2025 Rivian R1s Complaints

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 09/20/2026

On September 20, 2026 at approximately 10:29 a.m. CDT, while traveling on Interstate 30 between Greenville and Royse City, Texas, my 2025 Rivian R1S Gen 2 experienced sustained unintended acceleration in an active construction zone with concrete barriers and no immediate safe exit. I applied very heavy, sustained braking to counter the acceleration until we reached a break in the barriers and could leave the highway. Substantial smoke was then coming from the wheel/brake areas. We were initially unable to place the vehicle in Park; after a vehicle reboot, we were able to shut it down. After stopping, we discovered that the accelerator pedal had become physically lodged beneath the driver’s all-weather floor mat, holding the accelerator down. The mat supplied for the vehicle was a previous-generation mat rather than the mat intended for the 2025 Gen 2 R1S. Rivian warns that 2022-2024 floor mats can potentially interfere with the accelerator pedal when installed in a 2025 or newer vehicle. Immediately after the incident, I used the vehicle’s native Rivian AI functionality twice to request diagnostic evaluations. Since the incident, the conventional brake pedal feels weaker/spongier than I recall previously. Rivian is scheduled to inspect the vehicle October 12, 2026 under Work Order 000002609847. I provided Rivian photographs identifying the incorrect mat and photographs showing smoke from the wheel areas. Original in-cabin smartphone video recorded during the incident has been preserved. No collision or physical injuries occurred. I am reporting this because a manufacturer-supplied incompatible floor mat physically trapped the accelerator during highway operation, creating a risk of sustained unintended acceleration that could affect other 2025+ Rivian R1 owners.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 09/09/2026

Safety defect involving exterior rearview mirrors on Rivian R1S I am reporting a recurring and worsening safety issue involving the exterior rearview mirrors on my Rivian R1S Gen 2. Both side mirrors repeatedly lose their saved positions without driver input. More concerningly, on multiple occasions the mirrors have changed position while the vehicle was being driven, including at highway speeds. When this occurs, my rearward and side visibility is unexpectedly altered while driving, requiring me to readjust the mirrors and creating a significant safety concern. This problem has persisted across multiple Rivian software versions and has become progressively worse. I have already reported the issue to Rivian Service more than once. I have attempted to re-save the mirror positions, disable and re-enable Auto Tilt in Reverse, perform software resets, and recalibrate the system, without resolving the problem. The issue is not caused by Automatic Ride Height Adjustment, as it has occurred while that feature was disabled. I have requested that Rivian escalate the issue to its Engineering team and review vehicle logs, which should document the repeated changes in mirror position. Because the exterior mirrors can change position without driver input while the vehicle is moving, I believe this may constitute a safety-related defect affecting driver visibility. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue and determine whether similar complaints exist involving Rivian R1S vehicles.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 08/15/2026

OnXXX, at approximately 5:00 PM CT, my 2025 Rivian R1S was involved in a low-speed rear-end collision at the intersection of [XXX] and the [XXX]. I was merging onto the service road (posted speed approx. 55 mph) behind another vehicle that began its merge through a stop sign, then stopped suddenly. I was moving forward at approximately 5-10 mph while checking oncoming traffic to my left. The vehicle's Automatic Emergency Braking system did not engage, and no forward collision warning was displayed, before I struck the vehicle ahead. I applied the brakes manually only after impact. No injuries occurred. I am reporting this because Rivian has previously disclosed to NHTSA (Recall 25V-585, XXX) a related defect in which its ADAS software misclassified a lead vehicle at low speed. My incident involved the same general failure pattern - the system not correctly responding to a slow-moving vehicle directly ahead at low speed. Additionally, the vehicle's onboard camera/recording system (Gear Guard) had been disabled by the manufacturer service center during a repair visit completed earlier that same day, and was not re-enabled before the vehicle was returned to me. As a result, no independent video record of the incident exists. I have submitted a formal written request to the manufacturer to preserve all EDR, ADAS, and vehicle telemetry data from the date of the incident, and that review is ongoing as of this filing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 02/02/2026

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.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE — Filed 03/25/2026

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.

WHEELS — Filed 12/18/2025

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)

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 04/15/2026

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

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 04/01/2026

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/26/2026

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

BACK OVER PREVENTION — Filed 02/18/2025

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.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 11/08/2025

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.

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 10/01/2025

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 02/01/2026

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 11/27/2025

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 11/16/2025

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.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — Filed 10/05/2025

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 11/11/2025

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 10/11/2025

I am submitting this complaint regarding repeated ineffective repair attempts by Rivian Automotive, Inc. at its Costa Mesa Service Center on my 2025 Rivian R1S Adventure. During multiple service visits at Rivian’s Costa Mesa Service Center (January 29, June 18, July 16, and October 11, 2025), Rivian repeatedly failed to diagnose or correct the same issues affecting my 2025 Rivian R1S Adventure. • Drive Cam / Diagnostics Error: Rivian’s diagnostics incorrectly reported my drive storage as 119 GB when I have a 2 TB SSD (the maximum recommended). After five hours of testing, they failed to identify the issue. The in-car viewer still shows only partial clips, even though the full recordings are visible on a computer. • A/C Vibration and Noise: Despite Rivian tightening and insulating the A/C components, the vibration persists and is noticeable on the passenger side. This issue did not exist in the 1st generation R1S loaner vehicle, suggesting a design issue in the 2nd generation R1S, where A/C components are placed in the front compartment. • Proximity Lock and Bluetooth Delay: The vehicle frequently fails to unlock for 5–15 seconds even when I’m standing next to it. Rivian attributes this to “deep sleep mode,” which is unreasonable—no other automaker treats slow unlocking as normal. This delay is a safety concern in emergencies or bad weather. • Lighting / Camera Malfunctions: I provided video of headlights turning off while idling in a drive-thru and of the reverse camera freezing. Rivian could not replicate the issues and closed the cases. • Privacy Concern: A technician asked me to change my Rivian password and share credentials so they could log in for diagnostics. This raises privacy and data security concerns. After repeated visits and software updates (including version 2025.38.0, reissued October 21 and October 25 without listed fixes), all defects persist. These failures have caused significant inconvenience, time loss, and ongoing safety concerns.

STEERING — Filed 05/05/2025

The Rivian R1S that I own pulls hard to the right when you accelerate and then pulls to the left when you decelerate. I took it for repair and Rivian realigned vehicle and confirmed everything is as it should be. This behavior is tied to the Rivian Stability control and when the stability control is deactivated the steering issue stops. The issue is a safety concern as it's difficult to keep the vehicle in lane and straight with the stability control activated which turns to On each time you drive the car.

SUSPENSION,WHEELS — Filed 10/16/2025

When vehicle returned from service for outstanding recalls, the control arm bolt was not properly tightened and caused additional movement on rear of vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 08/08/2025

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.

STRUCTURE — Filed 08/10/2025

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.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 05/26/2025

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 07/22/2025

While my wife was driving our 2025 Rivian R1S (approx. 13,500 miles), the vehicle was at a complete stop when it began to slowly roll forward on its own, followed by a sudden surge of acceleration, despite no input on the accelerator. This unexpected movement caused the vehicle to collide with a Tesla directly in front and involved another two vehicles. This incident posed a serious safety risk and could have injured pedestrians or other drivers. There were no warning lights or error messages before or during the incident. The cause is UNKNOWN at this time. Rivian has not yet inspected the vehicle, but we are requesting log preservation and a full review. This behavior has not been replicated since, and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. We believe this may indicate a malfunction in the propulsion system, regenerative braking transition, or creep mode behavior. The incident has been reported to Rivian for investigation.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 06/06/2025

On [XXX], our 2025 Rivian R1S lurched forward while stopped at a red light, waiting to make a left turn. The driver, [XXX] , had her foot off the accelerator when the vehicle suddenly surged forward. She slammed on the brake, and the vehicle briefly bounced back — but then lurched forward again, striking the stopped vehicle in front a second time. There were no warnings or alerts on the dashboard. The incident was captured on video and shows a clear case of unintended forward acceleration. This may be linked to Rivian’s accelerator pedal recall or a software malfunction affecting braking or propulsion systems. I have video footage of this accident but was unable to upload the file. We are concerned about the safety risk this presents to other drivers and are requesting an NHTSA investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)