Rivian hits a new snag: nearly 115,000 EVs face scrutiny over the risk of veering off course

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The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary investigation into 114,922 Rivian electric vehicles. The probe covers the R1S and R1T models, which may suffer from an issue affecting a rear suspension component.

At the center of the matter is the rear toe link, the part that controls rear wheel alignment. The Office of Defects Investigation received two owner complaints describing how the left rear toe link separated while the vehicle was in motion. Both cars then veered sharply across several lanes. In one case, the incident ended with a collision involving another vehicle and a roadside barrier.

For a large electric SUV and pickup, this is an especially unpleasant scenario. The Rivian R1S and R1T are heavy, powerful machines that often see duty far beyond city streets, on rough roads where suspension loads run higher. If the joint loses strength or proves sensitive to road conditions and service work, the problem quickly escalates beyond a routine warranty claim.

NHTSA will assess how well the toe link joint holds up under foreseeable road and service conditions. The regulator will also review Rivian’s current repair procedure for this component. The company did not respond promptly to a Reuters request for comment.

There is already a backstory. In January, Rivian recalled nearly 20,000 previously serviced R1S and R1T vehicles in the U.S. due to incorrect reassembly of the same component. The regulator said at the time that the automaker would replace the bolts free of charge.

This is not yet a full recall, only a preliminary evaluation. But for Rivian the timing stings: the brand has built its reputation on durability, off-road capability and technology, and the suspension is precisely the area where buyers will not forgive an EV’s «teething problems».