The 2022 R1T is Rivian's first-generation electric adventure truck, built on a skateboard EV platform with proprietary drive units and a massive battery pack. Early examples show teething issues typical of startup automakers—build quality inconsistencies, software gremlins, and drive-unit seal failures—but catastrophic breakdowns are rare due to relatively simple EV drivetrains.
Drive Unit Seal Leaks and Gear Oil Loss
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 20,000-50,000 mi
Symptoms: Gear oil pooling under vehicle near front or rear axle, Whining or grinding noise from drive unit during acceleration, Warning light for drive unit temperature or fault, Loss of power or limp mode if fluid level drops critically
Fix: Drive unit seal replacement requires dropping the entire unit, draining coolant and gear oil, replacing seals and gaskets, refilling fluids. Rivian-specific tooling and software calibration required. 8-12 hours labor at indie shops with EV experience; many shops send to Rivian service centers.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,000
Suspension Upper Control Arm Fastener Loosening
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Clunking or popping noise over bumps, especially on rough terrain, Wandering or imprecise steering feel, Visible gap or movement at upper control arm mounting point, NHTSA recall issued for insufficiently torqued fasteners
Fix: Recall repair involves re-torquing or replacing upper control arm fasteners to proper spec with thread-locking compound. Rivian performs this free under recall. If discovered outside recall window, expect alignment check afterward. 2-3 hours labor if paying out-of-pocket.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall) or $400-700
High Voltage Battery Pack Coolant Leaks
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 15,000-40,000 mi
Symptoms: Sweet smell (glycol-based coolant) near underbody, Battery thermal management fault warnings, Reduced charging speed or range due to thermal limiting, Visible orange coolant (HV system uses dyed fluid) pooling under truck
Fix: Battery pack coolant system uses quick-disconnect fittings and hoses prone to seepage at connections. Minor leaks may only need fitting re-torque or O-ring replacement (4-6 hours). Major leaks requiring pack removal for internal seal work can exceed 20 hours and require Rivian involvement for HV safety lockout/tagout.
Estimated cost: $1,200-8,000
Inverter Coolant Pump Failures
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 25,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Inverter overheat warnings during towing or sustained highway speeds, Reduced power output or speed limiting to protect inverter, Audible buzzing or humming from inverter area that stops when parked, Coolant level normal but flow issues detected by onboard diagnostics
Fix: Inverter cooling loop uses dedicated electric pump that can fail (bearing or impeller issues). Replacement requires partial disassembly of HV components, coolant drain/refill, and software re-initialization. Rivian-only repair at this stage due to parts availability and HV certification. 6-8 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $2,000-3,500
AC Evaporator Core Leaks and Cabin HVAC Failures
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Weak or no cold air from vents despite compressor running, Oily residue or fog on windshield interior, Refrigerant low warnings or AC system fault codes, Musty smell from vents due to moisture accumulation
Fix: Evaporator core sits deep in dash assembly; replacement requires full dash removal, recovery/recharge of R-1234yf refrigerant, and reassembly. Labor-intensive on any modern vehicle but especially so on the R1T's complex interior. 14-18 hours labor, parts moderately priced but refrigerant adds cost.
Estimated cost: $3,000-5,000
Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Faults
Rare · high severity
Symptoms: Sudden loss of throttle response while driving, Pedal feels unresponsive or 'dead' with no regenerative braking, Vehicle enters limp mode or refuses to accelerate from stop, Check engine light or drive system fault message
Fix: NHTSA recall issued for faulty pedal sensor calibration. Rivian OTA software update corrects most cases; hardware replacement if sensor itself is defective. Recall repair is free; pedal assembly replacement if needed is 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall) or $800-1,200
Front Seatbelt Retractor and Anchorage Issues
Rare · high severity
Symptoms: Seatbelt fails to retract fully or gets stuck partially extended, Clicking or grinding noise from B-pillar retractor mechanism, Seatbelt anchorage point shows movement or looseness at mounting, Seatbelt warning light illuminated with belt fastened
Fix: Multiple NHTSA recalls for seatbelt anchorage torque and retractor spring issues. Rivian performs inspection and replacement of affected components free under recall. If outside recall, retractor replacement is straightforward (1-2 hours), anchorage reinforcement requires interior panel removal and structural fastener work (3-4 hours).
Estimated cost: $0 (recall) or $500-1,500
Owner tips
Check drive unit fluid levels every 15,000 mi and inspect underside for any seepage—early catch prevents expensive unit damage
Keep software updated via OTA; many early faults (pedal calibration, seatbelt sensors) are resolved with factory updates
Use Rivian service centers for HV battery and inverter work; indie shops often lack diagnostic tools and parts access for these proprietary systems
If buying used, verify all recalls completed via VIN lookup—early 2022 builds had multiple safety campaigns that must be addressed
Promising platform with typical launch-year bugs, but reliability is improving fast—buy a late-build 2022 or newer with verified recall work completed, budget $2k/year for the inevitable startup-automaker quirks, and you'll have a capable electric truck that's mostly proven its fundamentals.
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.
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.
SEATS · 22V319000
2022-05-10
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022 R1T vehicles. The Occupant Classification System (OCS) may not deactivate the air bag when a child or child seat occupies the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: A child in the front seat may be at a greater risk of injury in the event of a passenger air bag deployment during a crash.
Remedy: Rivian Service Centers will replace the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2022. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-734-855-4345. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-651.
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