Owners have filed 85 complaints
about the 2025 Rivian R1S with NHTSA between 2024 and 2026.
The largest single group is the driver assist & collision avoidance.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 5 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 76
Against the median year of the Rivian R1S. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 79
15.3% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
133.3%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
133.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
133.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 2024peak 9Jun 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2025 Rivian R1S
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
1
investigation is
still open.
PE26004Opened 26 May 2026Still openSUSPENSION:REAR
Rear Toe Link May Separate
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 compon...
Recalls on the 2025 Rivian R1S
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
26V508000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
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."
Risk: Turn signals that do not function properly increase the risk of a crash.
26V009000
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
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.
26V003000
SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS
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.
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.
Risk: Failure to detect another vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
25V387000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
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."
Risk: Turn signals that do not function properly, failing to indicate the driver's intention to change direction, increase the risk of a crash.
25V370000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
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.
25V085000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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."
Risk: Headlight failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202600918 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
Issue: On certain vehicles, the second-row outboard seat belt retractor(s) may not have been installed properly. As a result, the seat belts could loosen or detach in a crash. Safety Risk: A seat belt that detaches in a crash could increase the risk of injury. Corrective Actions: To reduce the safety risk, Rivian recommends that you shouldn't transport passengers in the second-row outboard seats until the recall repairs are completed. Rivian will notify owners by email and advise you to take your vehicle to a Rivian service center to inspect and, if necessary, secure the seat belt retractor(s).
Recall 2026002255 units in Canada
Suspension
Issue: On certain vehicles, the rear suspension toe link(s) may not have been properly reinstalled after service. As a result, the toe link(s) could become loose or separate. If this happens, there could be reduced vehicle stability. Safety Risk: Reduced vehicle stability could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Rivian will notify owners by email and advise you to take your vehicle to a Rivian service center to inspect and, if necessary, replace the rear suspension toe link bolt(s).
Recall 2025314284 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain vehicles, the front turn signal lamps may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, one or both front turn signals may not work, and the vehicles may not meet certain requirement of Canadian regulations. Note: This problem would cause a "Turn signal lights not working. Service it soon." message to be displayed. Safety Risk: Front turn signals that don't work may cause a person not to recognize when a driver intends to turn or change lanes and could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Action: Rivian will notify owners by email and advise you to take your vehicle to a Rivian service center to inspect and, if necessary, replace the front turn signal lamps.
Recall 2025073125 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain vehicles, the headlamps may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, under certain conditions, the headlamps may not turn on and cause the vehicles not to meet certain requirements of Canadian regulations. Safety Risk: Headlamps that don't work properly can reduce visibility and could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Rivian will notify owners by email and advise you to take your vehicle to a Rivian service center to replace the headlamp control module.
Recall 202467212 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain vehicles, there could be a problem with the "car costume" feature included in an over-the-air software update. Under certain conditions, using the feature could cause various exterior lights not to work properly. Safety Risk: Exterior lights that don't work properly could make the vehicle less visible to others and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: To reduce the safety risk, Rivian has released an over-the-air software update to disable the feature and fix the issue. Rivian will notify affected owners by email. There is no further action required if your vehicle has software release 2024.39.31 or a later release.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Denver, COFire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 car in park and we all exited the car quickly. Flames were visible from the front tire. The car is available for inspection. If there had been other vehicles on the road or any pedestrians this would have been a life threatening incident. Rivian is claiming that I must have been pressing on both the accelerator and the brake at the same time. We had 2 adults and 3 children in the car and the incident lasted long enough for us to discuss a plan to exit the car. There is no chance that my foot was on both the accelerator and the brake. Rivian has conducted an inspection but has denied that there is an issue. There has not yet been an independent inspection. The car has been in Rivian's service center since the day after the incident. The only warning sign appeared during the incident stating that regenerative braking was not available but this did not explain why the accelerator pedal was stuck.
NHTSA complaint #11707116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, COFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 car in park and we all exited the car quickly. Flames were visible from the front tire. The car is available for inspection. If there had been other vehicles on the road or any pedestrians this would have been a life threatening incident. Rivian is claiming that I must have been pressing on both the accelerator and the brake at the same time. We had 2 adults and 3 children in the car and the incident lasted long enough for us to discuss a plan to exit the car. There is no chance that my foot was on both the accelerator and the brake. Rivian has conducted an inspection but has denied that there is an issue. There has not yet been an independent inspection. The car has been in Rivian's service center since the day after the incident. The only warning sign appeared during the incident stating that regenerative braking was not available but this did not explain why the accelerator pedal was stuck.
NHTSA complaint #11707116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, COFire
SERVICE BRAKES
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 car in park and we all exited the car quickly. Flames were visible from the front tire. The car is available for inspection. If there had been other vehicles on the road or any pedestrians this would have been a life threatening incident. Rivian is claiming that I must have been pressing on both the accelerator and the brake at the same time. We had 2 adults and 3 children in the car and the incident lasted long enough for us to discuss a plan to exit the car. There is no chance that my foot was on both the accelerator and the brake. Rivian has conducted an inspection but has denied that there is an issue. There has not yet been an independent inspection. The car has been in Rivian's service center since the day after the incident. The only warning sign appeared during the incident stating that regenerative braking was not available but this did not explain why the accelerator pedal was stuck.
NHTSA complaint #11707116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24 milesSan Mateo, CACrash3 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
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 injuries: abrasions and cuts on her forehead. And a scar on the right arm. The contact's daughter, who was sitting on the back right seat, had abrasions and, due to tachycardia, was transported to a trauma hospital due to internal bleeding. The contact's passenger, who was sitting behind the driver's seat, had multiple lacerations on the mouth, lost two front teeth, and underwent a root canal. The contact's other passenger, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was not injured. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The insurance company was notified and declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 24.
NHTSA complaint #11693883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Jordan, UT1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,200 milesEast Lyme, CTCrash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
The contact owns a 2025 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse out of a driveway with the brake pedal still engaged, the vehicle lurched forward, crashing into the vehicle that was parked in front of her, with the entire front end of the vehicle. The vehicle then lurched to the left and crashed into another parked vehicle across the street, where it came to a stop and totaled that parked vehicle. Property damage was reported to the fence that was in front of the parked vehicle. The speed at the time of the crash was unknown. The vehicle was towed to a local auto body shop. No warning lights were illuminated prior to the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,200.
NHTSA complaint #11677227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Cos Cob, CT
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cos Cob, CT
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anacortes, WA
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
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 since the autonomous driving has automatically switched over to adaptive cruise control with no notice.
NHTSA complaint #11741159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anacortes, WA
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
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 since the autonomous driving has automatically switched over to adaptive cruise control with no notice.
NHTSA complaint #11741159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anacortes, WA
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
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 since the autonomous driving has automatically switched over to adaptive cruise control with no notice.
NHTSA complaint #11741159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apollo Beach, FL
WHEELS
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 $0 cost; (2) a four-wheel alignment after installation at $0 cost; and (3) reimbursement of $61.81 charged for a tire rotation that could not address the confirmed defect. Rivian has acknowledged enough of a problem to waive $717 in labor and convert the alignment to warranty — yet refuses to cover the tires that their own technicians confirmed are defective. That is not an acceptable resolution. I have complete documentation including all work orders, invoices, and service records supporting every claim above. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11735248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Renton, WA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
This complaint is associated with Complaint #11717398. My 3rd windshield has cracked after a tiny 1/8" impact point. The result was spidering all the way around the middle sensor housing area and propagating 6" down. It also spidered to the top of the windshield. This tiny impact shouldn't have caused a huge spidering effect. Whether from incorrect installation, car frame issues or defective windshield quality, this is my third heavily cracked windshield in my first 10 months of vehicle ownership. I'm heavily concerned about the safety issue from seemingly anything that strikes the windshield and the $2400 cost to replace each windshield. Thank you
NHTSA complaint #11734816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, CO
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving on a highway, the vehicle displayed an emergency malfunction alert indicating the system was shutting down, followed by a sudden loss of propulsion. I was traveling with my children in the vehicle and had to immediately maneuver off the roadway under unsafe conditions. We were nearly struck by other vehicles while exiting. Law enforcement responded to assist at the scene, as we were stuck on the off ramp without the ability to use flashing lights due to the system shutting down. The vehicle became inoperable and required service. This incident occurred without warning and created a significant safety risk to occupants and others on the road. This vehicle has also had multiple prior service issues affecting different systems since delivery, including electrical, suspension, and other component-related repairs.
NHTSA complaint #11728920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hemet, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Hazard lights are inoperable this will be the second time going in for repair but 4th time it has occured. It also makes SOS inoperable and the roof lights. This is a safety concern that has not caused an accident but is a big issue since hazard lights are used when accident or emergencies occur and they are inoperable and this has been a frequent issue
NHTSA complaint #11727287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hemet, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Hazard lights are inoperable this will be the second time going in for repair but 4th time it has occured. It also makes SOS inoperable and the roof lights. This is a safety concern that has not caused an accident but is a big issue since hazard lights are used when accident or emergencies occur and they are inoperable and this has been a frequent issue
NHTSA complaint #11727287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hemet, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Hazard lights are inoperable this will be the second time going in for repair but 4th time it has occured. It also makes SOS inoperable and the roof lights. This is a safety concern that has not caused an accident but is a big issue since hazard lights are used when accident or emergencies occur and they are inoperable and this has been a frequent issue
NHTSA complaint #11727287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Land O Lakes, FL
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The contact owns a 2025 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a black image. While attempting to roll up the driver's rear window, the window failed to go up completely. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a car wash, and water entered the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the trunk light remained illuminated while the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not inspected. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle had been to the dealer several times for the failure. In addition, the dealer instructed the contact to turn off and restart the vehicle whenever the rear-view camera displayed a black image. The contact was informed that the system would reset after being turned off and restarted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11721816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Diego, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On November 8, 2025, at approximately 8:23 p.m., the rear liftgate of my Rivian R1S activated via the Rivian mobile app without my intentional command. The vehicle was stationary at the time. The liftgate opened and struck an overhead obstruction. Rivian has stated that the liftgate was initiated through the mobile app and that the system operated as designed. However, this suggests that the app or vehicle may permit unintended remote activation without adequate safeguards to confirm user intent or prevent activation in confined environments. If the liftgate can be triggered inadvertently (for example, through unintended screen interaction or background app state), this presents a foreseeable safety hazard. In garages, parking structures, or tight spaces, unintended activation could cause bodily injury to a person standing behind the vehicle, including a child, or result in property damage. Remote vehicle functions should include appropriate confirmation, or other safeguards to reduce the risk of unintended activation. I am submitting this complaint to document a potential safety design concern involving unintended remote liftgate activation.
NHTSA complaint #11717397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Renton, WA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Component/System: Visibility – Windshield. Was replaced in January 2026, not available for inspection. Pictures attached, doesn't include largest/spider crack on bottom of windshield that was 16" Summary of the Problem: I have experienced six separate windshield failures (cracks and chips) within the first eight months of owning my 2025 Rivian R1S. The most recent windshield was replaced by Rivian, and within five days the new glass developed an 7‑inch crack from an impact. The frequency and severity of these failures are far beyond normal road‑debris damage and strongly suggest a systemic defect in the windshield glass, installation method, or vehicle structure. Detailed Description of the Incidents: • Six cracks or chips occurred on the original windshield between the delivery date of May 20, 2025 and six months of ownership. • The first and 2nd chip was repaired by Safelite, the 3rd chip unable to be fixed at same time due to location at edge of glass. • Several cracks originated without any visible impact point. • The replacement windshield, installed by Rivian Service on January 21, 2026, developed a long crack within five days of installation. • Original windshield replaced and I submitted claim through insurance. I have appointment to replace second windshield on 2/16/26. Service representative at Seattle service center stated “to be transparent with you, windshields are customer pay as they crack due to outside influence”. This is after detailing the previous five separate incidents with original windshield and that the new windshield developed a large crack within five days of install on 1/21/2026. • All cracks/chips appeared during normal driving conditions. • The pattern of failures indicates excessive fragility, potential stress cracking, or improper windshield seating/alignment. • Numerous other Rivian R1S and R1T owners have reported similar issues, suggesting a broader quality or design problem.
NHTSA complaint #11717398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redondo Beach, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
On February 1, 2026, at approximately 9:09 AM, while driving from a stop and continuing on main roads, the vehicle accelerated to extremely high speeds and would not properly slow down. When I removed my foot from the accelerator pedal, the vehicle did not decelerate as expected. Regenerative braking was nonexistent. Normally, releasing the accelerator provides noticeable deceleration, but in this incident the vehicle continued to propel forward instead of slowing. Braking was extremely difficult. The brake pedal felt abnormally stiff (“thick”) and required significant effort to depress. Even while actively braking, it felt as though the vehicle was still attempting to accelerate forward and did not slow normally. This occurred for a couple hundred yards before I was able to pull over due to safety concerns. At the same time, the vehicle was in All-Purpose drive mode, but the ride height was stuck at kneel height and would not adjust, which is abnormal. After pulling over, the vehicle would not shift into Park. I had to press the brake pedal with both feet while fully depressing it and lifting myself off the seat to keep the vehicle from moving. I then had to open the driver door in order to force the vehicle into Park. There were no warning lights or messages displayed on the dashboard. The vehicle was towed to the Rivian Service Center but has not yet been inspected because the service center is currently closed. This malfunction created a serious safety risk due to unintended acceleration, loss of normal deceleration, difficulty braking, abnormal suspension behavior, and inability to shift into Park.
NHTSA complaint #11714867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redondo Beach, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
On February 1, 2026, at approximately 9:09 AM, while driving from a stop and continuing on main roads, the vehicle accelerated to extremely high speeds and would not properly slow down. When I removed my foot from the accelerator pedal, the vehicle did not decelerate as expected. Regenerative braking was nonexistent. Normally, releasing the accelerator provides noticeable deceleration, but in this incident the vehicle continued to propel forward instead of slowing. Braking was extremely difficult. The brake pedal felt abnormally stiff (“thick”) and required significant effort to depress. Even while actively braking, it felt as though the vehicle was still attempting to accelerate forward and did not slow normally. This occurred for a couple hundred yards before I was able to pull over due to safety concerns. At the same time, the vehicle was in All-Purpose drive mode, but the ride height was stuck at kneel height and would not adjust, which is abnormal. After pulling over, the vehicle would not shift into Park. I had to press the brake pedal with both feet while fully depressing it and lifting myself off the seat to keep the vehicle from moving. I then had to open the driver door in order to force the vehicle into Park. There were no warning lights or messages displayed on the dashboard. The vehicle was towed to the Rivian Service Center but has not yet been inspected because the service center is currently closed. This malfunction created a serious safety risk due to unintended acceleration, loss of normal deceleration, difficulty braking, abnormal suspension behavior, and inability to shift into Park.
NHTSA complaint #11714867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, COFire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 car in park and we all exited the car quickly. Flames were visible from the front tire. The car is available for inspection. If there had been other vehicles on the road or any pedestrians this would have been a life threatening incident. Rivian is claiming that I must have been pressing on both the accelerator and the brake at the same time. We had 2 adults and 3 children in the car and the incident lasted long enough for us to discuss a plan to exit the car. There is no chance that my foot was on both the accelerator and the brake. Rivian has conducted an inspection but has denied that there is an issue. There has not yet been an independent inspection. The car has been in Rivian's service center since the day after the incident. The only warning sign appeared during the incident stating that regenerative braking was not available but this did not explain why the accelerator pedal was stuck.
NHTSA complaint #11707116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, COFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 car in park and we all exited the car quickly. Flames were visible from the front tire. The car is available for inspection. If there had been other vehicles on the road or any pedestrians this would have been a life threatening incident. Rivian is claiming that I must have been pressing on both the accelerator and the brake at the same time. We had 2 adults and 3 children in the car and the incident lasted long enough for us to discuss a plan to exit the car. There is no chance that my foot was on both the accelerator and the brake. Rivian has conducted an inspection but has denied that there is an issue. There has not yet been an independent inspection. The car has been in Rivian's service center since the day after the incident. The only warning sign appeared during the incident stating that regenerative braking was not available but this did not explain why the accelerator pedal was stuck.
NHTSA complaint #11707116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, COFire
SERVICE BRAKES
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 car in park and we all exited the car quickly. Flames were visible from the front tire. The car is available for inspection. If there had been other vehicles on the road or any pedestrians this would have been a life threatening incident. Rivian is claiming that I must have been pressing on both the accelerator and the brake at the same time. We had 2 adults and 3 children in the car and the incident lasted long enough for us to discuss a plan to exit the car. There is no chance that my foot was on both the accelerator and the brake. Rivian has conducted an inspection but has denied that there is an issue. There has not yet been an independent inspection. The car has been in Rivian's service center since the day after the incident. The only warning sign appeared during the incident stating that regenerative braking was not available but this did not explain why the accelerator pedal was stuck.
NHTSA complaint #11707116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Encinitas, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUMMARY OF PROBLEM: Vehicle experienced sudden uncontrolled acceleration and deceleration while driving on busy road with family as passengers on November 16 2025. Vehicle provided no warning before loss of control occurred. Created immediate risk of collision and serious injury. DETAILED DESCRIPTION: On November 16 2025 at approximately 5:25 PM ET, my 2025 Rivian R1S experienced sudden uncontrolled acceleration and deceleration while driving on a busy roadway. The vehicle began accelerating and decelerating erratically without driver input, creating immediate risk of rear-end collision or loss of control. No warning lights or messages appeared before the incident. The vehicle displayed "Thermal Fault Detected" and "Coolant Level Low" messages only after the erratic behavior began. This incident occurred with my family in the vehicle and created serious risk of injury or death. I was forced to have the vehicle towed. PRIOR RELATED INCIDENTS: This is not the first safety issue with this vehicle. Service Request SR-RAB3DU1AM documents "Emergency Braking Mistakenly Triggered on Regular Roadway" from August 29 2025 that remains unresolved in Rivian's system. The vehicle has required multiple service visits for thermal and cooling system failures at only 15000 miles. MANUFACTURER RESPONSE: Rivian service center claims rodent nesting caused thermal system failure leading to loss of vehicle control. If correct, this indicates critical design flaw - environmental factors should not be able to compromise vehicle control systems without warning or failsafe mechanisms. Vehicle lacks adequate: - Warning systems for thermal degradation before catastrophic failure - Failsafe mechanisms to prevent loss of control - Protection of critical systems from environmental factors SAFETY CONCERN: If thermal system damage can cause sudden loss of vehicle control without warning, this represents unreasonable safety risk. Other R1S vehicles may be at risk of similar failures.
NHTSA complaint #11700895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Encinitas, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SUMMARY OF PROBLEM: Vehicle experienced sudden uncontrolled acceleration and deceleration while driving on busy road with family as passengers on November 16 2025. Vehicle provided no warning before loss of control occurred. Created immediate risk of collision and serious injury. DETAILED DESCRIPTION: On November 16 2025 at approximately 5:25 PM ET, my 2025 Rivian R1S experienced sudden uncontrolled acceleration and deceleration while driving on a busy roadway. The vehicle began accelerating and decelerating erratically without driver input, creating immediate risk of rear-end collision or loss of control. No warning lights or messages appeared before the incident. The vehicle displayed "Thermal Fault Detected" and "Coolant Level Low" messages only after the erratic behavior began. This incident occurred with my family in the vehicle and created serious risk of injury or death. I was forced to have the vehicle towed. PRIOR RELATED INCIDENTS: This is not the first safety issue with this vehicle. Service Request SR-RAB3DU1AM documents "Emergency Braking Mistakenly Triggered on Regular Roadway" from August 29 2025 that remains unresolved in Rivian's system. The vehicle has required multiple service visits for thermal and cooling system failures at only 15000 miles. MANUFACTURER RESPONSE: Rivian service center claims rodent nesting caused thermal system failure leading to loss of vehicle control. If correct, this indicates critical design flaw - environmental factors should not be able to compromise vehicle control systems without warning or failsafe mechanisms. Vehicle lacks adequate: - Warning systems for thermal degradation before catastrophic failure - Failsafe mechanisms to prevent loss of control - Protection of critical systems from environmental factors SAFETY CONCERN: If thermal system damage can cause sudden loss of vehicle control without warning, this represents unreasonable safety risk. Other R1S vehicles may be at risk of similar failures.
NHTSA complaint #11700895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Encinitas, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
SUMMARY OF PROBLEM: Vehicle experienced sudden uncontrolled acceleration and deceleration while driving on busy road with family as passengers on November 16 2025. Vehicle provided no warning before loss of control occurred. Created immediate risk of collision and serious injury. DETAILED DESCRIPTION: On November 16 2025 at approximately 5:25 PM ET, my 2025 Rivian R1S experienced sudden uncontrolled acceleration and deceleration while driving on a busy roadway. The vehicle began accelerating and decelerating erratically without driver input, creating immediate risk of rear-end collision or loss of control. No warning lights or messages appeared before the incident. The vehicle displayed "Thermal Fault Detected" and "Coolant Level Low" messages only after the erratic behavior began. This incident occurred with my family in the vehicle and created serious risk of injury or death. I was forced to have the vehicle towed. PRIOR RELATED INCIDENTS: This is not the first safety issue with this vehicle. Service Request SR-RAB3DU1AM documents "Emergency Braking Mistakenly Triggered on Regular Roadway" from August 29 2025 that remains unresolved in Rivian's system. The vehicle has required multiple service visits for thermal and cooling system failures at only 15000 miles. MANUFACTURER RESPONSE: Rivian service center claims rodent nesting caused thermal system failure leading to loss of vehicle control. If correct, this indicates critical design flaw - environmental factors should not be able to compromise vehicle control systems without warning or failsafe mechanisms. Vehicle lacks adequate: - Warning systems for thermal degradation before catastrophic failure - Failsafe mechanisms to prevent loss of control - Protection of critical systems from environmental factors SAFETY CONCERN: If thermal system damage can cause sudden loss of vehicle control without warning, this represents unreasonable safety risk. Other R1S vehicles may be at risk of similar failures.
NHTSA complaint #11700895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rear doors cannot be opened in an emergency when electrical power is interrupted. Although the Rivian R1S generation 2 Owner's Manual has a process to open the door, the process could not be performed by a reasonable person in a reasonable amount of time, in an emergency such as a battery fire. The process could definitely not be performed by children. The process requires physically destroying one the side panels and then reaching deep into the interior cavern of the door to hunt for a wire to pull. The process cannot be practiced, nor can it be taught to children, because it involves destruction of the side panel of the door. The side panel cannot be replaced without scheduling a service appointment and ordering a replacement part from Rivian. As a result, my children's life is irresponsibly endangered in case there were to be an accident, especially a battery fire, which would both cut electrical power and also risk burning to death for my children trapped in the back of the car with no way to open the doors.
NHTSA complaint #11699510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hansville, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving the entire computer shuts down and reboots, both screens go black for several minutes. Speed display disappears, turn signals stop working, after the screens come back on there are warning lights for emergency braking disabled, cruise control disabled, and the headlights won’t come on for several minutes.
NHTSA complaint #11698854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hansville, WA
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
While driving the entire computer shuts down and reboots, both screens go black for several minutes. Speed display disappears, turn signals stop working, after the screens come back on there are warning lights for emergency braking disabled, cruise control disabled, and the headlights won’t come on for several minutes.
NHTSA complaint #11698854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.