Rivian recalls over 12,000 EVs over loose fastener that could affect steering

Rivian’s recalling 12,212 electrical vehicles (EVs) implicit a escaped fastener that could impact drivers’ quality to power the car (via CNBC). The callback affects astir each conveyance Rivian has produced this year, and spans the carmaker’s full lineup, covering definite 2022 R1T pickup trucks, R1S SUVs, arsenic good arsenic the electric transportation vans (EDVs) it's gathering for Amazon. Rivian produced a full of 14,317 vehicles successful the archetypal 3 quarters of 2022 and delivered implicit 12,000.

According to a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the fastener connecting the beforehand precocious power limb and steering knuckle whitethorn not person been “sufficiently torqued.” This could perchance effect successful separation, “causing a nonaccomplishment of conveyance power and expanding the hazard of a crash.” The safety report says drivers with affected vehicles whitethorn announcement excessive noise, vibration, harshness from the beforehand suspension, and a alteration successful steering show oregon feel.

“It’s important not to minimize the imaginable risks progressive and wherefore we are volunteering to behaviour this recall,” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe wrote successful an email to customers viewed by CNBC. “In uncommon circumstances, the seed could loosen fully. I privation to reiterate that this is highly rare, but it does reenforce wherefore we are acting with specified urgency and caution.”

Rivian issued the callback aft investigating 7 reports related to the defect, nary of which progressive immoderate injuries. The EV shaper says it volition decently unafraid the steering knuckle fasteners successful the vehicles affected by the callback astatine nary added cost. This is Rivian’s 2nd callback this year, with the institution recalling astir 500 R1T electrical pickups successful May owed to a faulty airbag strategy that whitethorn neglect to deactivate erstwhile detecting a kid successful the beforehand rider seat.

Update October 8th, 11:26AM ET: Updated the header and substance to clarify that the callback affects implicit 12,000 vehicles.