Rivian Recall: Nearly All R1T and R1S Models May Have Improperly Torqued Steering Knuckle Fasteners

The issue affects more than 12,000 vehicles built so far

Late this week, electric automaker Rivian started a sweeping recall campaign for a safety issue concerning their vehicles’ front suspension systems. According to emails sent to owners, as posted by Rivian Forums, and a defect report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the R1T, R1S and EDV delivery van may have improperly torqued front upper control arm and steering knuckle retention fasteners on each front wheel.

If the nut loosens enough from vibration, the front upper control arm and steering knuckle could separate. Rivian says that it is aware of six reports potentially related to the problem, as of September 28. Of those six cases, two vehicles actually had their steering knuckle come loose or separate. According to publicly available documents, there were no reports of accidents, injuries or fatalities related to this problem.

Rivian plans to send out emails and text messages as soon as possible. Per the Rivian Forums post, owners already seem to be getting notifications on their vehicles’ recall. The automaker says it will physically mail out notifications to owners on or before November 24, 2022.

Rivian technicians will inspect and properly secure the steering knuckle fasteners on affected vehicles. This recall campaign affects nearly all Rivian vehicles built to date, as the recall population officially stands at 12,212 vehicles. The NHTSA recall report acknowledges the problem impacts models built between August 23 and September 24, 2022.

As Rivian is a direct-to-consumer entity, it will handle the process through its wholly owned and operated service centers.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said that the company is taking this route "out of an abundance of caution", and noted Rivian is ready to fix every affected vehicle within the next month. If you own a Rivian and notice vibration, excessive noise or a change in steering feel, you should set up an appointment to have this issue addressed as soon as possible.

Customers can contact Rivian's customer care line at 855-748-4265 for more information. The NHTSA safety hotline is another option, at 888-327-4236.

For your reference, Rivian's number for this recall campaign is FSAM 997. The NHTSA's number for the campaign is 22V-744.