NHTSA investigates Rivian over rear suspension failures on R1 models

The Story

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating how electric car maker Rivian services rear suspension components on its R1 vehicles after two owners reported losing control while driving. The probe focuses on the rear toe link, a critical part that helps keep the wheel straight, and will evaluate Rivian’s current repair procedures.

Key Facts

• The NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) said on Thursday that both vehicles had been previously serviced, with one having been in a collision before the work.
• Rivian first realized in March 2025 that the rear toe link had a “sensitivity to service procedures,” leading the company to update its handling of the part during service and repairs.
• The ODI investigation will examine how the toe link is sensitive to “foreseeable road and service conditions,” compare the two failure reports, evaluate Rivian’s repair procedure, and assess other 2023-2024 model-year R1 vehicles.
• Nearly 115,000 vehicles could be affected, the ODI said.
• Rivian in January 2026 recalled almost 20,000 vehicles that received toe link service “prior to the March 2025 improvement.”
• “Vehicle safety is a top priority at Rivian. Rivian data indicates R1 toe link joints are operating as intended,” Rivian stated. The company also said one of the vehicles was handled by a third-party repair facility.
• Both owners reported a sudden loss of control after a bolt on the toe link “fractured.” One driver lost control at highway speeds, swerved into another vehicle, and “collided head-on with the guardrail.” The other owner said their R1S “veered over adjacent lanes, over the bike path, onto the side walk and back onto the road and side walk.”
• The probe comes as Rivian is less than two weeks from starting deliveries of its R2 SUV and plans to add over 50 new service centers by the end of 2027.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified in the source article.

Still Unclear

No open questions identified in the source article.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.

Key Figures

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
• Rivian (company, no specific individuals named)

Sources: TechCrunch