Rivian's R2 Gets Its Second Recall — This Time for a Battery Fastener That Can Cut Power
Just 14 SUVs are affected, and all are already in Rivian's shops, but it's the new R2's second recall in 13 days — this one a hardware fix, not a software update.
Rivian is recalling 14 examples of its new R2 midsize SUV because a fastener on the high-voltage battery may not have been tightened to spec, which can cause the vehicle to lose drive power. It is a tiny campaign, but it is also the R2's second recall in 13 days, after the backup camera recall that pulled in R1 and R2 models in mid-September.
All 14 vehicles are already at Rivian service centers, and the automaker says it has contacted every affected owner.
What's wrong with the 14 R2s
The problem sits on a busbar, one of the solid metal conductors that carry high current through a battery pack. According to Rivian's recall page, a busbar fastener on certain 2027 R2s may have been under-torqued, and that can lead to a loss of motive power. In its filing summary, NHTSA notes that losing drive power raises the risk of a crash.
The NHTSA campaign, 26V-625, was received on Sept. 29 and lists 14 potentially affected vehicles, all from the 2027 model year. Rivian tracks it internally as FSAM-1888. The company says it is not aware of any customer reports, crashes, injuries, or deaths linked to the condition.
The fix is mechanical, not software. Technicians check the fastener, tighten it to the correct torque, and replace any damaged parts, at no cost to the owner. Rivian lists the remedy as available since Oct. 2.
Two recalls, two very different problems
The first R2 recall, 26V-597, was a software issue. In a narrow scenario with stability control switched off, a safety prompt on the center screen could cover the rearview image when the driver shifted into reverse. That broke the federal rear-visibility standard, FMVSS 111. It covered 98,828 US vehicles across the R1S, R1T, and R2, including 2,481 R2s, and Rivian fixed it with an over-the-air update.
The new campaign is a production issue: a single joint that may not have been tightened correctly on the assembly line. It touches 14 vehicles rather than thousands, and each one needs a technician rather than a download.
The R2 matters more to Rivian than its volume so far suggests. It is the company's lower-priced SUV, built on a dedicated new line at its Normal, Illinois, plant, and public deliveries began only on June 9. The first version offered, the R2 Performance with Launch Package, starts at $57,990. Rivian delivered a record 19,248 vehicles in the third quarter but doesn't break out sales by model, so there is no official count of R2s on the road.
What R2 owners should do
If your R2 is one of the 14, Rivian has already contacted you and the vehicle is in its service network. Any owner can enter a VIN on Rivian's recall page or call Rivian Service Support at 1-855-748-4265. Owner letters are due to go out on Nov. 28, and the affected VINs become searchable on NHTSA.gov the same day.
Owners should also confirm that the earlier backup camera update is installed. It arrives over the air and needs no service visit.
Some details are still missing. Rivian hasn't said how it found the loose fastener or which production dates are involved. That should become clearer once NHTSA posts the full Part 573 safety recall report, which was not yet online as of Oct. 4. Owners who care about range can also see how the R2's tire packages change its EPA range.
