The 2022 Rivian R1S is an early-production electric adventure SUV with teething issues typical of a startup automaker. Most problems stem from suspension fasteners, drivetrain mounts, and thermal management of high-voltage components rather than fundamental powertrain failures.
Suspension Upper Control Arm and Fastener Failures
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 15,000-40,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking from front suspension over bumps, Wandering steering feel or alignment pull, Visible looseness or separation at upper control arm ball joint, NHTSA recall for critical fasteners coming loose
Fix: Recall-related replacements are covered by Rivian, but post-recall failures still occur. Shop labor involves removing wheel, disconnecting ball joint, replacing arm and torquing new fasteners to spec. 2-3 hours per side if doing both fronts.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Drive Unit (Motor/Transmission) Mount Failures
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 20,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud clunk on acceleration or deceleration, Vibration through chassis at highway speeds, Visible tears or separation in rubber motor mounts, Drivetrain noise that changes with throttle input
Fix: Rivian's early mounts couldn't handle torque from quad-motor setups or aggressive off-road use. Replacing mounts requires lifting vehicle, supporting drive unit, and swapping hardware. 3-4 hours labor, revised parts now available.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Inverter Coolant Leaks and Overheating
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Reduced power or 'Max Battery Power' warning on dash, Coolant puddle under vehicle (orange/pink fluid), High-voltage system fault codes, Vehicle limiting speed to protect inverter temperature
Fix: Inverter cooling loops develop leaks at hose connections or internal passages crack from thermal cycling. Diagnosis requires HV system scan, fix involves inverter removal, coolant flush, and often inverter replacement under warranty. Out-of-warranty: 6-8 hours labor plus $3,000-5,000 inverter assembly.
Estimated cost: $5,000-8,000
High-Voltage Battery Pack Module Failures
Rare · high severity
Symptoms: Sudden loss of range (50+ miles vanish overnight), Battery management system faults, Vehicle refusing to charge or limiting charge to 80%, Imbalanced cell voltages detected on scan tool
Fix: Individual modules within the pack fail due to manufacturing defects or thermal runaway events. Rivian covers under 8-year/175k-mile battery warranty. Repair requires pack removal (4-6 hours), module replacement, and recalibration. DIY not possible due to HV safety and software lockouts.
Estimated cost: $0 under warranty / $8,000-15,000 out-of-warranty
Second-Row Seat Belt Anchorage Failures
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Seat belt anchor pulls away from floor mounting point, Visible cracking or deformation at belt lower anchor, Recall notice from NHTSA for anchorage and retractor issues
Fix: Multiple recalls issued for seat belt anchorages pulling free and retractors not locking properly. Covered repairs involve reinforcing floor mounts and replacing belt assemblies. 2-3 hours per affected seat. Critical safety issue — check recall status immediately.
Estimated cost: $0 under recall
Shift Solenoid and Transmission Logic Faults
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Gear selector shows 'Transmission Fault' message, Vehicle stuck in Park or won't shift to Drive, Delayed engagement when shifting (clunk after 2-3 second delay), Limp mode with reduced power
Fix: Despite being electric, the R1S uses a 2-speed gearbox on some motors. Solenoids fail or software glitches cause shift lockouts. Software updates fix some cases; hardware failures require transmission drop and solenoid replacement. 4-5 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $1,500-3,000
Air Conditioning Evaporator Core Leaks
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Weak or no cold air from HVAC system, Oily residue on passenger-side carpet, Refrigerant low on pressure test, Musty smell when AC runs
Fix: Evaporator cores corrode or develop pinhole leaks from road salt exposure. Repair requires full dash removal, evaporator replacement, system evacuation, and recharge. 10-12 hours labor due to tight cabin packaging. Use quality refrigerant oil to prevent repeat failures.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,000
Owner tips
Check for open recalls monthly — Rivian issues frequent safety updates for early production vehicles
Service drive unit fluid every 30,000 miles despite Rivian's 'lifetime fill' claim, especially if towing or off-roading regularly
Inspect suspension fasteners and motor mounts at every tire rotation; torque-check critical bolts annually
Avoid DC fast charging above 80% repeatedly — thermal stress accelerates inverter and battery module degradation
Budget $2,000/year for out-of-warranty repairs after bumper-to-bumper expires; these are complex vehicles with limited independent shop support
Buy only with remaining factory warranty or a strong extended warranty — early R1S builds have too many unresolved bugs for confident out-of-warranty ownership, though the platform shows promise once issues are addressed.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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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.
Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
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.
SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS · 26V003000
2026-01-05
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.
Consequence: The toe link joint may separate, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE · 25V370000
2025-06-03
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.
Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
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.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 24V458000
2024-06-20
Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2023 R1S and R1T vehicles. The maximum vehicle capacity weight value on the tire placard label is incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Rivian will mail owners a corrected overlay tire placard label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1491.
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS · 24V408000
2024-06-05
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2024 R1T and R1S vehicles. The attachment clips on the upper B-pillar and/or C-pillar trim panels may have been damaged during a service procedure.
Consequence: Damaged pillar trim panel clips can result in improper side curtain air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Rivian will replace the pillar trim panels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 16, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM 1464.
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022 R1T and R1S vehicles. The accelerator pedal may not detect when the driver releases the pedal, failing to activate "auto-hold" or "park" as intended.
Consequence: Failure to activate "auto-hold" or "park" can result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Rivian will also replace the accelerator pedals, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM 1342.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM · 23V783000
2023-11-21
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2023 R1T and R1S vehicles. A software update may have deactivated the defroster and defogger system controls.
Consequence: The inability to operate the windshield defrosting and defogging system can decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1331.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS · 23V233000
2023-03-31
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2023 R1S vehicles. The reverse light beam may not be visible from certain angles. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Reduced visibility of the reverse lights increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Rivian will repair or replace the reverse lights, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2023. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-855-748-4265. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1216.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN · 23V159000
2023-03-09
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2023 R1S vehicles. The fasteners that secure the right and left side curtain air bags may be improperly secured.
Consequence: Improperly secured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will secure or replace the side curtain air bags as necessary, free of charge. All owners have been notified and all vehicles will be repaired by March 15, 2023. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1185.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR · 23V109000
2023-02-22
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022 R1T and R1S vehicles. A faulty automatic locking retractor (ALR) sensor in the front passenger seat belt system may incorrectly report as ON when it is actually OFF, causing the suppression or improper deployment of the air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: Failure of the air bag to deploy as intended increases the risk of injury to the front passenger during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front passenger seat belt system components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1166.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM · 22V744000
2022-10-06
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022 R1T, R1S, and EDV vehicles. The fastener connecting the front upper control arm and steering knuckle may have been improperly tightened.
Consequence: A loose steering knuckle fastener could separate, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the steering knuckle fastener, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 11, 2022. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM 997.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE · 22V641000
2022-08-25
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022 R1T and R1S vehicles. The front seat belt anchors may have been inadequately attached to the B-pillar.
Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt anchor may not adequately restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Rivian will inspect the front seat belt assemblies and, as necessary, properly secure the bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were September 30, 2022. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-924.
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