The 2023 Rivian R1s carries 9 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering curtain and back up lights. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “Passenger seat occupancy sensor and airbag deactivation.” Rivian publishes its schedule plainly, which is rarer than it should be. The rhythm: rotate tires every 9,000 miles, a comprehensive inspection every 18,000 miles or 18 months, brake fluid every 3 years, coolant at 108,000 miles. The stand-out item is one most EV makers ignore: if you drive on salted winter roads, Rivian calls for a brake caliper clean and lubrication every 12 months or 12,000 miles, because regenerative braking leaves the friction brakes idle enough to corrode. Adventure use is real use here; water crossings and mud justify treating inspections as due early. R2 has no published schedule yet; expect the same pattern.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Campaign #23V159000 · Sep 3, 2023
Issue: 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.
Risk: Improperly secured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
Campaign #23V233000 · Mar 31, 2023
Issue: 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."
Risk: Reduced visibility of the reverse lights increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
Campaign #23V783000 · Nov 21, 2023
Issue: 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.
Risk: The inability to operate the windshield defrosting and defogging system can decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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:HEADLIGHTS
Campaign #24V367000 · May 23, 2024
Issue: 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."
Risk: Improperly aimed headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, decreasing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Campaign #24V408000 · May 6, 2024
Issue: 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.
Risk: Damaged pillar trim panel clips can result in improper side curtain air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Campaign #24V458000 · Jun 20, 2024
Issue: 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."
Risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
Campaign #25V370000 · Mar 6, 2025
Issue: 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.
Risk: An improperly secured seat belt may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Campaign #26V003000 · May 1, 2026
Issue: 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.
Risk: The toe link joint may separate, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Campaign #26V009000 · Jan 15, 2026
Issue: 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.
Risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2023 Rivian R1s.
Rear Toe Link May Separate
Action #PE26004 · opened May 26, 2026
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 acr…
AIR BAGS, SEATS
26 NHTSA complaints · 2023-07 → 2026-03
“My right front passenger seat does not detect adult occupants reliably, and therefore does not enable the airbags. My wife is approximately 105 pounds and sits in the seat in a standard upright fashion without leaning back. Her legs are not crossed and are just resting on the floor…”
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5 NHTSA complaints · 2023-11 → 2026-07
“Stopped at McDonalds drive through waiting to order with my foot on the brake and the vehicle lunged forward rearending the car stopped 5 feet in front of me ordering. I was trying to brake but it kept pushing the car in front of me then careened to the right hitting a sign and a parked car…”
“I was using one-pedal driving mode and had come to a complete stop with my foot off the accelerator. I turned briefly to hand my child an ice cream cup, and when I looked back at the road, the vehicle was accelerating at full power with no contact from either pedal…”
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6 NHTSA complaints · 2023-09 → 2024-08
“Horn is extremely underpowered and not audible to other drivers at highway speeds in particular. This has not been inspected by Rivian because all R1S vehicles are like this since they removed the second horn that was originally shipped in earlier builds.”
“The single horn on this vehicle is incredibly weak/not loud enough and has almost led to two separate incidents in my 3 months of ownership due to other drivers not being able to hear my horn.”
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4 NHTSA complaints · 2023-11 → 2023-11
“Rivian pushed a software update to owners on the evening of 11/13/2023. This update made the driver information and infotainment screens non-functional and also disabled all driver saftey aids and any ability to turn exterior lights or windshield wipers off or on…”
“Software update rolled out version 2023.42.0 and now the vehicle screen is black and HVAC does not work. It is unclear if any safety or airbag systems are operational. Cameras not working.”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Every 9,000 miles on matched-size setups. Three tons of truck and instant torque eat tires; skipping rotations gets expensive fast.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Every 18,000 miles or 18 months per Rivian's schedule: brakes, suspension, low-voltage batteries, fluid condition, and underbody, which matters if the truck actually goes off-road.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free with any paid service. A flashlight and 10 minutes covers the basics yourself.
Every 3 years per the factory schedule, regardless of mileage.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Rivian's own line item: every 12 months or 12,000 miles if driven on salted roads. Regen braking spares the pads and lets corrosion move in instead; this service is the antidote.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Battery and drive coolant every 108,000 miles. Early trucks (2022-24) also replace a coolant filter at the same point, and Quad-Motor versions their drive-unit fluid.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Inspected at the comprehensive inspection and replaced as needed; dusty trail use shortens it.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Inspected for condition and corrosion at each comprehensive inspection; no scheduled replacement. Early trucks carry two 12V batteries.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$225–$390
Shop
~$160–$280
DIY
~$130–$250
Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
No occupant deaths in FARS 2010–2024 crashes are on record for this year and model. That is the census answer for the window, and it says nothing more than that.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
10
complaints mentioning a crash
0
complaints mentioning a fire
Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2023 Rivian R1s reflects Rivian's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.