Quick Facts:
- Campaign: NHTSA 26V625 and Rivian FSAM-1888 for the Rivian R2 recall.
- Vehicles: 14 model year 2027 Rivian R2 SUVs.
- Problem: A busbar fastener tied to the battery might be improperly torqued.
- Risk: A possible loss of motive power, which raises crash risk.
- Fix: Technicians torque the fastener or replace damaged parts for free.
- Status: All 14 SUVs sit at Rivian service centers; the remedy became available October 2.
- Owner letters: Expected November 28, 2026, the same day the VINs become searchable.
- Reported harm: Rivian knows of no customer reports, accidents, injuries or deaths.
- Next step: Call Rivian Service Support at 1-855-748-4265 to confirm your status.
6 min read
In This Article
Rivian R2 Recall: What Is Affected
The Rivian R2 recall covers 14 model year 2027 R2 SUVs. Rivian says each one might have an improperly torqued fastener tied to the high voltage battery. The company reported the defect to NHTSA on September 29, 2026, as campaign 26V625. Rivian links the fault to a possible loss of motive power, which NHTSA says raises the risk of a crash.
The scope is small. Fourteen SUVs equal roughly 0.06 to 0.07 percent of Rivian’s goal of 20,000 to 25,000 R2s this year. Rivian also says it knows of no customer reports, accidents, injuries or deaths tied to the fault. The company says it has contacted every affected owner, so no contact likely means your SUV is not included. Still, a fault tied to drive power deserves a closer read from overlanders. An SUV without drive power far from help is a different problem from one in a city.
Rivian’s R2 customer deliveries began June 9, 2026, so the whole model is only months old.
If an SUV loses drive power far from help, other drivers need to see you early. Two items cover this job: the CARTMAN 3PK DOT Approved Foldable Road Safety Warning Triangles and the MARCALA 3-Pack LED Road Flares. Set the triangles behind the vehicle by day. Use the flares after dark.
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What Rivian Found and How the Fix Works
Rivian says the problem sits in a busbar fastener connected to the high voltage battery. In plain terms, a busbar is a metal strip carrying current between components. Still, Rivian’s public notice does not describe the failure in more detail. So the exact path from a loose fastener to lost drive power stays unconfirmed.
The discovery is better documented. NHTSA’s filing, as reported by TechCrunch, says Rivian first spotted the defect on September 17. An operator at the Normal, Illinois plant noticed an automated station had under-torqued one fastener. Afterward, Rivian reprogrammed the station to reject improperly torqued fasteners.
In practice, the fix costs owners nothing. Rivian says all 14 SUVs are already at its service centers. There, technicians will torque the fastener correctly or replace damaged components. The company also says it contacted every affected customer. According to the Rivian recall notice, the remedy became available on October 2.
Next come the owner letters. NHTSA says they are expected November 28, 2026, when the VINs become searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Before the filing, one owner said Rivian service told them to stop driving and towed the SUV, TechCrunch noted.
Rivian’s notice does not say how an R2 behaves when drive power drops. Treat a sudden stop like any breakdown. Turn on the hazard lights, leave the travel lane if possible, and stay visible to other drivers. Rivian’s other recall, from two weeks earlier, worked differently.
How the Rivian R2 Recall Compares With Earlier Rivian Recalls
This is the second R2 recall in about two weeks. Rivian issued the first, NHTSA 26V597, on September 16, 2026. It covers 98,828 Rivian vehicles across the R1S, R1T and R2. Specifically, in rare cases an alert prompt might cover the camera image in reverse until the vehicle moves.
The two recalls differ in cause, fix and scale. On the camera side, Rivian pushed the fix through an over-the-air software update. It says more than 95 percent of affected vehicles have installed it. The battery fix needs a technician, but only 14 SUVs need one. Also, the camera issue is a noncompliance with a federal rear visibility rule. In contrast, the battery issue is a hardware defect tied to drive power.
Rivian has recalled vehicles for lost drive power before. A 2025 recall, NHTSA 25V-537, covered model year 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles. It targeted an improperly tightened ground connection in the high voltage distribution box. In the earlier case, Rivian offered to repair the joint or replace the battery pack. Both cases trace to a connection inside the high voltage system, although the vehicles and parts differ.
R1S and R1T owners are not part of the battery recall. NHTSA’s record lists only 2027 R2 SUVs. Every Rivian owner should still confirm the camera update, since the earlier Rivian recall reaches all three models.
What This Means for You
If you own an R2, Rivian says it has contacted every customer whose SUV is included. Call Rivian Service Support at 1-855-748-4265 to confirm your status. Starting November 28, check your VIN on NHTSA.gov. Our guide on how to run a VIN recall check explains the steps.
If Rivian contacted you, treat the contact as the start of a short list of questions. Ask how long the repair will take. Find out whether Rivian provides a loaner or other transport while it keeps your SUV. Check whether technicians will inspect other parts of the high voltage system while the SUV is in the bay. Keep the repair order, because it gives you a record if the issue returns. These are questions to ask, not promises Rivian has made.
Every R2 owner, contacted or not, should also confirm the rearview camera software update from the September recall.
If you hold a reservation or an order, Rivian’s notice does not mention price, specs or delivery timing. Before you take delivery, ask your delivery center whether your SUV was built after the plant station fix. Also, our breakdown of the Rivian R2 overland platform explains what the SUV offers beyond this issue.
Planning Remote Trips in an R2
On remote trips in an R2 or any EV, this recall does not change your risk much, because all 14 SUVs sit in service centers. Any breakdown strands you the same way, because the cause does not matter far from help. A satellite communicator works where cell service does not, as long as it has a clear view of the sky. Our satellite communicator for overlanding comparison lays out the options.
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- Two-way messaging and interactive SOS with global coverage
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- Small, light body fits a pack or vest pocket
- Needs an active satellite subscription plan
- Some regions regulate or prohibit satellite communicators
Final Thoughts
This recall is small, and Rivian moved quickly. An operator spotted the flaw on September 17, Rivian reported it on September 29 and the remedy was ready October 2. Fourteen SUVs, a free repair and no known injuries add up to a contained problem. Because the station now rejects bad torque, I see a factory fault fixed on the line, not a reason to write off the R2.
Still, a battery recall on a new model deserves attention from anyone planning a purchase. Next, watch how Rivian handles the rest of the R2’s first year, because a second hardware recall would raise real questions about build quality. If you own one of the 14, the service center already has your SUV, and the repair is free. Take the service visit, ask your questions and get back on the trail.
For overlanders, the lesson applies beyond one vehicle. Whatever you drive, plan for a stop far from help. Pack a way to call out without cell towers, and tell someone your route.
FAQ
How many Rivian R2 SUVs are in the recall?
Fourteen model year 2027 R2 SUVs are included, according to Rivian and NHTSA campaign 26V625. Rivian says all 14 are already at service centers.
What does an improperly torqued fastener do?
According to Rivian, an improperly torqued busbar fastener connected to the high voltage battery is a possible cause of lost motive power. NHTSA states a loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Is this the first Rivian R2 recall?
No. The first, NHTSA 26V597, was issued on September 16, 2026. Specifically, it covers a rearview camera issue fixed by a software update.
Does the Rivian R2 recall cost owners anything?
No. Technicians will torque the fastener or replace damaged components at no cost to customers.
Is it safe to drive a recalled R2?
Rivian says all 14 SUVs are already at service centers. NHTSA’s record does not carry a park-outside or do-not-drive notice for this campaign. Still, follow any instruction from Rivian service, since one owner reported being told to stop driving.
How do I check my Rivian for recalls?
Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls. VINs for this campaign become searchable on November 28, 2026, so call Rivian Service Support before then.
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