Total Complaints
9 filings
RIVIAN R1S · model year
2026 RIVIAN R1S
9 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2026RIVIANR1S carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2026 R1S is service brakes with 2 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch:emergency mechanical release (2) and forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2026 R1S. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
9
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH:EMERGENCY MECHANICAL RELEASE | 2 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS | 1 |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recalls (1)
26V00900015/01/2026
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1T and 2022-2026 R1S vehicles. The bolts that secure the second-row driver and passenger side seat belt retractor assemblies may be improperly tightened.
Recent Complaints
20260124CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was involved in an incident where the vehicle (R1S 2026) accelerated unexpectedly, struck the car in front of me and the brakes were unresponsive at the time. The car only stopped after crashing.
20260124CrashSERVICE BRAKES
I was involved in an incident where the vehicle (R1S 2026) accelerated unexpectedly, struck the car in front of me and the brakes were unresponsive at the time. The car only stopped after crashing.
20251231ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I have had siginificant issues with my new 2026 rivian R1S specifically based around two key areas: 1. inaccurate battery range reporting/capacity below 20% charge 2. inaccurate mapbox navigation. Those two issues combine to create a dangerous situation in extreme conditions for a vehicle specifically designed and marketed for off-road adventure (snow, rain, below freezing temperatures) and for large capacity (7 passengers). These two issues have left me and my family stranded three different times in remote locations in spite of our best efforts to keep the vehicle well charged and cross referencing navigation with other apps. I have taken the vehicle to Rivian service twice already and I was assured that the software update 38.30, but that is not the case. This left me stranded in Lone Pine, California where I had to abandon the vehicle and have it towed back to the Burbank service center and again near Mt. Shasta, California. Both were in December 2025, in sub-freezing c
20251229LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH:EMERGENCY MECHANICAL RELEASE
The access to open the rear doors in case of a power failure is complex and not practical or safe.
20251225LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH:EMERGENCY MECHANICAL RELEASE
I would like to file a safety concern regarding the vehicles rear doors. The manual latch is covered by a strong piece of plastic that cannot be opened in a quick emergency. I am very worried as I drive with family and I donât want them to potentially be stuck. The front doors have an easy manual latch right next to the electric door open button, and I would like to report this concern as the back doors should also have a manual latch just like the front. The current latches genuinely are difficult to open.
20251216CrashSERVICE BRAKES
The contact owned a 2026 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while at a red light and idled, the vehicle accelerated violently, and the vehicle was uncontrollable. The contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle and damaged the rear corner bumper of the other vehicle. The vehicle then crashed into a median strip where there was a 5-foot boulder. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into a five-foot boulder, and the vehicle was damaged. In addition, the contact stated that the failure occurred when the accelerator pedal was depressed while leaving from a red light stop sign. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact sustained bumps and bruises. In addition, the contact received whiplash to the right side of her neck and scratches from the air bag deploying. The contact's six-year-old granddaughter, who was seated in the rear seat, received no injuries. A Police report was fil
Mileage: 977
20251201CrashFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I am writing to report a serious safety incident involving my 2026 Rivian R1S. While I was slowly parking the vehicle, it suddenly experienced what appears to be unintended acceleration, causing the car to lunge forward uncontrollably and crash directly into my home. This resulted in significant property damage as well as injuries to the passengers inside the vehicle. Earlier in the drive, I had also reported experiencing electronic and system irregularities, which now seem potentially related to this failure. Given the severity of the incident and the concerning sequence of events
20251201CrashFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I am writing to report a serious safety incident involving my 2026 Rivian R1S. While I was slowly parking the vehicle, it suddenly experienced what appears to be unintended acceleration, causing the car to lunge forward uncontrollably and crash directly into my home. This resulted in significant property damage as well as injuries to the passengers inside the vehicle. Earlier in the drive, I had also reported experiencing electronic and system irregularities, which now seem potentially related to this failure. Given the severity of the incident and the concerning sequence of events
20251201CrashBACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
I am writing to report a serious safety incident involving my 2026 Rivian R1S. While I was slowly parking the vehicle, it suddenly experienced what appears to be unintended acceleration, causing the car to lunge forward uncontrollably and crash directly into my home. This resulted in significant property damage as well as injuries to the passengers inside the vehicle. Earlier in the drive, I had also reported experiencing electronic and system irregularities, which now seem potentially related to this failure. Given the severity of the incident and the concerning sequence of events
Compare 2026RIVIANR1S to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2026 RIVIAN R1S have?▼
The 2026 RIVIAN R1S has 9 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2026 RIVIAN R1S?▼
Yes, the 2026 RIVIAN R1S has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2026 RIVIAN R1S?▼
The most-complained component for the 2026 RIVIAN R1S is SERVICE BRAKES with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH:EMERGENCY MECHANICAL RELEASE and FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL.
Is the 2026 RIVIAN R1S safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.