2025 Rivian R1T: What to check before buying

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the steering. The 6 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.

2025

Owner complaints: 8
Recalls: 8
Crashes reported: 0
Reliability: Good; 65/100 on Auto Reliability Index

Your inspection sheet

Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.

0/6 checked

Paperwork and questions

Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2

01Confirm the 8 recalls listed below show as completed for this VIN. A Rivian dealer can look them up for free.
02Ask for service records and look for repeated alignments, which point to an alignment that will not hold.

Walk-around and cabin

Engine off, key in hand0/1

03Turn slowly at full lock in both directions and listen for creaking from the front suspension.

Cold start, engine bay, and underside

Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1

04Have a shop inspect the front passenger suspension clevis mount and confirm it is fully welded to the frame.

Test drive

At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2

05Drive on a straight, level road with a light grip and check whether the truck drifts left.
06Drive over rough or uneven pavement and feel for the steering wheel jerking or the truck darting sideways.

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.

Reported on neighboring R1T years

Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.

2024 R1T

7 owner complaints

Worth adding to your 2025 checks

Test for steering wheel shake above 20mph.
Inspect door alignment and check for excessive wind noise.
Verify functionality of horn.

Open the 2024 checklist

2023 R1T

35 owner complaints

Airbags 14
Electrical 4
Transmission 3

Worth adding to your 2025 checks

Seat your lightest regular passenger up front, have them shift position while driving, and watch the Passenger Airbag Off light.
Have a shop check both front half shafts and CV axle bolts for looseness or signs of repeat repairs.
Check the headliner, sun visor hinges, overhead console, and carpet for water stains or dampness.

Open the 2023 checklist

Which R1T is it?

EPA figures for each version of the 2025 Rivian R1T. 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	4WD	371–420 mi range

With a full charge, the range estimate on the dash should land near the EPA figure of 371–420 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 2025 Rivian R1T, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.

Steering2No crashes
Pulling to the left and failing to track straight on any surface are the main problems in the 2 complaints on file. One report also describes bump steer over uneven pavement and an alignment that will not stay in spec, even after 3 alignments done within a short distance of each other. The other report traces creaking noises in the cab during turns to a front passenger suspension clevis mount that was missing its weld to the frame. A truck that wanders or reacts to bumps needs constant steering correction to stay in its lane. Neither report mentions a crash or fire.

In owners' own words

Excerpts from complaints R1T owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.

Steering

The manufacturer service tech advised that the clevis mount holding the front passenger suspension in place was missing a weld to the frame (the attached work order says it was re-welded, but when asked they said the weld was missing). This resulted in creaking noises through the cab when turning.

Filed with NHTSA, February 2026

How the 2025 compares with other R1T years

Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.

The 2025 ranks second for owner complaints among 3 R1T years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.

2025 Average of other years

Steering20

Recalls to confirm (8)

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.
25V585000ElectricalSep 2025
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles operating a software version prior to 2025.18.30. The Hands-Free Highway Assist (HWA) software may fail to correctly identify a lead vehicle.
Risk: Failure to detect another vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1744.
25V537000ElectricalAug 2025
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles. An improperly grounded connection inside the High Voltage Distribution Box (HVDB) may cause a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Rivian will inspect and repair the HVDB ground strap joint or replace the high voltage battery pack as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1723.
25V387000Exterior lightsJun 2025
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1S and R1t vehicles. One or both front turn signals may fail to illuminate and flash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.".
Risk: Turn signals that do not function properly, failing to indicate the driver's intention to change direction, increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Rivian will inspect and replace the front turn signals as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2025. Owners will receive a second notice once the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1693.
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.
25V085000Exterior lightsFeb 2025
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles. The headlight low beams may fail to illuminate when starting the vehicle in cold weather. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.".
Risk: Headlight failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Rivian will replace the headlight control modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2025. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1612.
24V827000ElectricalNov 2024
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025 R1T and R1S vehicles. Software version 2024.39.30 may prevent certain exterior lights from turning on when the Car Costume feature is activated.
Risk: Deactivated exterior lighting reduces the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, 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 18, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1552.

Also looking at these instead of a R1T?

Cars shoppers compare with the Rivian R1T, with their own 2025 checklists.

2025 owner complaints, side by side