVDB ground strap joint or replace the high voltage battery pack as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1723.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 23 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

25V387000 · June 11, 2025

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles. One or both front turn signals may fail to illuminate and flash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: Turn signals that do not function properly, failing to indicate the driver's intention to change direction, increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Rivian will inspect and replace the front turn signals as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2025. Owners will receive a second notice once the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1693.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 27,882 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

25V370000 · June 3, 2025

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1T and R1S vehicles. The D-ring bolts for one or both front seat belt anchorage assemblies may not have been properly installed.
The risk: An improperly secured seat belt may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy: Rivian will inspect and properly secure the seat belt anchorage assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2025. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1681.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 536 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

25V085000 · February 13, 2025

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles. The headlight low beams may fail to illuminate when starting the vehicle in cold weather. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: Headlight failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Rivian will replace the headlight control modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2025. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1612.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 17,260 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

24V827000 · November 1, 2024

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1T and R1S vehicles. Software version 2024.39.30 may prevent certain exterior lights from turning on when the Car Costume feature is activated.
The risk: Deactivated exterior lighting reduces the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1552.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 5,128 vehicles across all model years covered · fixed by software update

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

24V686000 · September 13, 2024

The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1S vehicles. The steering column control module (SCCM) may be missing cruise control markings. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
The risk: The driver may not know how to activate or deactivate the cruise control without the proper markings, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Rivian will inspect and replace the SCCMs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 18, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1532.

Rivian Automotive, LLC · up to 33 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Rear Toe Link May Separate

PE26004

Still open preliminary evaluation · opened May 26, 2026

the suspension

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received two Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting left rear toe link separation in certain Model Year (MY) 2023-2024 Rivian R1S vehicles. Both VOQs report component separation while driving, causing the vehicles to swerve across multiple lanes of traffic. One incident resulted in a collision with an adjacent vehicle and roadside barrier. In both separations, the bolt that maintains the integrity of the toe link fractured. Evidence collected from the complaint vehicles included repair histories, onboard video, imagery of the damaged components, and a police accident report. The two vehicles with reported separation have different vehicle histories. One vehicle received prior service and the other was involved in a previous collision. In both instances, the vehicles operated for multiple months and thousands of miles of usage with no apparent problems between the previous service or the previous collision and the failures that prompted this investigation. Rivian recognized the subject toe link joint’s sensitivity to service procedures in March of 2025 in its updated service procedures. In January 2026 through recall 26V-003, Rivian extended the improved repair procedure to vehicles that received toe link service prior to the March 2025 improvement. ODI is opening a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to (1) assess the sensitivity of the rear toe link joint to foreseeable road and service conditions, (2) compare the physical failure evidence from the two VOQs to identify apparent similarities and potential differences, (3) evaluate Rivian’s current toe link repair procedure, and (4) assess the in-field subject population’s toe links conditions. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES Filed October 16, 2025

3 injured · crash · towed · 24 miles

The contact owned a 2025 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while driving 24 MPH, the other vehicle switched lanes in front of the contact's vehicle. The other driver had a learner's permit. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but it traveled down to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was pushed into the cement divider. The vehicle came to a stop when it crashed into a light pole inside the cement divider. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact and her daughter, along with one of the passengers, were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The contact sustained minor

NHTSA complaint 11693883, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY Filed September 3, 2025

1 injured

door mechanisms do not disengage if something becomes trapped between the handle and the door when auto-locking. Hands and fingers can become pinched or trapped, posing a risk of injury, particularly to children.

NHTSA complaint 11684790. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed December 26, 2025

fire

On November 27th the accelerator on my Rivian became stuck causing the car to accelerate quickly and preventing me from immediately stopping the car. There was a message stating that the regenerative braking system was not available and the accelerator pedal was stuck in the down position. When I pressed on the brake there was a terrible grinding noise and smoke coming from the front tires. I quickly realized that bringing the Rivian to a full stop would likely cause the car to catch fire. Since the road was clear I had time to discuss a plan with my family and I told them to prepare to get out of the car quickly. I pressed hard on the brakes which caused them to grind and smoke. I put the

NHTSA complaint 11707116, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Filed July 24, 2025

crash · towed

While my wife was driving our 2025 Rivian R1S (approx. 13,500 miles), the vehicle was at a complete stop when it began to slowly roll forward on its own, followed by a sudden surge of acceleration, despite no input on the accelerator. This unexpected movement caused the vehicle to collide with a Tesla directly in front and involved another two vehicles. This incident posed a serious safety risk and could have injured pedestrians or other drivers. There were no warning lights or error messages before or during the incident. The cause is UNKNOWN at this time. Rivian has not yet inspected the vehicle, but we are requesting log preservation and a full review. This behavior has not been

NHTSA complaint 11675876, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Filed September 22, 2026

On September 20, 2026 at approximately 10:29 a.m. CDT, while traveling on Interstate 30 between Greenville and Royse City, Texas, my 2025 Rivian R1S Gen 2 experienced sustained unintended acceleration in an active construction zone with concrete barriers and no immediate safe exit. I applied very heavy, sustained braking to counter the acceleration until we reached a break in the barriers and could leave the highway. Substantial smoke was then coming from the wheel/brake areas. We were initially unable to place the vehicle in Park; after a vehicle reboot, we were able to shut it down. After stopping, we discovered that the accelerator pedal had become physically lodged beneath the driver’s

NHTSA complaint 11766169, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER Filed September 10, 2026

Safety defect involving exterior rearview mirrors on Rivian R1S I am reporting a recurring and worsening safety issue involving the exterior rearview mirrors on my Rivian R1S Gen 2. Both side mirrors repeatedly lose their saved positions without driver input. More concerningly, on multiple occasions the mirrors have changed position while the vehicle was being driven, including at highway speeds. When this occurs, my rearward and side visibility is unexpectedly altered while driving, requiring me to readjust the mirrors and creating a significant safety concern. This problem has persisted across multiple Rivian software versions and has become progressively worse. I have already reported

NHTSA complaint 11763358, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING Filed September 9, 2026

crash

OnXXX, at approximately 5:00 PM CT, my 2025 Rivian R1S was involved in a low-speed rear-end collision at the intersection of [XXX] and the [XXX]. I was merging onto the service road (posted speed approx. 55 mph) behind another vehicle that began its merge through a stop sign, then stopped suddenly. I was moving forward at approximately 5-10 mph while checking oncoming traffic to my left. The vehicle's Automatic Emergency Braking system did not engage, and no forward collision warning was displayed, before I struck the vehicle ahead. I applied the brakes manually only after impact. No injuries occurred. I am reporting this because Rivian has previously disclosed to NHTSA (Recall 25V-585,

NHTSA complaint 11763213, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING Filed June 10, 2026

Rivian identified the recalls on our car model and are failing to get the vehicle to repair them since we are unable to get to the dealership.

NHTSA complaint 11743166. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING Filed May 31, 2026

Vehicles autonomous driving has failed several times. The system changes from autonomous driving to adaptive cruise control without giving the normal alerts for the driver to take the wheel, giving me or my spouse no time to properly react. This system failing resulted in the vehicle going into a ditch. The autonomous driving automatically switched to adaptive cruise control without warning, the lane keeping system also failed as it gave no warning and did not push the vehicle back into the lane either. Although the vehicle cameras recorded the incident the vehicle did not register any faults or system failures. The shop was not able to find system recorded failures which causes us concerns

NHTSA complaint 11741159, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS Filed May 2, 2026

I purchased a 2025 Rivian R1S Adventure (VIN: [XXX] ) new from Rivian. Since the first week of ownership, the vehicle has exhibited persistent pulling, drifting, and handling instability requiring constant steering correction. I have brought the vehicle to Rivian Tampa for five service visits over five months. The defect has never been resolved. What I am requesting: Rivian's own technicians have twice attributed this vehicle's handling problems to the factory-installed tires, and confirmed via wheel-swap testing that tire pull is the root cause. These are factory-installed tires I did not select or modify. I am requesting: (1) replacement of all four tires with a highway-appropriate set at

NHTSA complaint 11735248, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Rivian R1S

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2026	14	3	—
2024	17	7	—
2023	75	10	—

Other 2025 Rivian models

R1T 9

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Rivian on this site — 9 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed September 16, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file, published October 2, 2026.

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst