Seat belt height adjustment on driver side malfunctions from new, catches seat belt and makes it very difficult for it to function. Requested Rivian document repair well & retain parts before work is completed.
The worst 2023 Rivian R1T problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Airbags14
- Driver assistance7
- Electrical7
- Brakes5
- Acceleration3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags14
- Driver assistance7
- Electrical7
- Brakes5
- Acceleration3
- Fuel system3
- Seats3
- Transmission3
- Visibility3
- Seat belts2
- Body1
- Lights1
- Steering1
- Wheels1
Recalls 8
Back over prevention: software
- What is wrong
- Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2027 R1S, 2022-2026 R1T, and 2027 R2 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be obstructed by a notification when in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1‑888‑748‑4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1866. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on on November 9, 2026.
Recall number 26V597000 · Recall details
Seat belts: rear/other: retractor
- What is wrong
- Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1T and 2022-2026 R1S vehicles. The bolts that secure the second-row driver and passenger side seat belt retractor assemblies may be improperly tightened.
- Risk
- An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Rivian will inspect and tighten the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 2, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1‑888‑748‑4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1795.
Recall number 26V009000 · Recall details
Suspension: critical fasteners
- What is wrong
- Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1S and R1T vehicles that previously had service performed. The toe link may have been reassembled incorrectly during service procedures performed before March 10, 2025.
- Risk
- The toe link joint may separate, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Rivian will replace the rear toe link bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1‑888‑748‑4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1794. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning February 24, 2026.
Recall number 26V003000 · Recall details
Seat belts: front: anchorage
- What is wrong
- Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1T and R1S vehicles. The D-ring bolts for one or both front seat belt anchorage assemblies may not have been properly installed.
- Risk
- An improperly secured seat belt may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Rivian will inspect and properly secure the seat belt anchorage assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2025. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1‑888‑748‑4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1681.
Recall number 25V370000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2023 R1S and R1T vehicles. The maximum vehicle capacity weight value on the tire placard label is incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- Risk
- A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Rivian will mail owners a corrected overlay tire placard label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1‑888‑748‑4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1491.
Recall number 24V458000 · Recall details
Air bags: critical fasteners
- What is wrong
- Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2024 R1T and R1S vehicles. The attachment clips on the upper B-pillar and/or C-pillar trim panels may have been damaged during a service procedure.
- Risk
- Damaged pillar trim panel clips can result in improper side curtain air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Rivian will replace the pillar trim panels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 16, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1‑888‑748‑4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM 1464.
Recall number 24V408000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2023-2024 EDV, R1S, and R1T vehicles. The headlights may be improperly aimed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Improperly aimed headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, decreasing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Rivian will inspect and adjust the headlight alignment as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 28, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1‑888‑748‑4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1445.
Recall number 24V367000 · Recall details
Equipment: electrical: infotainment: software
- What is wrong
- Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2023 R1T and R1S vehicles. A software update may have deactivated the defroster and defogger system controls.
- Risk
- The inability to operate the windshield defrosting and defogging system can decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1‑888‑748‑4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1331.
Recall number 23V783000 · Recall details
See all 8 recalls for the 2023 Rivian R1T
Defect investigations
Rear Toe Link May Separate
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 jointâs 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 Rivianâs current toe link repair procedure, and (4) assess the in-field subject populationâs toe links conditions. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
PE26004
Technical service bulletins for the 2023 Rivian R1T 49
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2022-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that...
- Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2022-2024 R1T and R1S vehicles that...
- Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2022-2024 R1T and R1S vehicles that...
- Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2022-2024 R1 vehicles that may have...
- Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2022-2024 R1T and R1S vehicles that...
- Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2022-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that...
- Electrical system
- SMS Reminder sent to customers who had still open potential 12-volt failures.
- SMS sent to customers with potential 12-volt failure and advising need for replacement to avoid...
- Fuel/propulsion system
2023 Rivian R1T fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric motor Electric 352 mi range | 4WD | 80-82 | 71-74 | 76-78 MPGe |
| Electric motor Electric 328 mi range | AWD | 69-76 | 60-69 | 64-73 MPGe |
What 2023 Rivian R1T owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
In my recordings, the backup camera image took 6 to 11 seconds to appear after shifting into reverse. FMVSS 111 (S6.2.3) requires 2.0 seconds. It happens on software 2026.23 and newer, which is the fix software for Rivian recall 26V597. Crash: Around the end of August 2026 (I don't know the exact date), I was turning around in a parking lot in Stone Mountain, GA with a rooftop tent on the truck. I shifted into reverse, the backup camera image never came up on the center screen, and the truck backed into a pole at under 3 mph. The rear bumper and tailgate were damaged. I recorded it on September 24, 2026: 1. Shifted from Park to Reverse. The center screen showed a Loading spinner and no camera image for about 10.8 seconds. 2. Already in Reverse when I started recording. The truck was rolling backward at 2 mph while the center screen was blank. The camera image first appeared about 6 seconds into the recording. Frame-by-frame stills are attached. A link to both videos is in the attached PDF. Software: Rivian told me the truck was on 2026.23.0 at the time of the crash. It is on 2026.31.0 now. Recall 26V597 says R1 software before 2026.23 is affected, and it describes a stability control message covering the camera image. What I see is a Loading spinner or a blank screen, which the recall does not describe. I sent both videos to Rivian on September 24. On October 9 Rivian told me the truck was operating normally, said it could not retrieve data from the time of the crash, and denied the claim. Other owners have reported slow or blank Rivian backup cameras in complaints 11769071, 11768828 and 11765681.
After Build 2026.31.0·010c8e12 software was installed the camera stitch and angles display has changed. Objects at or near the four corners of the vehicle are no longer showing on screen. Objects can be at a height to damage the vehicle, but not trigger on the sonic sensors. Additionally, parking spot lines are doubled and curved when reversing, leading to potential driver confusion.
The 12v battery died in less than 3 years. Rivian replaced at cost over $500. Unacceptable. Their new battery only warrenty for 2 years.
I was driving to a restaurant and out of nowhere started hearing this metal-on-metal sound 1/4 mile before I got there. I pulled into the parking lot and it kept getting worse, so I called Rivian to tow the car. They confirmed it was a hub and shaft bolt that came loose. I have video of the sound it made if needed. The Rivian technicians took the pictures that I am uploading here.
On multiple occasions I have experienced the defrost feature of my 2023 Rivian R1T blowing cool air instead of warm or hot air, leading to a build up of ice on the windshield while driving. I have brought this concern to Rivian's attention with two service appointments, both of which resulted in Rivian noting they couldn't see any errors in the vehicle's diagnostic logs. I specifically noted the date, time, and temperature of one event but Rivian failed to copy the log data when requested. The issue is trivially reproducible in temperatures around 32ºF, when the defrost mode is enabled. Tapping the defrost/defog button on screen twice to enable defrost mode results in the vehicle selecting the vents for floor and windshield heat, speeds the fan to near maximum, and is supposed to blow hot air to aid in clearing built up ice. Instead what happens is the vents blow cool air for several minutes at maximum fan speed. Then the fan motors slow to their slowest speed at which time the vents blow slightly warm air After 5-10 minutes the fans speed up to maximum and the air coming from the vents is cool. When the vehicle was initially purchased, the defrost feature blew air hot enough to nearly be uncomfortable on the face. This is very much in line with any other vehicle I have owned when the defrost temperature and fan speed was set the maximum. But after an end of year update in 2024 or early 2025, the defrost feature began blowing cooler air and has never regained its original ability to clear the windscreen. The winter of 2025 and early 2026 has now resulted in this complaint. Rivian maintains the system is functioning as expected, but the service center staff doesn't quite seem to understand the severity of the issue. They claim a bug report can not be filed with Rivian until they capture an error in diagnostic data that they repeatedly fail to collect. Instead their advice is to enable cabin vents to warm the cabin instead of the windshield.
No changes to the car happened before the airbag system went out.
When it rains, or water is allowed to collect on top of the roof, water seeps in through the hinges of the driver and passenger sun visors. Depending on how much water is allowed to collect, it can trickle in or gush right inside the interior of the vehicle. Not only can it come in thru the sun visor hinges, but water also came out of my center roof console where my hazards and SOS button are at, causing me to worry about a water + electricity issue. Furthermore, the water obviously gets the carpeted floor wet. My truck is in the Van Nuys Rivian service center for the 2nd time for this issue. This is a well known issue on Rivian forums and on the Rivian subreddit.
My truck was recently upgraded to software version 2050.38.0. After the upgrade, I drove my truck about 3 miles in about 5 minutes. When I arrived at my destination, I exited the truck to get something out of the rear seat. The rear door was locked; this is normal. I returned to the front seat to unlock the door via the control panel, but the unlock function did not work. The button is in the center touchscreen of the truck. I check the screen on the center console. It appeared the unlock button was disabled due to the information screen from the code update. This screen was not there when I exited the truck. After I acknowledged the screen, the unlock button was working. If I were trying to unlock the doors due to an emergency, this delay would be an issue. I feel the unlock door button should always work. Disabling the button for a verification screen is a safety hazard.
The vehicle’s Driver+ advanced driver assistance system (including Adaptive Cruise Control and Highway Assist) repeatedly failed during normal highway driving. The system would display “Driver Assistance Features Unavailable – Service Soon” and immediately disable all assisted-driving functions, even in clear weather and well-marked lanes. This occurred intermittently from approximately 1,200 miles onward and continued for over a year despite multiple repair attempts by the manufacturer’s service centers. The malfunction directly affected safe operation, as the system could disengage without warning at highway speeds, forcing sudden driver intervention. The issue was reproduced and documented by the manufacturer’s technicians during at least one service visit, which resulted in replacement of the vehicle’s driver-assistance computer. The failure continued even after that replacement. The vehicle has been inspected and serviced numerous times by the manufacturer, with diagnostics performed on the cooling system, cameras, sensors, and ADAS module. Each repair attempt either failed to duplicate or failed to permanently correct the defect. The safety risk is loss of Adaptive Cruise Control and Highway Assist functions while driving, unexpected disengagement of automated steering/braking, and lack of reliable warning timing to the driver. Warning messages appeared frequently throughout 2024–2025, beginning within the first few months of ownership. The defect remains unresolved and appears systemic rather than isolated to this vehicle.
Compare the 2023 Rivian R1T
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Questions about the 2023 Rivian R1T
Is the 2023 Rivian R1T reliable?
Owners have filed 41 complaints about the 2023 Rivian R1T, 4.1 times a typical R1T model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Rivian R1T?
Airbags, with 14 complaints. Next is driver assistance (7).
How many recalls does the 2023 Rivian R1T have?
8 recalls, covering back over prevention, seat belts and suspension.
Was there a recall on the 2023 Rivian R1T airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 24V408000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Rivian R1T get?
The 2023 Rivian R1T is rated at 76-78 MPGe combined, with up to 352 miles of range.
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