2022 Rivian R1T

Other Systems

The 2022 Rivian R1t has generated 4 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: “HVAC dumping water into drivers side carpet, creating mold, mildew, and slippery carpet. Vehicle was at Rivian service center 2 weeks ago to address this and other issues. This problem continues. Not sure if water is also intruding into electrical areas.” (NHTSA Complaint #11684320)

Air Bags

Airbag defects are safety-critical and may trigger California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22. The 2022 Rivian R1t has 4 NHTSA complaints on record related to airbag warning lights, unexpected deployment, and sensor failures. Owner reports include: “The front passenger seat sensor does not respond to a 135lb 5’9” person resulting in the airbag being disabled. This has been an issue since we purcha…”

Forward Collision System

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 R1t has 4 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “Four to five events of phantom braking have occurred on rural roads under the following circumstances: 1) Opposing traffic temporarily erroneously appears to be in your travel lane because of road architecture. 2) Full size or larger vehicle or trailer parked along road in direction of travel. All of these phantom breaking events occur while driving on lightly traveled rural two lane roads. Personally, phantom braking has never occurred while driving on urban roads (wider with more vehicular traffic) or any two lane highways with or without a physical median divider irrespective of traffic volume.” (NHTSA Complaint #11574551)

Steering,Suspension

Steering defects can create unpredictable vehicle behavior and qualify as safety-related under California lemon law. Reported issues on the 2022 Rivian R1t include pulling, vibration, loss of power steering, and electronic steering warnings. 3 NHTSA complaints have been filed in this category. Owner reports include: “My vehicle is subject to an active safety recall involving a rear toe bolt that Rivian has identified as potentially shearing and causing loss of vehicle control and a crash. I am located in Ketchikan, Alaska. Rivian does not offer mobile or field service for this recall and requires the vehicle to be transported to either Anchorage or Seattle for repair. Transport to Anchorage is not possible, and while transport to Seattle is possible, there is no viable or predictable way to return the vehicle to my location, potentially leaving me without my primary vehicle for several months. Rivian has stated they will not cover transport and has not provided a feasible alternative. This leaves me without reasonable access to a safety recall remedy and effectively requires me to either operate a vehicle with a known safety defect or surrender it indefinitely. I am reporting this as a lack of reasonable access to a safety recall repair.” (NHTSA Complaint #11716708)

Steering

Steering defects can create unpredictable vehicle behavior and qualify as safety-related under California lemon law. Reported issues on the 2022 Rivian R1t include pulling, vibration, loss of power steering, and electronic steering warnings. 3 NHTSA complaints have been filed in this category. Owner reports include: “The inner left tie rod in my truck bent and then completely snapped while I was backing out of my driveway. The tie rods are available for inspection. I was unable to steer the vehicle after the tie rod broke, and the vehicle was unable to reverse or move forward. I could’ve crashed on the side of the road had I gone at higher speeds. The problem has not been reproduced, but has been confirmed at the Rivian service center. The vehicle and components have been inspected by a Rivian service technician. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure. They first appeared after I attempted to back out of my driveway at a very low speed (less than 5mph).” (NHTSA Complaint #11520686)

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2022 Rivian R1t

The following 11 recalls have been issued for the 2022 Rivian R1t 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 R1t:

• 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 R1t 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 R1t 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 R1t Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2022 Rivian R1t 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 R1t?

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.