Rivian is recalling nearly 20,000 of its electric trucks and SUVs in the United States after discovering that a suspension component may have been incorrectly reassembled during service, raising the risk of a crash. The campaign affects R1T pickups and R1S SUVs whose rear suspension work left a critical link vulnerable to improper torque, a problem that only emerges after the vehicles have been in for certain repairs. The move adds fresh scrutiny to how the young automaker manages both quality control and its growing service network.
The recall underscores how even a limited service error can ripple across a large portion of a company’s fleet when the same repair procedure is repeated at scale. For Rivian, which is still building trust with early adopters and investors, the issue is less about raw defect numbers and more about whether owners feel the company is transparent, responsive, and technically rigorous when something goes wrong.
What Rivian says went wrong with the rear suspension
According to Rivian’s own defect notice, the problem centers on the rear suspension toe link, a part that helps keep the rear wheels pointed in the correct direction and maintains alignment under load. In certain cases where the rear suspension assembly was serviced, that toe link may have been reattached without the proper torque, which can allow it to loosen over time and introduce play in the suspension. Rivian Automotive, LLC has formally stated that this condition is a safety defect because a loose toe link can alter vehicle handling and subject the part to unintended forces that increase the chance of failure, a finding detailed in its official recall information.
Regulatory filings indicate that the recall covers about 20,000 vehicles in the United States, specifically R1T and R1S models that had rear suspension work performed using the affected procedure. Internal documentation from Rivian Automotive, LLC describes the defect as involving 202 distinct service operations that could leave the toe link at risk, a reminder that the issue is tied to how repairs were carried out rather than to the original factory build. That distinction matters, because it suggests the assembly line process itself is not at the core of this particular safety concern.
Scope of the recall and how owners are being protected
Federal regulators have been notified of the campaign, and the recall is now listed in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s database, where owners can search their vehicle identification number to confirm whether they are affected. The agency’s recall portal explains that improperly reassembled toe links can lead to a sudden change in rear wheel alignment, which may cause the driver to experience unexpected steering behavior or instability. Drivers who want to verify their status or review the official defect description can use the NHTSA recalls lookup tool, which consolidates manufacturer reports and outlines the required remedies.
Rivian has said it will inspect and, if necessary, correct the rear suspension assembly on all impacted vehicles at no cost to owners, focusing on the torque and integrity of the toe link hardware. Reporting on the campaign notes that nearly 20,000 R1T and R1S vehicles are covered, with the company instructing service centers to follow a revised procedure that ensures the toe link is correctly secured. A separate account of the campaign describes how Rivian notified regulators that the toe link could have been improperly reassembled during service, reinforcing that the fix is as much about retraining technicians as it is about replacing parts.
A pattern of early safety fixes for a young EV brand
This is not the first large scale safety campaign for Rivian, which is still in the early years of mass production and field support. Earlier, the company recalled more than 24,000 Vehicles to address a malfunction in its Highway Assist driver assistance software, a problem that required an over the air update rather than a mechanical repair. That software issue affected both R1T and R1S models and was detailed in coverage of how Rivian Recalls More Than 24,000 vehicles to correct the Highway Assist behavior, highlighting that the brand is grappling with both digital and mechanical teething problems as its fleet grows.
Investors and customers are watching how Rivian Automotive, which trades on NASDAQ under the symbol RIVN, handles these setbacks as it tries to scale production and service capacity. The latest recall of about 20,000 U.S. vehicles over a rear suspension assembly issue illustrates the tension between rapid growth and the painstaking work of quality assurance. For owners, the key questions are practical: how quickly their vehicles can be inspected, whether loaner transportation is available where needed, and how confident they can be that a corrected toe link or updated software will keep their expensive electric truck or SUV performing as promised.
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