Rivian says it received a batch of bad seatbelt sensors that could cause its passenger vehicles to become confused about the status of the front passenger seat. The fault could mean that front seat passengers aren’t protected by airbags.
Rivian has, therefore, initiated a recall campaign involving a total of 12,716 model year 2022 R1S SUVs and R1T pickup trucks. These electric vehicles were produced between September 10, 2021 and September 15, 2022.
In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Rivian says that it received components containing sensors that were dimensionally out of tolerance from its supplier, Autoliv.
Read: BMW To Recall 15,000 iXs And X1s Over Airbag That May Deploy Incorrectly
These could, in turn, cause the automatic locking retractor not to function as intended. Worse still, it could incorrectly report its status as on, even when it isn’t, potentially changing the airbag strategy for the front-seat passenger. It could also mean that the occupants are not made aware of the issue, because the “Passenger Airbag Off” lamps might not illuminate.
That could lead to a reduced deployment, or it could prevent the airbag from deploying altogether. Naturally, that is a problem for the front seat passenger, and it means that the vehicle is out of compliance with federal regulations. Fortunately, as of February 2023, Rivian was not aware of any injuries related to the issue in any market.
To remedy the situation, the automaker plans to start getting in touch with customers on April 8, and it will inspect and replace passenger seat belt system components where necessary. The fix will be made free of charge to owners.
