The EV manufacturer is recalling 12,716 vehicles, particularly R1T pickups and R1S SUVs from the model year 2022. The mentioned cars have issues regarding the deployment of airbags due to a flaw in the seatbelt sensors.
Recalling Due to Airbag Issue
The flaw in the seatbelt sensor could lead to the airbags in the front seats not deploying properly. The company is offering free repairs for the affected vehicles, which will only take around 30 minutes, and expressed that safety is its top priority.
Fortunately, Rivian's report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that there aren't any reports of injuries caused by the issue. As mentioned in Engadget, the company estimates that one percent of covered vehicles may be affected.
It's possible for the affected vehicles to experience incorrect reports on the status regarding a sensor in the front passenger seat belt system, wherein it will indicate that it is "on" despite it being "off," which in turn affects the deployment of the airbag.
For this recall, affected owners will not need to schedule an appointment to visit Rivian Service Centers and pop-up locations. The centers are operational six days a week and inspect as well as replace passenger seat belt system components in the affected vehicles if needed.
If you have an affected vehicle, Rivian will notify you via mail. The notification will provide details on the issue along with instructions on actions that need to be taken. Owners won't need a recall notification in order to have their vehicles repaired in listed service centers.
What to Do When Your Vehicle is Affected
You can visit one of the listed service centers for inspections. The company advised that the latest software update for your vehicle should be installed first. You may also contact their service team at 855-748-4265.
If the repair does not fix the issue, you may return to the service center for another repair without cost. If you had already repaired the issue before the recall, you may schedule an appointment through Rivian service to make sure the issue is actually fixed.
You may also be eligible for reimbursement. You can find out by contacting Rivian service by phone or through email at recallreimbursement@rivian.com. You can also ask the service if you are eligible for alternate transportation while your vehicle is being repaired.
Not the Best Time for Recalls
The EV car maker has been having issues with its manufacturing and supply chains, and as part of the company's way to keep the company afloat, it has laid off 6% of its employees for the second time this early February.
The layoffs affected the staff of the company's base in Irvine, California. The Rivian CEO says that they took steps to focus the company's product portfolio and drive at a lower cost structure, and added that efficiency and profitability are its core objective.
The company has already lost almost 90% of its value, reports say, and there's also the threat of Rivian competitors lowering the price of their EVs such as Tesla and Ford. It also doesn't help that Rivian vehicles are not eligible for the Inflation Reduction Act's $7,500 tax credit.
