2023 Rivian R1S: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the airbags, electrical, and steering. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023- Owner complaints
- 60
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes reported
- 7
- 2 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 Rivian R1S: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which R1S is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 Rivian R1S. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | AWD, 4WD | 321–352 mi range |
- With a full charge, the range estimate on the dash should land near the EPA figure of 321–352 miles. A much lower number on a mild day can mean a worn battery; ask for a battery health report.
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Rivian R1S, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Airbags26No crashes
The front passenger airbag switches off while an adult is seated. The screen flips to "Passenger Airbag Off" and passenger climate controls go dead, sometimes for long highway stretches. Light passengers around 105 to 110 pounds and very large ones are both affected. Pulling the seatbelt all the way out can also trigger it. Service centers often can't reproduce the problem or call it within spec, and repeated software updates have not fixed it. A separate group of reports describes an "Airbag System needs service" warning that keeps coming back after several part replacements.
Electrical112 crashes
Screens go black after a November 2023 software update, version 2023.42, which also knocked out HVAC, cameras, driver aids, and control of the lights and wipers. Two crash reports describe sudden acceleration while the brake was pressed. Other reports describe a critical battery warning followed by a full power loss in traffic with no hazard lights, and an unexpected shift into park that stalled the car on the road. Some owners report airbag faults that came back after several part replacements, along with long waits for service.
Steering41 crash
The vehicle can lunge sideways while the wheel is held straight, and one such report involved a crash that damaged a wheel and rim. The wheel can also drop when light weight is put on it, even over small bumps, and that problem continued after three column replacements. Loose steering rack bolts made the wheel sit off-center and pulled the car toward the center line. One report says a rear tire went nearly flat on the freeway with no low-pressure warning, and the car wandered within its lane.
Suspension21 crash
A suspension service fault shows up over speed bumps at low speed. It locks out ride-height modes and also disables blind spot sensors and cruise control, and restarts don't clear it for good. That report involved a crash with one injury. A separate failure is a front hub bolt backing out, which causes a loud grinding noise and unsteady handling and leaves the car undrivable until the hub bolt and axle are replaced. In that case the owner waited two months for service after first reporting grinding in turns.
Transmission21 crash
The vehicle can stop itself in traffic without warning. It shifts into park, turns on the hazards, fills the screen with warnings, and won't shift out, so it has to be towed. One report puts this at 2100 miles in a car about a month old. Another report blames an accelerator pedal defect for a crash that left one person dead and one injured, and the car is in police custody.
Brakes2No crashes
The parking brake can release on its own at startup. When this happens, 12-volt battery service warnings appear and the car starts to roll until the driver presses the brake. Owners point out the car can wake remotely, so this could happen unattended. A separate report describes door locks cycling by themselves and a burning smell from the vents during a long downhill run in rain with the defoggers on.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints R1S owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
They have set the sensors for the passenger airbag outside of the acceptable department standards. There are many instances where a person under 120 pounds does not activate the sensor and therefore the passenger airbag is not activated. I have notified the company on several occasions and not been given any response other than they are aware or it is working as intended. It is not worth someone getting hurt to create a response.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2023
Longstanding issue with R1S and R1T’s not recognizing a front passenger is present. Many reports in online forums regarding the same problem and ours does not even see a 6’4” 450lb passenger regularly. Other complainants are reporting feedback that it’s ‘within spec’, ‘it’s safer for smaller passengers’, and that ‘you need to sit in the seat properly’(?!). Please do something about this serious safety issue. Thanks.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2024
OTA update 2023.42 failed to install and left car without working screens, the only way to really manage the vehicle's settings. No formal communication until mid-afternoon next day, approximately 16+ hours after problem became known. Rivian stating vehicle can be driven without speedometer and working systems.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2023
Software update rolled out version 2023.42.0 and now the vehicle screen is black and HVAC does not work. It is unclear if any safety or airbag systems are operational. Cameras not working.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2023
Vehicle lunged to the right without any driver input. Damaged rim and wheel and could have hurt someone . Have never experienced anything like this in my life. Steering wheel was perfectly straight but vehicle lunges to the right. This is a safety issue.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2023
Steering wheel was angled when the car was going straight Vehicle felt unstable going into turns and would pull toward the center line in the road Upon inspecting underneath the vehicle, the steering rack bolts were loose and the rack moving side to side making the steering inconsistent and loose.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2023
How the 2023 compares with other R1S years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 has the most owner complaints of the 4 R1S years we cover, about 2.8 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Airbags261
- Electrical112
- Steering41
- Suspension21
- Transmission21
- Brakes20
Where the 2023 fits in the R1S's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the second model year of the R1S's first generation (2022–2023).
Recalls to confirm (9)
Recall repairs are free at any Rivian dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
26V009000Seat beltsJan 2026
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.
Fix: 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.
26V003000SuspensionJan 2026
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.
Fix: 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 NHTSA.gov beginning February 24, 2026.
25V370000Seat beltsJun 2025
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.
Fix: 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.
24V458000EquipmentJun 2024
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.
Fix: 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.
24V408000AirbagsJun 2024
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.
Fix: 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.
24V367000Exterior lightsMay 2024
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.
Fix: 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.
23V783000Wipers and visibilityNov 2023
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.
Fix: 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.
23V233000Exterior lightsMar 2023
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2023 R1S vehicles. The reverse light beam may not be visible from certain angles. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.".
Risk: Reduced visibility of the reverse lights increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Rivian will repair or replace the reverse lights, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2023. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-855-748-4265. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1216.
23V159000AirbagsMar 2023
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2023 R1S vehicles. The fasteners that secure the right and left side curtain air bags may be improperly secured.
Risk: Improperly secured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will secure or replace the side curtain air bags as necessary, free of charge. All owners have been notified and all vehicles will be repaired by March 15, 2023. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1185.
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