The first electric pickup truck hit by its largest recall ever
Engineering an all-new vehicle from the ground up is difficult. Rivian spent over eight years perfecting its R1T before launching the first mass-produced electric pickup truck. But there have been inevitable bugs. And now, Rivian is announcing its largest electric truck recall ever, affecting 17,260 of its 2025 R1T pickup trucks and R1S SUVs (Reuters).
The problem: Rivian electric truck’s headlights can fail in cold weather
Rivian has announced that “one or more headlamps, when operated in cold temperature conditions, may not illuminate at vehicle startup” due to “incorrectly configured parts from a supplier” (Rivian recall notice). That means drivers could lose visibility in freezing weather, increasing the risk of a crash.
The recall covers R1T and R1S models built between April 29, 2024, and February 3, 2025.
The fix: free headlight module replacement
Rivian is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition. But with 17,260 vehicles potentially affected, the company is taking no chances. Owners will receive notices via first-class mail, instructing them to bring their vehicles to a Rivian Service Center for a free repair.
Rivian advises that if a vehicle shows signs of the defect, owners should “contact our service support team at 1-855-748-4265 to schedule an appointment” (Rivian support center).
Not Rivian’s first big electric truck recall
This is Rivian’s biggest recall ever, but it’s far from the only one. Previous recalls include:
- November 2022 – 12,212 vehicles recalled due to loose steering knuckle fasteners that could cause a loss of control (Edmunds).
- April 2023 – 12,716 vehicles recalled over a front passenger seat belt defect that could impact airbag deployment (Automotive Dive).
- February 2024 – 7,873 vehicles recalled for an accelerator pedal issue that could prevent the car from engaging auto-hold or park (KBB).
A sign of Rivian’s growth
While this is Rivian’s largest recall yet, it doesn’t reflect a drop in build quality—it reflects Rivian’s increased production to meet rising demand. Earlier recalls impacted a higher percentage of Rivians on the road, but back then, production was still ramping up. Now, Rivian is producing more vehicles than ever. And while this recall affects only 2025 model year vehicles, it’s still the company’s biggest yet. So, go Rivian! Good to see an innovative American automaker pushing forward.
