Rivian Recalls Thousands of Electric Vans Over Seat Belt Issue
Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has announced a recall of nearly 35,000 electric delivery vans (EDVs) in the US market following an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The issue concerns potential damage to the driver’s seat belt pretensioner.
Recall Details and Cause of the Problem
The recall covers vans manufactured from December 2021 to November 2025. According to the company, on some vehicles, the driver’s seat belt pretensioner may be damaged due to repeated misuse. This misuse includes situations where the driver may sit on a fastened seat belt that ends up underneath them.
If the pretensioner cable is damaged, it may not hold a person securely enough in a collision, increasing the risk of injury.
Rivian notes that while a damaged pretensioner may be noticeable to the driver in some cases, in others it may go unnoticed. Fortunately, the company reports that it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this defect.
Scale of the Problem and Manufacturer’s Response
The initial NHTSA investigation covered over 17,000 vans from the 2022 and 2023 model years; however, the final recall also includes 2024 and 2025 models, totaling 34,824 vehicles.
Rivian has already taken steps to address the issue. The company has released an over-the-air software update that enables automatic detection of driver’s seat belt misuse. Furthermore, the manufacturer commits to inspecting and, if necessary, replacing the driver’s seat belt pretensioner assembly free of charge. Owners who have already spent their own money to fix this defect will be reimbursed.
Model History and Its Clients
The electric delivery van was initially developed exclusively for Amazon, which ordered 100,000 such vehicles with plans to receive them by 2030. However, this vehicle, also known as the Electric Commercial Van (ECV), is now available for sale to other companies.
This recall serves as an important reminder that even seemingly minor driver habits can have serious technical consequences for vehicle safety. The manufacturer’s swift response, including a software update and free repair, demonstrates a modern approach to solving such problems in the era of connected cars. The successful deployment of electric commercial vans by major logistics companies like Amazon significantly raises the stakes for manufacturers in terms of reliability and safety, as each incident affects not only the brand’s reputation but also the operational efficiency of key clients.