Rivian’s First R2 Recall, Is Your Vehicle One of the 98,828 Affected?

If you own a Rivian R1T, R1S, or the newly launched R2, a software recall issued September 16, 2026, may include your vehicle. The issue can briefly block your rearview camera image when you shift into reverse. Rivian says no customer has reported an accident, injury, or fatality tied to it — and by the time the recall became public, most affected vehicles had already received the fix automatically.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Affected Models	2022–2026 R1T; 2022–2027 R1S; 2027 R2
Total Vehicles (U.S.)	98,828 — 34,088 R1T, 62,259 R1S, 2,481 R2
Defect	A safety alert notification can overlap the rearview camera image when shifting into reverse, until the vehicle moves
Known Incidents	None — no customer reports, accidents, injuries, or fatalities in any market
Remedy	Free over-the-air (OTA) software update
Already Fixed (at filing)	About 95% of R1T/R1S, 96% of R2
NHTSA Campaign Number	26V-597
Rivian Recall Number	FSAM-1866
Transport Canada Recall Number	2026-443
Filed With NHTSA	September 16, 2026
VINs Searchable / Owner Letters	On or before November 9, 2026
Recall Status	Remedy Available (as of September 23, 2026)

Is Your Vehicle Affected?

This recall covers a specific, narrow set of Rivian vehicles:

• 2022–2026 Rivian R1T pickups
• 2022–2027 Rivian R1S SUVs
• 2027 Rivian R2, built between April 23, 2026, and August 10, 2026

This is the first recall to ever include the R2, which only began customer deliveries earlier this year. Your VIN becomes officially searchable on NHTSA.gov by November 9, 2026, but you don’t need to wait — check now whether your vehicle has already installed software version 2026.23 (R1 models) or 2026.31.40 (R2), since either one already includes the fix.

What’s Actually Wrong

Here’s the specific chain of events that triggers the defect, according to Rivian’s own filing: you turn stability control off in certain drive modes, step away from the vehicle for a period of time, and return. When you then shift into reverse, a safety alert notification on the center display can overlap your rearview camera image until the vehicle actually starts moving. That’s a narrow, specific sequence — not something that happens on a typical reverse-out-of-the-driveway drive for most owners.

Because the camera image can be blocked right when you need it most, the vehicles don’t fully meet the federal rear-visibility safety standard, FMVSS 111 — which is why this is classified as a noncompliance recall rather than a response to a reported crash.

That’s the whole issue: a display notification getting in its own way for a few seconds, in a fairly specific set of circumstances.

The Fix Already Shipped Before the Recall Was Even Filed

This one is worth understanding, because the timeline runs backwards from what you might expect. Rivian identified the issue through internal testing and released software update 2026.23 to R1 vehicles on August 6, 2026 — the same day the last affected R1S rolled off the line. The R2’s fix, version 2026.31.40, went out on September 4, 2026. Rivian didn’t even complete its own compliance determination that a safety defect existed until September 10, and didn’t file the recall with NHTSA until September 16.

In other words: by the time this became an official recall, the fix had already reached the overwhelming majority of the vehicles it affects. That’s an unusually fast turnaround for a full vehicle-safety recall, and it’s part of why this one hasn’t generated much owner concern.

What You Should Do

1. Check whether your Rivian has already installed software version 2026.23 (R1T/R1S) or 2026.31.40 (R2) — if so, you’re already fixed.
2. If you’re not sure, update your vehicle to the latest available software over-the-air as soon as possible.
3. You don’t need to visit a service center for this recall — it’s resolved entirely through the software update.
4. Watch for your official notification letter, expected by November 9, 2026, though acting sooner costs you nothing.
5. If you have questions, call Rivian Service Support at 1-855-748-4265 (1-855-RIVIAN5).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to bring my vehicle to a service center? 

No. This recall is resolved entirely through an over-the-air software update — there’s no physical part to replace and no appointment required.

Has anyone been hurt or gotten into an accident because of this?

No. Rivian states it isn’t aware of any customer reports, accidents, injuries, or fatalities related to this condition in any market.

Is this a sign the R2 has quality problems?

 This is the R2’s first recall since deliveries began earlier this year, and it was resolved with a same-day-adjacent software fix rather than a hardware defect. Whether that reflects an isolated software issue or a broader pattern is something only time and future recalls will show — this article can’t speak to Rivian’s overall reliability trend from a single recall.

What if my vehicle was built after the affected date range?

 Rivian’s filing states all vehicles built after August 10, 2026 (for the R2) already carry corrected software, so vehicles delivered after that point generally aren’t part of the affected population — though checking your VIN directly is the reliable way to confirm.

Why did it take until September 16 to file if the fix shipped in August?

 Rivian’s own chronology shows the fix (an OTA update) went out as engineering work continued, while the formal safety-defect determination and NHTSA filing followed a separate compliance process that concluded later, on September 10 and September 16 respectively.

Is this Rivian’s first recall overall? 

No — Rivian has issued numerous recalls since it began deliveries in 2021, most resolved through software updates or free part replacements. This is specifically the first recall to include the R2 model.

Sources Used in This Article

• Rivian Automotive, LLC — Official Recall Information page, updated September 26, 2026: https://rivian.com/support/article/recall-information
• Carscoops — “Rivian Has Already Issued The First Recall For The R2,” September 2026: https://www.carscoops.com/2026/09/rivian-has-already-issued-the-first-recall-for-the-r2/

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against Rivian’s official recall information page on September 26, 2026. Last Updated: September 26, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.