The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a new investigation into Rivian, focusing on potential safety defects in its all-electric delivery vans.
The probe was opened on September 22, 2025, by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), and covers approximately 17,198 Rivian Electric Delivery Vans (EDVs) built between 2022 and 2023.
According to the ODI, the agency has received six Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging failures of the driver’s front outboard seat belt anchorage system. The issue stems from a steel-braided cable that connects the seat belt webbing to the seat frame.
Owners reported that the cable can fray, break, or unravel, potentially leaving drivers unrestrained during a crash or sudden stop. Even partial fraying weakens the system’s load-bearing capacity, undermining its ability to protect occupants in an accident.
NHTSA emphasized that any seat belt system unable to reliably restrain occupants “presents an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.”
The investigation will assess the frequency, severity, and scope of the problem. ODI engineers will focus on the design and manufacturing of the seat belt assembly, the installation method, and whether Rivian made any design changes that could have contributed to the issue.
So far, there have been no reports of crashes, injuries, or fatalities linked to the defect. The case currently remains at the preliminary evaluation stage, the first step in NHTSA’s formal defect investigation process. Depending on the outcome, the inquiry could escalate to an engineering analysis and potentially lead to a recall or mandatory repairs.
The EDV is best known for its role in Rivian’s partnership with Amazon, which uses over 25,000 of the vans in its delivery fleet across the U.S. Rivian has not yet commented publicly on the investigation.
You can read the full ODI Resume below.
