NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 9 recalls and 63 owner complaints for the 2023 Rivian R1s.
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2023 Rivian R1S centers on the airbag system and the front seats. Owners frequently report recurring airbag warning messages indicating the system needs service, with several describing multiple service visits and repeated component replacements, steering wheels, wiring harnesses, and other airbag-related parts, without the warning staying resolved. The seat complaints focus on powered seat adjustment: owners report that the seat's memory or auto-adjustment function moves the seat without detecting objects in its path, with several specifically describing damage to rear-facing child car seats positioned behind the driver's seat. Seat belt complaints appear at lower volume but round out the restraint system picture. A smaller number of owners also report electrical system fault warnings appearing on the display while driving, and at least one complaint describes a rear suspension component failure.
63
Total Complaints
8
Crash-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2023 Rivian R1S has 9 recalls, with the most serious involving multiple occupant restraint failures: side curtain airbags, front and rear seatbelt anchors, and pillar trim clips may all be improperly secured, reducing protection in a crash.
The airbag concerns cover two related issues: attachment clips on the upper B-pillar and C-pillar trim panels can interfere with side curtain airbag deployment, and the fasteners holding the side curtain airbags themselves may not be properly secured, meaning the bags may not deploy correctly when needed. On the seatbelt side, front seatbelt D-ring anchor bolts may not be fully installed, and second-row seatbelt retractors may have loose mounting bolts, either of which can prevent the belt from holding an occupant in a crash. There is also a suspension concern on vehicles that have had prior service: a toe link may have been reassembled incorrectly and can separate, causing a loss of directional control. A software update on certain vehicles may have disabled the windshield defroster and defogger, reducing forward visibility in cold or humid conditions. Headlights on some vehicles may be aimed too low or too high, limiting road illumination at night. Rounding out the list, reverse lights on certain vehicles may not be visible from all required angles, and the tire placard label on some vehicles shows an incorrect maximum load rating.
At a glance
What can fail
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
The bolts securing the second-row driver and passenger seat belt retractor assemblies may not be properly tightened, which could affect seat belt function.
What the fix does
Rivian will inspect the bolts and tighten them as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear toe link may have been reassembled incorrectly during previous service work, affecting wheel alignment.
What the fix does
Rivian will replace the rear toe link bolts at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The D-ring bolts that attach one or both front seat belt anchorages may not have been installed correctly, potentially affecting seat belt security.
What the fix does
Rivian will inspect and properly secure the seat belt anchorage assemblies at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire placard label on the vehicle displays an incorrect maximum weight capacity value, making the vehicle non-compliant with federal tire safety standards.
What the fix does
Rivian will mail a corrected overlay tire placard label to replace the incorrect one at no charge to owners.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The attachment clips that hold the upper B-pillar and/or C-pillar trim panels may have been damaged during a service procedure, potentially causing the panels to become loose or detach.
What the fix does
Rivian will replace the affected pillar trim panels at no cost. Contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261 (recall FSAM 1464).
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The headlights may be aimed incorrectly, causing them not to meet federal lighting standards.
What the fix does
Rivian will inspect and adjust the headlight alignment at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software update may have deactivated the defroster and defogger system controls, preventing you from clearing ice and fog from your windshield.
What the fix does
Rivian will install a free over-the-air software update to restore defroster and defogger system controls.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The reverse lights may not shine brightly enough to be seen from certain angles, failing to meet federal lighting standards.
What the fix does
Rivian will repair or replace the reverse lights at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fasteners securing the right and left side curtain airbags may not be properly secured, which could cause them to become loose or detach.
What the fix does
Dealers will secure or replace the side curtain airbags as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.