why the government is investigating rivians rear suspensionRivian's R1S SUV and R1T pickup are now under federal investigation after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary probe into a potential rear suspension defect.The investigation focuses on certain Rivian R1 vehicles after reports that a rear toe link could separate, potentially causing the vehicle to swerve unexpectedly. According to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, a separated rear toe link may have already contributed to one crash involving another vehicle and a roadside barrier.The probe began after federal investigators received two owner complaints involving left-rear toe link separation on 2023 and 2024 Rivian R1S models. In both cases, investigators found fractured bolts tied to the toe link assembly. NHTSA is now reviewing repair records, onboard video, photos of damaged parts, and a police accident report as part of the investigation.AdvertisementAdvertisementRivian, however, says its own data does not point to a defect in the toe link joint itself.why the government is investigating rivians rear suspension"Vehicle safety is a top priority at Rivian," a company spokesperson told Road & Track. "Rivian data indicates R1 toe link joints are operating as intended. We are cooperating with NHTSA's preliminary evaluation, but our internal investigation revealed that the two VOQs upon which NHTSA is basing this Preliminary Evaluation do not implicate the joint itself."The two vehicles involved reportedly had different histories before the failures. One had received prior service, while the other had undergone third-party repairs after a collision. NHTSA noted that both vehicles had been driven for thousands of miles afterward without obvious warning signs before the suspension issue appeared.This is not the first time Rivian has addressed rear toe link concerns.why the government is investigating rivians rear suspensionThe company issued an internal service bulletin in March 2025 related to toe link joint sensitivity, then recalled nearly 20,000 R1T and R1S vehicles in January 2026 over service procedures that may have left rear toe links improperly reassembled. Regulators estimated only about one percent of the recalled population would actually experience the condition.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe new NHTSA investigation will examine how sensitive the rear toe link joint is to real-world road conditions, previous service work, and repair procedures. Investigators will also compare the damaged components from the two complaints and evaluate whether Rivian's current repair process adequately addresses the concern.For now, this is a preliminary evaluation, not a recall expansion. But given the safety implications of a rear suspension component separating at speed, Rivian owners will want to pay close attention.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
+27 others
