Rivian has issued a new recall affecting a limited number of its R1T electric pickup trucks and R1S electric SUVs after identifying a potential seat belt installation issue that could increase the risk of injury in a crash.
According to documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall covers 869 vehicles across the 2022–2025 R1T and 2022–2026 R1S model years. The issue involves the bolts that secure the second-row driver and passenger-side seat belt retractor assemblies, which may not have been properly tightened during the manufacturing process.
If the retractor assemblies are not adequately secured, the affected seat belts may not restrain occupants as intended during a collision. While Rivian estimates that only about 1 percent of the recalled vehicles may actually have the defect, the company elected to move forward with a recall out of caution.
Rivian says the issue first came to light on September 16, 2025, when a service technician discovered an improperly secured seat belt retractor while examining an R1T. Following the discovery, Rivian’s Field Performance team launched an internal investigation that spanned several months. By reviewing detailed manufacturing and process records, the automaker was able to trace the suspect installation to a specific population of vehicles built between September 15, 2021, and May 15, 2025.
Rivian reports that no additional improperly secured retractors were identified during the investigation, and the company is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the issue in any market. In some cases, owners may notice a rattling noise coming from the left or right C-pillar area, which could indicate that the retractor assembly is not fully secured.
The fix is relatively simple, but it can’t be done via an over-the-air (OTA) software update, and will require a service visit. Rivian will inspect the second-row seat belt retractor assemblies on affected vehicles and tighten the mounting bolts as necessary. All inspections and repairs will be performed free of charge.
You can read the full NHTSA recall notice below. Transport Canada has yet to issue a similar recall notice.
