AI Damage2025 Rivian R1S: common problems
Owners of the 2025 Rivian R1S filed 55 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and exterior lighting. The maker issued 27 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 55
- involving a crash
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 27
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 16% of all complaints
- 3 Forward collision avoidance 16% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 15% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 13% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 9 complaints (16% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Exterior lighting: 9 complaints (16% of all).
- Forward collision avoidance: 9 complaints (16% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 8 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 7 complaints (13% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- electric
- automatic, 1-speed
Drive: 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 55 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Lane departure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The vehicle's Automatic Emergency Braking system did not engage, and no forward collision warning was displayed, before I struck the vehicle ahead. I applied the brakes manually only after impact. No injuries occurred.
The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact and her daughter, along with one of the passengers, were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The contact sustained minor injuries: abrasions and cuts on her forehead.
The contact stated that while attempting to reverse out of a driveway with the brake pedal still engaged, the vehicle lurched forward, crashing into the vehicle that was parked in front of her, with the entire front end of the vehicle.
13,500 miles), the vehicle was at a complete stop when it began to slowly roll forward on its own, followed by a sudden surge of acceleration, despite no input on the accelerator. This unexpected movement caused the vehicle to collide with [dealer] front and involved another two vehicles.
Rivian's new Ghostbusters Halloween promotion, developed in partnership with Sony Pictures, repeatedly takes over a substantial portion of my vehicle's central touchscreen.
CDT, while traveling on Interstate 30 between Greenville and Royse City, Texas, my 2025 Rivian R1S Gen 2 experienced sustained unintended acceleration in an active construction zone with concrete barriers and no immediate safe exit.
Safety defect involving exterior rearview mirrors on Rivian R1S I am reporting a recurring and worsening safety issue involving the exterior rearview mirrors on my Rivian R1S Gen 2. Both side mirrors repeatedly lose their saved positions without driver input.
Since the first week of ownership, the vehicle has exhibited persistent pulling, drifting, and handling instability requiring constant steering correction. I have brought the vehicle to Rivian Tampa for five service visits over five months. The defect has never been resolved.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,078 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).
On average one model year of the R1S has 28 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 55, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Rivian is initiating a customer satisfaction campaign for some model year 2025-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles…
Rivian is initiating a customer satisfaction campaign for some model year 2025-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that may be susceptible to windshield washer fluid leaking from the front fascia camera washer nozzle. The…
- Rivian is initiating a customer satisfaction campaign for some model year 2025 vehicles that may have a…
Rivian is initiating a customer satisfaction campaign for some model year 2025 vehicles that may have a loose or cross-threaded ground nut inside the instrument panel. Affected vehicles may not be able to turn on, may…
- 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 2022-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that might have an audible rattle originating from the B-pillar area when driving on rough road surfaces. Upon…
- Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2025-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that…
Rivian is launching a technical service bulletin for some model year 2025-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that were manufactured with exterior door handles that, under some conditions, could squeak when the handles present…
- 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 2022-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles that may be prone to noise and/or vibration from the door areas, particularly buzzing and rattling sounds. This…
- Rivian is initiating a customer satisfaction campaign for some model year 2025 R1T and R1S vehicles that…
Rivian is initiating a customer satisfaction campaign for some model year 2025 R1T and R1S vehicles that are susceptible to water contaminating the refrigerant system. Water contamination may cause premature failure of…
- Rivian is launching a Rivian Service Bulletin for some model year 2025-2026 R1T and R1S vehicles
These vehicles may have been built with a visible gap at the front of the wireless charging mat, resulting in a perceived quality issue. Upon customer complaint of a gap at the front of the wireless charging mat…
- SMS sent to LFP owners impacted by SOC Imbalance alerting them that their efforts have resolved their HV…
SMS sent to LFP owners impacted by SOC Imbalance alerting them that their efforts have resolved their HV Battery Pack concern and may charge normally.
- Email informing customers that OTA 2025.46 is available to install
- Email informing customers of complementary DCFC
- Text message informing customers of possible level 2 charging issue and a strategy to precondition the…
Text message informing customers of possible level 2 charging issue and a strategy to precondition the battery, if necessary.
- Email informing customers of an upcoming OTA to improve level 2 charging experience in cold weather and a…
Email informing customers of an upcoming OTA to improve level 2 charging experience in cold weather and a strategy to precondition the battery, if necessary.
NHTSA lists 27 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Rivian R1S?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, exterior lighting, forward collision avoidance. Total complaints: 55. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: infotainment or screen glitches (13%), warning lights, check engine (13%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2025 Rivian R1S?
NHTSA lists 27 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2025 Rivian R1S from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2025 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.