NHTSA closes probe into 2022–2023 Rivian EDV: Rivian EDV Seat Belt Anchor Detachment
On September 22, 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE25011) into 2022–2023 Rivian EDV, concerning the seat belts. A Preliminary Evaluation is the first formal stage of an NHTSA defect investigation: ODI gathers information from the manufacturer and from owner reports to decide whether to close the case or take it further. ODI closed the preliminary evaluation on February 25, 2026.
- Action
- PE25011 (Preliminary Evaluation)
- Status
- Closed February 25, 2026
- Component
- Seat Belts: Front: Anchorage
- Listed
- 2 make/model/year entries in NHTSA’s file
Vehicles under investigation
| Make | Rivian |
|---|---|
| Model | EDV |
| Model years | 2022–2023 |
As listed in NHTSA’s investigation file. Not every vehicle of a listed model is necessarily affected.
What ODI says
On September 22, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 25011 to investigate and assess allegations of seat belt performance concerns in certain Model Year (MY) 2022-2023 Rivian Electric Delivery Van (EDV). ODI has received fourteen (14) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) reporting potential failures of the driver’s front outboard seat belt anchorage system. The anchorage utilizes a steel-braided cable linked to the seat frame, which supports the seat belt webbing that secures the occupant in the event of a crash. The VOQ describe instances in which the steel-braided cable frayed, unraveled, or completely severed, potentially leaving the occupant inadequately restrained during vehicle operation. A partial or complete separation of the seat belt pretensioner anchor cable can significantly degrade occupant restraint performance in a crash. A damaged cable may also prevent the pretensioner from removing belt slack at the onset of a vehicle crash impact, which could reduce airbag effectiveness and increase the risk of injury. ODI’s investigation sought to determine whether the seat belt assembly’s integrity, design, durability, mounting position, installation method, or manufacturing deficiencies could have contributed to the reported condition. Following the opening of the investigation, Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) determined that the seat belt pretensioner anchor cable contained a safety defect in the subject vehicle population and filed a Part 573 Defect Information Report. Recall 25V-816 is intended to address MY 2022-2025 Rivian EDV vehicles. Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update and will inspect and replace the driver’s seat belt pretensioner assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on January 19, 2026. This recall action seems to resolve the concerns reported by customers. The recall scope includes MY 2024-2025 vehicles in addition to MY 2022-2023 vehicles identified in this investigation. Accordingly, ODI is closing Investigation PE25011. The agency will continue to monitor field performance, complaint trends, and recall completion rates to assess the adequacy of the remedy. ODI reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future developments. To review the ODI reports cited in this Closing Resume, go to NHTSA.gov and search the associated ODI Report Identification Numbers.
Official summary by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for PE25011, quoted in full (U.S. government work, public domain).
What owners have reported
Owners filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the model years in this investigation, reporting 10 injuries. These are all complaints on file for those vehicles, about any problem, not only this one; complaints are unverified owner reports.
| Vehicle | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 EDV | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 EDV | 15 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Related recalls
NHTSA links these recall campaigns to PE25011.
Timeline
- ODI opens preliminary evaluation PE25011
- NHTSA recall 25V816000 (recall date)
- ODI closes PE25011
What this means for owners
- ODI closes an investigation when a recall addresses the issue or when it does not find enough evidence to continue. NHTSA’s closing report gives the reason; the recalls above are the ones NHTSA links to it.
- Check your vehicle for open recalls with a free VIN recall check.
- Had this problem? File a complaint with NHTSA. Owner complaints are the evidence ODI uses to open and expand investigations.
Official record: search PE25011 or your vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls, which lists investigations alongside recalls. Data: NHTSA ODI investigations file, updated daily. All NHTSA investigations.