Jun 12, 2026Transmission & drivetrainFuel system
PROPULSION FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED — KNOWN DEFECT — NHTSA MFR COMMS XXX & XXX VEHICLE: 2026 Rivian R1S Dual Standard, VIN [XXX], LFP battery. Delivered XXX. 702 miles at incident. INCIDENT XXX: Complete unwarned propulsion failure on [XXX] at highway speed. Dashboard showed 8% SOC immediately before failure — no warning, no alert. Vehicle lost all propulsion 5 miles from nearest charger. Stranded 7 hours. $225 out-of-pocket towing/transport costs. DEFECT: Rivian Hudson NH service (WO-000002294461, INV_20260608-150458) confirmed 13% HV battery cell capacity imbalance via diagnostics — dashboard SOC reading does not reflect actual cell capacity. Factory pre-delivery calibration defect. Firmware update performed; HV battery hardware NOT replaced. Defect unresolved. RIVIAN'S PRIOR NHTSA FILINGS: Before my May 2026 delivery, Rivian filed mandatory EWR communications acknowledging this exact defect: - Mfr Comm 11026123: SMS warning owners range "will drop fast below 20% SOC" and to "stay above 20% SOC until issue resolved." - Mfr Comm XXX (112425_SOCImbalance_Email, Nov 24 2025): Email describing progressive range inaccuracy below 20% SOC. Component: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. Both appear on NHTSA 2026 R1S vehicle page. NON-DISCLOSURE: Neither communication was disclosed at sale (May 18) or delivery (May 22, 2026). Rivian sold this vehicle with a known active propulsion defect without informing me. Calibration-complete confirmation was never sent to this VIN. REQUEST: I ask ODI to assess whether this constitutes a safety defect requiring recall under 49 USC 30118, and whether Rivian's continued sale of LFP vehicles after these filings without disclosing the 20% SOC limitation warrants investigation. BBB Auto Line Case XXX active. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI 11743765
Jun 12, 2026Fuel system
SUPPLEMENTAL COMPLAINT — This filing supplements VOQ No. XXX filed XXX for the same vehicle and incident. The original complaint contained factual inaccuracies that this filing corrects. PROPULSION FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED — KNOWN DEFECT — NHTSA MFR COMMS 11026123 & 11026124 VEHICLE: 2026 Rivian R1S Dual Standard, VIN [XXX], LFP battery. Delivered XXX. ~700 miles at incident. INCIDENT XXX: Navigation showed 8% SOC buffer on arrival at destination 5 miles away — active system assurance of sufficient range. Simultaneous audible alarm and dashboard warning then fired with approximately 15-20 seconds to act at ~60 mph on busy [XXX]. Emergency pull-over executed under extreme time pressure. Complete propulsion loss on highway shoulder. ~80°F. Rivian Roadside quoted 3-hour response; independently hired private tow. Approximately 45 minutes after stall, 12V battery died and hazard lights failed — disabled vehicle on live busy interstate shoulder with no hazard lights in 80° heat. Zero residual power. Towed to West Gardiner Service Plaza. 4 hours on highway shoulder, 3 hours at rest area. $225 out-of-pocket (tow + Lyft). DEFECT: Rivian Hudson NH service (WO-XXX, INV_XXX) confirmed 13% HV battery cell capacity imbalance — dashboard SOC does not reflect actual cell capacity. Factory calibration defect. Firmware update only; HV hardware NOT replaced. Defect unresolved. PRIOR NHTSA FILINGS: Before my May 2026 delivery Rivian filed mandatory EWR communications: - Mfr Comm XXX: warned owners of fast range drop below 20% SOC, instructed to stay above 20%. - Mfr Comm XXX (Nov 24 2025): described progressive inaccuracy below 20% SOC. Component: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. Both on NHTSA 2026 R1S vehicle page. NON-DISCLOSURE: Neither filing disclosed at sale/delivery May 22 2026. Calibration-complete confirmation never sent to this VIN. BBB Auto Line Case XXX active. VOQ XXX filed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI 11743785