2022 Rivian R1S

Air Bags,Seats

Airbag defects are safety-critical and may trigger California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22. The 2022 Rivian R1s has 2 NHTSA complaints on record related to airbag warning lights, unexpected deployment, and sensor failures. Owner reports include: “Passenger airbag sensor does not detect passenger reliably. My 13 year old son and my wife both have issues. They are both over 120 lbs, so I think they should trigger the sensor. I have had it serviced for this issue, but it did not fix the problem. It also will detect a person in the seat during a drive and turn off later in that same trip without stopping the car. It seems to me that the sensor needs to be more sensitive. And, once it detects a person in the seat, it should keep the airbag on until the car is stopped and door opened. My wife does not feel safe in the car as it stands now.” (NHTSA Complaint #11614813)

Seats

The 2022 Rivian R1s has generated 1 NHTSA complaint for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “In the R1S, there is a crossmember for the 3rd row seating. On low VIN vehicles, there appears to be a trend, including mine personally, that have crossmember bolts that were mis-installed during assembly and have disconnected the threaded inserts from the body and remain unscrewed and loose. This is a primary mounting point used to secure the seating in the vehicle. The service center confirmed that this has occurred and a video was provided to Rivian when requesting repair. (This video is no longer accessible in the app) Rivian’s stance is that contrary to online reports of similar issues on low VIN R1S vehicles and mine, this is caused by the end user. Given the number of occurrences, this appears to be a faulty installation issue from unskilled labor.” (NHTSA Complaint #11646688)

Forward Collision Avoidance,Lane Departure

Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2022 Rivian R1s has 1 NHTSA complaint for this defect type. Owner reports include: “On Monday, December 11, 2023 Myself, my girlfriend, and our two dogs were headed across the I-182 bridge coming out of Pasco, WA to Richland, WA. We were in the far left or center lane (I am not sure which). The highway is three lanes each way. We were at highway speed (the speed limit is 70 mph). About ¾ of the way across the bridge, the vehicle felt like all 4 wheels locked. The vehicle then skidded, turned 90 degree towards the concrete bridge barrier. We struck the bridge barrier nearly head on. The vehicle then rotated off the barrier and landed upright in the far right lane. Airbags fully deployed. There were numerous witnesses who reported seeing what looked like the vehicle’s wheels lock and then the events as described. No other cars were impacted. About 20 minutes prior to the crash I commented that the vehicle alignment was off. I had to keep the wheel at 10:00 or 11:00 for the vehicle to travel straight. I found that odd as the vehicle alignment was fine prior to that. Everyone walked away from the accident although both us were injured.” (NHTSA Complaint #11560132)

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2022 Rivian R1s

The following 12 recalls have been issued for the 2022 Rivian R1s by the NHTSA or Rivian. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.

California Lemon Law — Song-Beverly Act

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2022 Rivian R1s:

• 4+ repair attempts for the same non-safety defect without resolution
• 2+ repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
• 30+ calendar days out of service for warranty repairs (cumulative, not consecutive)

Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Rivian to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Rivian must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.

What You Can Recover

If your 2022 Rivian R1s qualifies as a lemon under California law, Rivian may be legally required to:

• Repurchase your vehicle — Full refund of your down payment, all monthly payments, registration fees, and incidental costs (towing, rentals), minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first repair attempt
• Replace your vehicle — Provide a new, comparable vehicle at no cost to you
• Pay your attorney’s fees — Under § 1794(d), Rivian pays all legal fees if you prevail
• Civil penalty up to 2x damages — If Rivian willfully violated the Act, courts may award double the actual damages

Steps to Protect Your 2022 Rivian R1s Claim

Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.

Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Rivian a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Rivian dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.

Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Rivian pays your fees if you win.

Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Rivian a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.

2022 Rivian R1s Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2022 Rivian R1s as a lemon?

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.

Does Rivian pay my attorney fees?

Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Rivian is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.

Can I file a lemon law claim without an active recall?

Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.

What is the time limit to file a lemon law claim for my 2022 Rivian R1s?

California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.