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Model year

2026 Rivian R1S

SUV, electric, AWD/All-Wheel Drive, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Dec 1, 2025 to Aug 27, 2026.

Recall campaigns covering this model year3104k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints142.3 times the median 2026 suv
Severity index28.62026 suvs average 10.9
First 24 monthsOpenWindow has not closed yet
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2026 Rivian R1S peaked in 2025, with 5 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

02.557.510202520269
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

21% of complaints about the 2026 Rivian R1S name driver assistance

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Driver assistance
3
Latches and locks
3
Electrical system
2
Fuel system
2
Brakes
2
Steering
2
Structure
2
Speed control
2
Back-over prevention
1
Lighting
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

3 recall campaigns cover the 2026 Rivian R1S

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2026 Rivian R1S
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
26V-597Sep 16, 2026Rearview camera image may be obstructed by a notification when in reverseBack-over prevention98,828Software update
26V-508Aug 5, 2026One or both front turn signals may fail to illuminate and flashLighting3,829Part replacement
26V-009Jan 15, 2026Bolts that secure the second-row driver and passenger side seat belt retractor assemblies may be improperly tightenedSeat belts869Repair or modification
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2026 Rivian R1S

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

14 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Aug 27, 2026Failure Aug 26, 2026Elkhorn, NEExterior lighting, Adaptive cruise control

    While I was traveling, I suddenly got a brake light fault, turn signal fault, and front camera fault warning messages that appeared on the computer. Rear driver's side tail light/turn signal light stopped functioning and the rest of the brake lights are stuck on, including the rear third tail light while driving and when vehicle is locked/idle. Rivian had me perform soft and hard resets, but that did not solve these problems. Rivian states they are unable to assist me further until I drive it to a service center located near my home.

    NHTSA complaint 11760135
  2. Filed Aug 18, 2026Failure May 30, 2026500 milesWashington, MIElectrical system

    The contact owns a 2026 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the GPS feature on the center digital screen failed to provide the accurate miles per hour traveled as designed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the GPS feature was delayed by approximately 2 MPH. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 500.

    NHTSA complaint 11757671
  3. Filed Jul 9, 2026Failure Jul 9, 2026Washington, DCSteering

    Within 48 hours of picking up my new 2026 Rivian R1S Dual Standard, I experienced a power steering fault while on a public roadway to where the vehicle entered a crawl mode and the power steering stopped working. The car was not steerable. I spent an hour on the phone with Rivian emergency roadside support and they had me perform a reset of the vehicle which restored the steering. However, it was still recommended by roadside service that the vehicle be looked at by the service team so it was towed to Gaithersburg service center. The problem was later identified in the system logs as a known firmware condition that is currently under investigation with no permanent fix at this time. There were no warnings or indication of this issue prior to it occurring. The issue has not happened again since it was at the service center.

    NHTSA complaint 11749354
  4. Filed Jun 12, 2026Failure Jun 6, 2026Wellesley Hills, MAFuel/propulsion system

    SUPPLEMENTAL COMPLAINT — This filing supplements VOQ No. XXX filed XXX for the same vehicle and incident. The original complaint contained factual inaccuracies that this filing corrects. PROPULSION FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED — KNOWN DEFECT — NHTSA MFR COMMS 11026123 & 11026124 VEHICLE: 2026 Rivian R1S Dual Standard, VIN [XXX], LFP battery. Delivered XXX. ~700 miles at incident. INCIDENT XXX: Navigation showed 8% SOC buffer on arrival at destination 5 miles away — active system assurance of sufficient range. Simultaneous audible alarm and dashboard warning then fired with approximately 15-20 seconds to act at ~60 mph on busy [XXX]. Emergency pull-over executed under extreme time pressure. Complete propulsion loss on highway shoulder. ~80°F. Rivian Roadside quoted 3-hour response; independently hired private tow. Approximately 45 minutes after stall, 12V battery died and hazard lights failed — disabled vehicle on live busy interstate shoulder with no hazard lights in 80° heat. Zero residual power. Towed to West Gardiner Service Plaza. 4 hours on highway shoulder, 3 hours at rest area. $225 out-of-pocket (tow + Lyft). DEFECT: Rivian Hudson NH service (WO-XXX, INV_XXX) confirmed 13% HV battery cell capacity imbalance — dashboard SOC does not reflect actual cell capacity. Factory calibration defect. Firmware update only; HV hardware NOT replaced. Defect unresolved. PRIOR NHTSA FILINGS: Before my May 2026 delivery Rivian filed mandatory EWR communications: - Mfr Comm XXX: warned owners of fast range drop below 20% SOC, instructed to stay above 20%. - Mfr Comm XXX (Nov 24 2025): described progressive inaccuracy below 20% SOC. Component: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. Both on NHTSA 2026 R1S vehicle page. NON-DISCLOSURE: Neither filing disclosed at sale/delivery May 22 2026. Calibration-complete confirmation never sent to this VIN. BBB Auto Line Case XXX active. VOQ XXX filed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    NHTSA complaint 11743785
  5. Filed Jun 12, 2026Failure Jun 6, 2026Wellesley Hills, MAFuel/propulsion system, Power train

    PROPULSION FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED — KNOWN DEFECT — NHTSA MFR COMMS XXX & XXX VEHICLE: 2026 Rivian R1S Dual Standard, VIN [XXX], LFP battery. Delivered XXX. 702 miles at incident. INCIDENT XXX: Complete unwarned propulsion failure on [XXX] at highway speed. Dashboard showed 8% SOC immediately before failure — no warning, no alert. Vehicle lost all propulsion 5 miles from nearest charger. Stranded 7 hours. $225 out-of-pocket towing/transport costs. DEFECT: Rivian Hudson NH service (WO-000002294461, INV_20260608-150458) confirmed 13% HV battery cell capacity imbalance via diagnostics — dashboard SOC reading does not reflect actual cell capacity. Factory pre-delivery calibration defect. Firmware update performed; HV battery hardware NOT replaced. Defect unresolved. RIVIAN'S PRIOR NHTSA FILINGS: Before my May 2026 delivery, Rivian filed mandatory EWR communications acknowledging this exact defect: - Mfr Comm 11026123: SMS warning owners range "will drop fast below 20% SOC" and to "stay above 20% SOC until issue resolved." - Mfr Comm XXX (112425_SOCImbalance_Email, Nov 24 2025): Email describing progressive range inaccuracy below 20% SOC. Component: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. Both appear on NHTSA 2026 R1S vehicle page. NON-DISCLOSURE: Neither communication was disclosed at sale (May 18) or delivery (May 22, 2026). Rivian sold this vehicle with a known active propulsion defect without informing me. Calibration-complete confirmation was never sent to this VIN. REQUEST: I ask ODI to assess whether this constitutes a safety defect requiring recall under 49 USC 30118, and whether Rivian's continued sale of LFP vehicles after these filings without disclosing the 20% SOC limitation warrants investigation. BBB Auto Line Case XXX active. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    NHTSA complaint 11743765
  6. Filed Jun 7, 2026Failure Jun 7, 2026Wayne, PAWarnings, Steering, Vehicle speed control

    Driver was making a left hand turn and as the turn was initiated the driver had no control of the vehicle. The vehicle system took over driving, causing substantial damage to the vehicle. Weeks leading up to the incident, the display and certain systems were not responding or provided errors. Following a reset each time, the vehicle would be operational.

    NHTSA complaint 11742583
  7. Filed May 18, 2026Failure May 17, 2026Brewster, NYLatch, Lock, Door

    When backing into a parking spot on two separate occasions the drivers door popped open while the vehicle was in motion and the doors were locked after my knee brushed against the button to open the door while the car was in motion.

    NHTSA complaint 11738519
  8. Filed Mar 23, 2026Failure Mar 21, 2026San diego, CAHatchback/liftgate1 injured

    Summary of the problem: The rear liftgate on my Rivian failed to detect an obstruction while closing and continued to close despite contact with a person. What happened: While the rear liftgate was automatically closing, I was unaware it was coming down and walked into it. The liftgate made contact with my upper body/face and did not stop or reverse as expected. Instead, it continued closing and forced me to the ground. Safety issue: The liftgate’s safety sensor failed to detect a human obstruction, creating a serious risk of injury. This is especially dangerous for children or shorter individuals who may be struck in the head or face. Injuries: I sustained bruising to my face and was knocked to the ground as a result of the liftgate continuing to close after impact. Why this is dangerous: A properly functioning power liftgate should stop and reverse when it encounters resistance. This system failed entirely, posing a significant safety hazard. There were no warnings or components that alerted before or after it failed to sense.

    NHTSA complaint 11726259
  9. Filed Jan 24, 2026Failure Jan 24, 2026Palo Alto, CAService brakes, Vehicle speed controlCrash

    I was involved in an incident where the vehicle (R1S 2026) accelerated unexpectedly, struck the car in front of me and the brakes were unresponsive at the time. The car only stopped after crashing.

    NHTSA complaint 11713145
  10. Filed Dec 31, 2025Failure Dec 26, 2025Los Angeles, CAElectrical system

    I have had siginificant issues with my new 2026 rivian R1S specifically based around two key areas: 1. inaccurate battery range reporting/capacity below 20% charge 2. inaccurate mapbox navigation. Those two issues combine to create a dangerous situation in extreme conditions for a vehicle specifically designed and marketed for off-road adventure (snow, rain, below freezing temperatures) and for large capacity (7 passengers). These two issues have left me and my family stranded three different times in remote locations in spite of our best efforts to keep the vehicle well charged and cross referencing navigation with other apps. I have taken the vehicle to Rivian service twice already and I was assured that the software update 38.30, but that is not the case. This left me stranded in Lone Pine, California where I had to abandon the vehicle and have it towed back to the Burbank service center and again near Mt. Shasta, California. Both were in December 2025, in sub-freezing conditions at night after repeated charging attempts. This created additional issues where the 12V battery charge ran down, the vehicle couldn’t get into Neutral to be towed and in all cases, Rivian roadside assistance was not able help beyond scheduling a service appointment.

    NHTSA complaint 11708078
  11. Filed Dec 29, 2025Failure Dec 6, 2025Gilbert, AZEmergency mechanical release

    The access to open the rear doors in case of a power failure is complex and not practical or safe.

    NHTSA complaint 11707661
  12. Filed Dec 25, 2025Failure Dec 25, 2025Ashburn, VAEmergency mechanical release

    I would like to file a safety concern regarding the vehicles rear doors. The manual latch is covered by a strong piece of plastic that cannot be opened in a quick emergency. I am very worried as I drive with family and I don’t want them to potentially be stuck. The front doors have an easy manual latch right next to the electric door open button, and I would like to report this concern as the back doors should also have a manual latch just like the front. The current latches genuinely are difficult to open.

    NHTSA complaint 11707052
  13. Filed Dec 16, 2025Failure Nov 12, 2025977 milesBeverly Hills, CAService brakesCrash1 injured

    The contact owned a 2026 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while at a red light and idled, the vehicle accelerated violently, and the vehicle was uncontrollable. The contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle and damaged the rear corner bumper of the other vehicle. The vehicle then crashed into a median strip where there was a 5-foot boulder. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into a five-foot boulder, and the vehicle was damaged. In addition, the contact stated that the failure occurred when the accelerator pedal was depressed while leaving from a red light stop sign. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact sustained bumps and bruises. In addition, the contact received whiplash to the right side of her neck and scratches from the air bag deploying. The contact's six-year-old granddaughter, who was seated in the rear seat, received no injuries. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that the failure was very scary, and the only thing that worked in the vehicle was the steering wheel. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the information retrieved from the computer system indicated that the accelerator pedal was activated, and the brake pedal was depressed for six seconds. The failure mileage was approximately 977.

    NHTSA complaint 11705326
  14. Filed Dec 1, 2025Failure Nov 28, 2025Lombard, ILWarnings, Adaptive cruise controlCrash

    I am writing to report a serious safety incident involving my 2026 Rivian R1S. While I was slowly parking the vehicle, it suddenly experienced what appears to be unintended acceleration, causing the car to lunge forward uncontrollably and crash directly into my home. This resulted in significant property damage as well as injuries to the passengers inside the vehicle. Earlier in the drive, I had also reported experiencing electronic and system irregularities, which now seem potentially related to this failure. Given the severity of the incident and the concerning sequence of events

    NHTSA complaint 11702245
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

7 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • RCA-78-26-004-1 Aug 7, 2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Rivian is initiating a customer satisfaction campaign for some model year 2025-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that may be susceptible to windshield washer fluid leaking from the front fascia camera washer nozzle. The customer may notice washer fluid leaking and/…
  • RSB-93-26-002-1 Jul 24, 2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2022-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that might have an audible rattle originating from the B-pillar area when driving on rough road surfaces. Upon customer complaint, Rivian will apply anti-rat…
  • RSB-56-002-1 Apr 17, 2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2025-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that were manufactured with exterior door handles that, under some conditions, could squeak when the handles present or retract. The ability to open the door…
  • RSB-93-26-001-1 Apr 17, 2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2022-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that may be prone to noise and/or vibration from the door areas, particularly buzzing and rattling sounds. This results in a perceived quality issue. Upon cu…
  • RSB-64-26-001-1 Feb 18, 2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Rivian is launching a Rivian Service Bulletin for some model year 2025-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with a visible gap at the front of the wireless charging mat, resulting in a perceived quality issue. Upon customer complain…
  • 112425_SOCImbalance_Email Nov 24, 2025 · Other
    Email encouraging owners to update to the latest software.
  • SOC Imbalance SMS_112625 Nov 26, 2025 · Other
    Text message to encourage owners to update to latest software.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.