by Rivian Announces Recall Due to Seat Belt Issue
American electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has initiated a recall of 869 R1T and R1S model vehicles in the United States. The reason is a potential issue with the bolt of the second-row seat belt tensioner, which may be insufficiently tightened or completely missing.
This is already the second recall related to seat belts in the last two months. The previous campaign concerned nearly 35,000 electric delivery vans, while the current one involves a smaller number of the company’s own passenger models, specifically the Rivian R1T from model years 2022-2025 and the Rivian R1S from 2022-2026.
What is the Danger
According to the company, during production, the bolt for the second-row seat belt tensioner may have been installed incorrectly. If it is not sufficiently secured, the tensioner may not perform its function during a collision, increasing the risk of injury to passengers seated in the rear on the driver’s or passenger’s side.
In some cases, owners may notice a rattling sound coming from the area of the left or right C-pillar. As it turns out, this could be an early sign that the seat belt tensioner was not securely fixed in place.
Scale of the Problem and Manufacturer’s Response
Overall, the recall affects 434 R1T pickups manufactured from September 15, 2021, to April 10, 2025, and 435 R1S SUVs assembled from May 9, 2022, to May 15, 2025.
Rivian reports that no accidents or injuries related to this defect have been recorded to date. The company first noticed the problem on September 16, 2025, when a technician discovered a loose tensioner during scheduled maintenance of an R1T. After months of monitoring, Rivian states that it has not identified additional defective units but has still decided to conduct the recall as a preventive measure.
Next Steps
Owners of the affected vehicles will receive recall notifications starting March 9. To fix the issue, Rivian will properly secure the seat belt tensioner assembly in all problematic vehicles free of charge.
It is important to note that this recall is not related to the previous issue discovered in the EDV vans. In that case, the cause was repeated misuse, where the seat belt pretensioner mechanism could be damaged if the driver sat on a buckled seat belt.
Similar initiatives by automakers, especially young companies working with innovative technologies, are part of the process of establishment and quality improvement. The quick identification of a potential problem even in the absence of incidents and the willingness to fix it free of charge indicate a responsible approach to customer safety. For owners of Rivian electric pickups and SUVs, this is also a reminder of the importance of paying attention to any unusual sounds in the cabin, as they can be an indicator of technical faults requiring attention.
