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Total NHTSA Complaints
73
Owner filings recorded
#1 Reported Problem
Air Bags & Restraints
31 reports (42.5%)
Crash Incident Reports
10
Filings citing a crash
Fire & Injury Reports
3
0 fire • 3 injury filings
Defect Investigation Analysis

Executive Problem Findings

AutoUtility currently tracks 73 official NHTSA owner defect complaints for the 2023 Rivian R1S. Air Bags & Restraints issues are the most frequently reported category, appearing in 31 complaints (42.5% of submitted records). Among these NHTSA complaint records, 10 filings cite a crash, 3 report one or more injuries.

Methodology Notice: Consumer complaints are unverified voluntary submissions to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Filings are not normalized for sales volume or vehicle mileage and do not constitute an audited component failure rate.
Incident & Severity Profile
  • • Total Owner Reports: 73 complaints submitted under federal penalty.
  • • Primary Subsystem: Air Bags & Restraints accounts for 42.5% of submissions (31 reports).
  • • Secondary Systems: Electrical System (15), Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (11).
  • • Crash Incidents: 10 filings cite an impact or collision.
  • • Thermal Incidents: 0 filings cite smoke or fire.
  • • Reported Casualties: 3 injury filings • 0 fatality filings.
Category Distribution

Reported Defect Categories for 2023 Rivian R1S

Factual proportion of owner complaints categorized by automotive subsystem in NHTSA records

Air Bags & Restraints
31
42.5%
Electrical System
15
20.5%
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
11
15.1%
Seats & Interior
11
15.1%
Suspension
8
11%
#1 42.5% SHARE

Air Bags & Restraints

31 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

⚠️ 1 Crash 🩹 1 Injury
⚠️ 3 Associated Recall Campaigns
#2 20.5% SHARE

Electrical System

15 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

⚠️ 4 Crash
#3 15.1% SHARE

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech

11 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

⚠️ 5 Crash 🩹 2 Injury
#4 15.1% SHARE

Seats & Interior

11 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

✓ 0 Incidents
Federal Oversight

Official NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

Formal engineering analyses and preliminary evaluations opened by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

ODI Action #PE26004 OPEN Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Opened: 2026-05-26 • Active
Subject / Subsystem
Rear Toe Link May Separate
Affected Component
SUSPENSION:REAR
Recall Linkage
No direct recall linkage
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
Consumer Filings

Recent NHTSA Owner Reports for 2023 Rivian R1S

Representative defect filings submitted by owners to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Air Bags & Restraints ODI #11758022
Filed: 08/19/2026
Defect Report

"The contact owns a 2023 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for service, and the service tech stated that all three rear seat belts had a wire that had been severed from the buckle. Additionally, the vehicle failed to detect an occupant seated in the rear seats. The dealer..."

Incident Date: 08/11/2026 NHTSA Component: SEAT BELTS
Suspension ODI #11756055
Filed: 08/10/2026
Defect Report

"I own a 2023 Rivian R1S, early production vehicle #531, with approximately 93,000 miles. While driving, I noticed the vehicle's suspension was not functioning normally. After parking, the front passenger side of the vehicle dropped significantly lower than the other side, leaving the vehicle..."

Incident Date: 08/09/2026 NHTSA Component: SUSPENSION
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech ODI #11753900
Filed: 07/30/2026
⚠️ Crash Cited

"On XXX, at approximately 12:19 PM, I was in the drive-through lane at a Chick-fil-A in [XXX], with my child as a passenger. I was using one-pedal driving mode and had come to a complete stop with my foot off the accelerator. I turned briefly to hand my child an ice cream cup, and when I looked back..."

Incident Date: 07/29/2026 NHTSA Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Suspension ODI #11749529
Filed: 07/10/2026
Defect Report

"Tension noise and creaking coming from suspensions. Special washers were needed in order to fill gaps in build tolerances."

Incident Date: 07/09/2026 NHTSA Component: SUSPENSION
Air Bags & Restraints ODI #11749527
Filed: 07/10/2026
Defect Report

"When an adult passenger is in the vehicle passenger seat, the passenger airbag light shows "airbag off" Approximate weight 130 pounds"

Incident Date: 10/01/2025 NHTSA Component: AIR BAGS
Multi-Year Trend

Complaint History for Rivian R1S

Reported defect complaint volume across sibling model years (2022–2026)

Model Year NHTSA Complaints Crash Reports Safety Recalls Detailed Report
2022 Rivian R1S 4 1 12 View 2022 Problems →
2023 Rivian R1S Current Page 73 10 9 Current
2024 Rivian R1S 16 5 6 View 2024 Problems →
2025 Rivian R1S 51 4 10 View 2025 Problems →
2026 Rivian R1S 0 0 2 View 2026 Problems →
Exhaustive System Audit

Detailed NHTSA Component Breakdown for 2023 Rivian R1S

Complete distribution of consumer defect reports across all 36 granular NHTSA system and subsystem classifications

Vehicle Component / System Total Complaints Crash Reports Fire Reports Injury Entries Fatality Entries
Air Bags NHTSA category: AIR BAGS 13 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,SEATS 10 0 0 0 0
Other / Uncategorized NHTSA category: UNKNOWN OR OTHER 6 0 0 0 0
Suspension NHTSA category: SUSPENSION 5 2 0 1 0
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS 3 0 0 0 0
Electrical System NHTSA category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 0 0 0 0
Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES 2 0 0 0 0
Steering NHTSA category: STEERING 2 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS 1 0 0 0 0
CARRY HANDLE, SHELL, BASE,CHEST CLIP, BUCKLE, HARNESS,INSERT, PADDING 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 1 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 1 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 1 0 0 0
Forward Collision Avoidance NHTSA category: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 1 0 0 0
Powertrain NHTSA category: POWER TRAIN 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 1 1 0 0 0
Seat Belts NHTSA category: SEAT BELTS 1 0 0 0 0
SEAT BELTS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 1 0 1 0
Seats & Restraints NHTSA category: SEATS 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,WHEELS,LANE DEPARTURE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 1 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTURE 1 1 0 1 0
SUSPENSION,WHEELS 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
Tires NHTSA category: TIRES 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
Visibility / Glass NHTSA category: VISIBILITY 1 0 0 0 0
Wheels & Hubs NHTSA category: WHEELS 1 0 0 0 0
Related Workstations

Related Official Reports for 2023 Rivian R1S

Cross-reference safety recalls, crash test safety ratings, and EPA fuel economy for this model year

← 2023 Rivian R1S Overview

Key performance indicators, EPA fuel economy specs, powertrain variants, and summary ratings.

2023 Rivian R1S Safety Recalls (9) →

Official recall campaigns, safety defect descriptions, and manufacturer free remedy instructions.

2023 Rivian R1S Safety Ratings →

NHTSA 5-Star NCAP crash test results, driver assistance systems, and rollover resistance ratings.

2023 Rivian R1S MPG & Range →

EPA fuel economy ratings, electric range, and annual energy cost benchmarks.
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Common Problems & Reliability Questions for the 2023 Rivian R1S

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2023 Rivian R1S

What are the most common reported problems with the 2023 Rivian R1S?

In official NHTSA consumer records, the most frequently cited issue area for the 2023 Rivian R1S is Air Bags & Restraints, appearing in 31 records (42.5% of submitted filings).

Secondary reported categories include Electrical System (15) and Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (11).

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Is the 2023 Rivian R1S a reliable vehicle?

AutoUtility does not issue subjective reliability scores or commercial ratings. In official United States government records, NHTSA tracks 73 consumer defect complaints and 9 safety recall campaigns for the 2023 Rivian R1S.

Reviewing documented component complaint distributions, recall remedy notices, and active federal investigations provides an objective, evidence-based view of the vehicle's historical safety and defect record.

Cross-reference official safety recall campaigns →
Source: NHTSA ODI & Safety Recalls Databases

Are there crash, fire, or injury reports associated with the 2023 Rivian R1S?

Among consumer complaint records on file with NHTSA for the 2023 Rivian R1S, 10 filings cite a crash, 0 cite smoke or fire, and 3 report one or more injuries.

Incident entries represent consumer descriptions at the time of submission to federal authorities and do not establish mechanical causation or legal liability.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Consumer Logs

Has NHTSA formally investigated defects on the 2023 Rivian R1S?

NHTSA ODI records list 1 formal defect investigation involving the 2023 Rivian R1S (1 currently open).

Federal defect investigations are formal engineering evaluations opened when safety defect trends emerge, and do not by themselves establish a confirmed defect or mandatory recall.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Registry
Official US Government Data Provenance

The complaint records on this page are retrieved directly from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) public database under 49 CFR Part 576.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.