Rivian’s rear suspension is now a federal safety question

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary investigation into approximately 114,922 Rivian vehicles Today, examining whether a rear suspension component can fail in ways that cause drivers to lose control. The probe covers the company’s R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck and was triggered by two owner complaints describing the same part separating while the vehicles were in motion.

The component in question is the rear toe link, a suspension rod that connects the wheel hub to the vehicle chassis. Both complaints described the left rear toe link separating, causing the vehicle to swerve across multiple lanes of traffic. One of those incidents resulted in a collision with an adjacent vehicle and a roadside barrier.

What NHTSA will examine

The preliminary evaluation will assess how sensitive the rear toe link joint is to foreseeable road and service conditions. Investigators will also review Rivian’s current procedure for repairing the toe link and evaluate whether the existing protocol is adequate given the potential consequences of component failure at highway speeds.

A preliminary evaluation is the first formal step in the NHTSA investigation process. If the agency determines the issue warrants further scrutiny, it can escalate to an engineering analysis and ultimately request or mandate a recall.

Rivian’s position

Rivian said it is cooperating with NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation but pushed back on the agency’s characterization of the problem. The company said its internal data indicates the R1 toe link joints are operating as intended. It also said its own investigation found that the two owner complaints underlying the probe do not implicate the joint itself and suggested the incidents may have had a different cause.

Rivian did not elaborate publicly on what alternative cause its investigation identified.

The January recall and why it matters here

The federal probe arrives roughly five months after Rivian issued a recall in January covering nearly 20,000 previously serviced R1S and R1T vehicles in the United States. That recall was triggered by incorrectly assembled rear toe links in vehicles that had already been through a service procedure. Rivian agreed to replace the rear toe link bolts in those vehicles at no charge.

The new NHTSA investigation is broader in scope, covering vehicles regardless of whether they have been through that prior service. The proximity of the two actions, and the fact that both center on the same suspension component, raises questions about whether the January recall was sufficient to address the underlying issue or whether the problem extends beyond vehicles that received the specific service procedure.

What owners should know

NHTSA’s investigation does not constitute a recall and does not require any immediate action from Rivian owners. The agency’s process involves reviewing data, inspecting vehicles, and evaluating whether the complaint rate and severity justify further regulatory action.

Owners who experience unexpected vehicle movement, unusual handling behavior, or sounds associated with the rear suspension are able to submit reports directly to NHTSA through the agency’s website. The two complaints that triggered the current investigation were submitted through that self-reporting mechanism.

The probe covers all R1S and R1T vehicles included in the approximately 114,922 unit population identified by the agency. An estimated restoration timeline for the investigation was not provided. Preliminary evaluations typically take several months before the agency determines a next step.