NHTSA opens probe into 2022–2025 Rivian R1S and R1T: Rear Toe Link May Separate
On May 26, 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE26004) into 2022–2025 Rivian R1S and R1T, concerning the suspension. 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. As of NHTSA’s latest data it is still open.
- Action
- PE26004 (Preliminary Evaluation)
- Status
- Open
- Component
- Suspension: Rear
- Listed
- 8 make/model/year entries in NHTSA’s file
Vehicles under investigation
| Make | Rivian |
|---|---|
| Models | R1S, R1T |
| Model years | 2022–2025 |
As listed in NHTSA’s investigation file. Not every vehicle of a listed model is necessarily affected.
What ODI says
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 components, and a police accident report. The two vehicles with reported separation have different vehicle histories. One vehicle received prior service and the other was involved in a previous collision. In both instances, the vehicles operated for multiple months and thousands of miles of usage with no apparent problems between the previous service or the previous collision and the failures that prompted this investigation. Rivian recognized the subject toe link joint’s sensitivity to service procedures in March of 2025 in its updated service procedures. In January 2026 through recall 26V-003, Rivian extended the improved repair procedure to vehicles that received toe link service prior to the March 2025 improvement. ODI is opening a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to (1) assess the sensitivity of the rear toe link joint to foreseeable road and service conditions, (2) compare the physical failure evidence from the two VOQs to identify apparent similarities and potential differences, (3) evaluate Rivian’s current toe link repair procedure, and (4) assess the in-field subject population’s toe links conditions. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov
Official summary by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for PE26004, quoted in full (U.S. government work, public domain).
What owners have reported
Owners filed 278 complaints with NHTSA about the model years in this investigation, reporting 32 crashes, 2 fires, 19 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 R1S | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 R1S | 76 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 R1S | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 R1S | 54 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 R1T | 68 | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 R1T | 39 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 R1T | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 R1T | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls and problems for these vehicles
Timeline
- ODI opens preliminary evaluation PE26004
- OpenNo closing date yet
What this means for owners
- An investigation is not a recall. NHTSA has not made a defect finding here, and owners are not asked to do anything yet. If a safety defect is confirmed, the manufacturer recalls the vehicles and the repair is free.
- 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 PE26004 or your vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls, which lists investigations alongside recalls. Data: NHTSA ODI investigations file, updated daily. All NHTSA investigations.