Dive Brief:
- Rivian Automotive has recalled nearly 20,000 electric vehicles because of a risk that the rear suspension toe link joint may separate, stemming from a flawed service procedure that required separation and reassembly of the part, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The recall includes certain R1T pickup trucks and R1S SUVs from model years 2022 through 2025. An estimated 1% of the recalled vehicles are estimated to have the defect.
- To address the recall, Rivian will replace the rear toe link bolts on the vehicles free of charge using an updated service procedure. The company plans to notify customers on or before Feb. 24.
Dive Insight:
If the rear toe link joint separates while the vehicle is in motion, it can lead to a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash. Last March, Rivian traced the root cause of a “very small number” of toe link joint failures to its service procedures, which were followed by its technicians from April 1, 2022 through March 10, 2025.
The company subsequently updated its service and training guidelines, introducing new rear suspension service procedures for technicians after March 10, 2025.
Only Rivian vehicles that have undergone service that required separation and reassembly of the rear suspension toe link joint using the now outdated procedure are included in the recall population.
The specific details of the repair and cause of the separation were not published in the NHTSA recall report. But on Dec. 15, 2025, the agency notified Rivian of two customer complaints it received related to toe link failures on vehicles that had undergone rear suspension repairs before the updated service procedure was implemented.
Based on its findings, Rivian approved a voluntary recall on Dec. 26, 2025, for all R1T and R1S vehicles that underwent rear suspension service prior to March 10, 2025.
According to Rivian’s website, the remedy has been available to customers since Jan. 8.
As of Jan. 5, 2026, Rivian is aware of one vehicle crash alleging minor injuries that’s related to the defect.
Previous Rivian recalls in 2025 addressed issues with headlamps, seat belts and software.
