2022-2023 Rivian R1S Back Up Lights Recall (23V233)

Recall 23V233 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2022-2023 Rivian R1S in recall 23V233?

The reverse light beam may not be visible from certain angles.

Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2023 R1S vehicles. The reverse light beam may not be visible from certain angles. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Is it safe to drive a 2022-2023 R1S with recall 23V233?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Reduced visibility of the reverse lights increases the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Reduced visibility of the reverse lights increases the risk of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your R1S shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the back up lights, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V233?

Recall 23V233 covers 5,030 vehicles: 2022-2023 Rivian R1S.

NHTSA lists 5,030 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the R1S back up lights recall?

Yes. Rivian will repair or replace the reverse lights, free of charge.

Rivian will repair or replace the reverse lights, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2023. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-855-748-4265. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1216.

When was recall 23V233 announced?

Rivian Automotive, LLC reported recall 23V233 to NHTSA on March 31, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 12, 2023.

This recall was filed 42 months ago. If your R1S was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my R1S is part of recall 23V233?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V233 is open on your R1S, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2022-2023 R1S vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should R1S owners do about recall 23V233?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V233000 applies to your R1S.
2. Call a Rivian dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the back up lights happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are R1S owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the lighting and visibility.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the lighting and visibility have been filed since recall 23V233 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 81 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the lighting and visibility. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2023 Rivian R1S: 75 complaints in total, 1 about the lighting and visibility
• 2022 Rivian R1S: 6 complaints in total, 0 about the lighting and visibility

A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):

Rivian pushed a software update to owners on the evening of 11/13/2023. This update made the driver information and infotainment screens non-functional and also disabled all driver saftey aids and any ability to turn exterior lights or windshield wipers off or on.

2023 Rivian R1S owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11555051, filed November 14, 2023

Can recall 23V233 make my R1S a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Owners often ask whether this back up lights recall means their R1S qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Lighting and visibility defects, such as headlights that fail, wipers that stop or mirrors that do not work, reduce your ability to see and be seen. They are often electrical, and they often come back.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V233