Rivian R1S, R1T and R2 Backup Camera Recall, Is Your Vehicle Affected? — NHTSA Recall No. 26V597

If you own a 2022-2027 Rivian R1S, a 2022-2026 R1T or a 2027 R2 built from August 2021 through August 10, 2026, your vehicle may be in NHTSA Recall No. 26V597. Rivian is recalling 98,828 vehicles because a pop-up can cover the backup camera. The fix is a free software update, and over 95% of affected vehicles already have it. Here’s how to check yours.

Rivian Backup Camera Recall — Key Facts

Detail	Information
Vehicles Recalled	98,828
Models and Years	2022-2027 R1S, 2022-2026 R1T, 2027 R2
Problem	A drive-mode alert can cover the backup camera image until the vehicle moves
Safety Risk	A missing image at the start of backing may increase crash risk
Reported Crashes or Injuries	None, according to Rivian’s filing
Free Fix	Over-the-air software update
Cost to Owners	$0
Recall Numbers	NHTSA 26V597. Rivian FSAM-1866
Owner Letters	Mailed on or before November 9, 2026
VIN Lookup on NHTSA.gov	November 9, 2026
Rivian Contact	1-888-748-4261
Last Updated	October 2, 2026

Who Is Rivian and Why Is It Recalling R1S, R1T and R2 Vehicles?

Rivian Automotive, LLC builds the R1S, the R1T and the R2, all electric, and every one of them runs on software that decides what appears on the center screen. This problem lives in that software. If you drive one of these three models, the recall is about your screen, not your camera hardware.

What Went Wrong With the Rivian Backup Camera Between 2021 and 2026?

Here’s the sequence Rivian described to NHTSA. Stability control is off in certain drive modes, you leave the vehicle for a while, and when you come back the center display asks whether you’d like to return to a mode with stability control on. That prompt is required by federal rule FMVSS 126.

If you shift into reverse without answering, the alert can sit on top of the camera image until the vehicle moves. Then the image appears. Rivian says this takes a very specific set of operations in a specific order.

This is a noncompliance recall, meaning the vehicles may not meet the federal rear visibility standard, FMVSS No. 111, not that anyone has been hurt. Rivian found it in internal testing and knows of no customer reports, accidents, injuries or fatalities in any market.

What stood out to me is that no driver complained first. That’s how a recall is supposed to work, and it’s also why most owners will never see the problem. We track similar cases under Product Liability.

Is Your Rivian Part of the Backup Camera Recall?

Short answer: check the build date. Rivian picked the vehicles from manufacturing records, and similar vehicles built with unaffected software are not included.

Here’s exactly how to know if your Rivian is included.

Who’s included

• 2022-2027 R1S SUVs built March 30, 2022 through August 6, 2026 (62,259 vehicles)
• R1T pickups from model years 2022-2026 built August 23, 2021 through July 6, 2026 (34,088 vehicles)
• Anyone driving a 2027 R2 built April 23 through August 10, 2026 (2,481 vehicles)
• Vehicles still running R1 software older than 2026.23 or R2 software older than 2026.31.40

Who isn’t

• Vehicles built after August 10, 2026, which carry the corrected software
• Similar Rivians built with software the filing says isn’t affected

Own a Rivian built before August? Then it’s worth confirming that your software is current, even if you’ve never once seen that pop-up.

Rivian Owners Outside the United States — Are You Still Covered?

This is a federal recall. NHTSA’s campaign covers vehicles in the United States, and Rivian’s recall page lists a matching Transport Canada recall, No. 2026-443, so Canadian owners are covered too. Owners elsewhere should ask Rivian.

Not sure where you stand? A free legal consultation with a product liability attorney can help if the recalled system ever played a part in a crash or injury.

Does the Rivian Backup Camera Recall Cost Owners Anything?

No cost to you. The remedy is an over-the-air software update that NHTSA’s letter says is free of charge, and the recall describes no payout and no claim form. Over 95% of affected vehicles already have it installed, according to Rivian’s filing.

Here’s the math most coverage skips. Rivian says over 95% of the 98,828 vehicles already have the fix, so fewer than about 4,941 still need it, which is my own math from the filing. For a recall this size, that’s almost finished before the first letter is mailed.

Can Rivian Owners Get Compensation Beyond the Free Update?

Not from this recall. Compensation for damages would depend on whether you suffered an actual loss, such as a crash, and on your state’s law, and a free legal consultation with a consumer rights lawyer can tell you where you stand.

What Should Rivian Owners Do Right Now?

1. Don’t panic. The problem takes a very specific sequence to occur, and Rivian knows of no crashes or injuries tied to it.
2. Update your software. Rivian encourages every owner to install the latest available software. The affected versions are anything older than 2026.23 on R1 or 2026.31.40 on R2.
3. Know the workaround. Per Rivian’s filing, selecting the camera page on the center display, or moving the vehicle, brings the image back.
4. Save your records. Keep Rivian emails, the recall letter and any service notes in case you ever need them for a claim.
5. Watch for the letter. Rivian will mail notices on or before November 9, 2026, the same day your VIN becomes searchable at NHTSA.gov/recalls. Questions go to 1-888-748-4261, citing recall FSAM-1866.
6. Ask about a claim only if you were harmed. If a backup camera problem contributed to a crash or injury, a product liability attorney can check your deadlines. See also our Vehicle Laws by State guide.

Most owners won’t have to do much. If your Rivian is still on older software, getting the update is the one step that actually removes the problem.

Rivian Backup Camera Recall — Full Timeline

Milestone	Date
Affected software first built into vehicles	August 23, 2021
Rivian begins investigating after internal testing	July 2026
Rivian stops building vehicles with affected software	August 10, 2026
Rivian determines noncompliance can’t be ruled out	September 10, 2026
Rivian files recall with NHTSA	September 16, 2026
NHTSA acknowledges the recall	September 22, 2026
NHTSA publishes the recall	September 23, 2026
Owner letters mailed and VIN lookup opens	On or before November 9, 2026
Expected completion	UNVERIFIED — Rivian’s filing gives no date

Watch the mail. If you’re among the over 95% already updated, the November 9 letter will mostly confirm what your Rivian already did.

Rivian Backup Camera Recall — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 26V597

Is my Rivian part of the backup camera recall?

It might be. The recall covers 2022-2027 R1S, 2022-2026 R1T and 2027 R2 vehicles built from August 23, 2021 through August 10, 2026 with older software. NHTSA’s VIN lookup opens November 9, 2026. Until then, call Rivian at 1-888-748-4261 and cite FSAM-1866.

Do I need to take my Rivian to a service center for the recall?

The listed remedy is an over-the-air software update, so the filing describes no shop visit. Over 95% of affected vehicles already have it. Rivian encourages every owner to install the latest available software.

Is the Rivian backup camera recall legitimate?

Yes. It’s a federal NHTSA recall filed September 16, 2026 and acknowledged September 22, 2026, and Rivian’s own recall page lists it as FSAM-1866. You can confirm it by VIN on NHTSA.gov/recalls after November 9, 2026.

When will Rivian owners get the backup camera recall letter?

Rivian says it will mail notifications on or before November 9, 2026, the same date VINs become searchable on NHTSA.gov. Because most vehicles are already updated, many owners will get the letter after the fix is installed.

Will Rivian pay me anything for the backup camera recall?

The remedy is a free software update, and the recall describes no payout or claim form. Compensation for damages would only come into play if you suffered an actual loss, and a product liability attorney can tell you whether that applies.

What happens if my Rivian shows the pop-up when I shift into reverse?

Per Rivian’s filing, the camera image reappears when the vehicle moves or when you select the camera page on the center display. The condition needs a specific sequence: stability control off, leaving the vehicle, and returning.

What federal rule does the Rivian recall involve?

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, the rear visibility rule. Rivian says the image may be overridden before the vehicle moves, so affected vehicles may not meet it. The filing reports no customer reports, crashes or injuries.

Has anyone been hurt because of the Rivian backup camera problem?

Not according to Rivian’s filing, which says it isn’t aware of any customer reports, accidents, injuries or fatalities in any market.

Sources Used in This Rivian Backup Camera Recall Article

• NHTSA — Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V597, submitted September 16, 2026: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V597-1248.pdf
• NHTSA — Recall acknowledgment letter to Rivian Automotive, LLC, September 22, 2026: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCAK-26V597-7378.pdf
• Reuters — “Rivian recalls nearly 99,000 vehicles over rearview camera display issue,” September 23, 2026 (syndicated copy): https://wmbdradio.com/2026/09/23/rivian-recalls-nearly-99000-vehicles-over-rearview-camera-display-issue/
• Rivian — Recall Information page (FSAM-1866, Transport Canada No. 2026-443): https://rivian.com/support/article/recall-information

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against NHTSA’s Part 573 recall report and acknowledgment letter for this recall and Reuters’ September 23, 2026 report, as of October 2, 2026. Last Updated: October 2, 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.