2025 Rivian R1S

Other Systems

The 2025 Rivian R1s has generated 6 NHTSA complaints 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: “On November 8, 2025, at approximately 8:23 p.m., the rear liftgate of my Rivian R1S activated via the Rivian mobile app without my intentional command. The vehicle was stationary at the time. The liftgate opened and struck an overhead obstruction. Rivian has stated that the liftgate was initiated through the mobile app and that the system operated as designed. However, this suggests that the app or vehicle may permit unintended remote activation without adequate safeguards to confirm user intent or prevent activation in confined environments. If the liftgate can be triggered inadvertently (for example, through unintended screen interaction or background app state), this presents a foreseeable safety hazard. In garages, parking structures, or tight spaces, unintended activation could cause bodily injury to a person standing behind the vehicle, including a child, or result in property damage. Remote vehicle functions should include appropriate confirmation, or other safeguards to reduce the risk of unintended activation. I am submitting this complaint to document a potential safety design concern involving unintended remote liftgate activation.” (NHTSA Complaint #11717397)

Exterior Lighting

The 2025 Rivian R1s has generated 6 NHTSA complaints 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: “During an early season wet snow storm within minutes of driving the lights had become covered with snow and deflected the light in such a way that created a very unsafe driving environment. There was zero snow on the road because of it not being cold enough to stick but the deflection of the light and limited light on the road it was nearly impossible to see the road markings and lines to stay in the lane and created a very unsafe environment around me requiring me to drive significantly lower to try to stay on the road which could have caused an accident with other drivers who were not driving as slowly. There are a significant amount of reports of incidents like this across multiple forum platforms (ie: reddit) where drivers of the Rivian have indicated a drive that was very unsafe and something they had never experienced before. Rivian needs to create a retrofit to the existing headlamp that has a heating element of something to continue to melt the snow off the light as driving since the truck face is flat and the LEDs do not conduct enough heat to melt snow as driving.” (NHTSA Complaint #11693231)

Visibility/Wiper

The 2025 Rivian R1s has generated 3 NHTSA complaints 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: “Component/System: Visibility – Windshield. Was replaced in January 2026, not available for inspection. Pictures attached, doesn’t include largest/spider crack on bottom of windshield that was 16″ Summary of the Problem: I have experienced six separate windshield failures (cracks and chips) within the first eight months of owning my 2025 Rivian R1S. The most recent windshield was replaced by Rivian, and within five days the new glass developed an 7‑inch crack from an impact. The frequency and severity of these failures are far beyond normal road‑debris damage and strongly suggest a systemic defect in the windshield glass, installation method, or vehicle structure. Detailed Description of the Incidents: • Six cracks or chips occurred on the original windshield between the delivery date of May 20, 2025 and six months of ownership. • The first and 2nd chip was repaired by Safelite, the 3rd chip unable to be fixed at same time due to location at edge of glass. • Several cracks originated without any visible impact point. • The replacement windshield, installed by Rivian Service on January 21, 2026, developed a long crack within five days of installation. • Original windshield replaced and I submitted claim through insurance. I have appointment to replace second windshield on 2/16/26. Service representative at Seattle service center stated “to be transparent with you, windshields are customer pay as they crack due to outside influence”. This is after detailing the previous five separate incidents with original windshield and that the new windshield developed a large crack within five days of install on 1/21/2026. • All cracks/chips appeared during normal driving conditions. • The pattern of failures indicates excessive fragility, potential stress cracking, or improper windshield seating/alignment. • Numerous other Rivian R1S and R1T owners have reported similar issues, suggesting a broader quality or design problem.” (NHTSA Complaint #11717398)

Steering

Steering defects can create unpredictable vehicle behavior and qualify as safety-related under California lemon law. Reported issues on the 2025 Rivian R1s include pulling, vibration, loss of power steering, and electronic steering warnings. 3 NHTSA complaints have been filed in this category. Owner reports include: “The Rivian R1S that I own pulls hard to the right when you accelerate and then pulls to the left when you decelerate. I took it for repair and Rivian realigned vehicle and confirmed everything is as it should be. This behavior is tied to the Rivian Stability control and when the stability control is deactivated the steering issue stops. The issue is a safety concern as it’s difficult to keep the vehicle in lane and straight with the stability control activated which turns to On each time you drive the car.” (NHTSA Complaint #11695067)

Body & Structure

The 2025 Rivian R1s has generated 2 NHTSA complaints 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: “vehicle was delivered without the driver door cable properly installed, resulting no manual way to exit the vehicle in the event of an emergency/ power failure.” (NHTSA Complaint #11684785)

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2025 Rivian R1s

The following 9 recalls have been issued for the 2025 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 2025 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 2025 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 2025 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.

2025 Rivian R1s Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2025 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 2025 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.