E-car startup Rivian is recalling more than 12,000 vehicles because the suspension may be loose. Ars Technica reports, citing two documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
One document is the safety recall report. This explains why the vehicles should be recalled. The description reads: “The nut connecting the front upper arm and steering knuckle may not have been tightened sufficiently.”
The NHTSA estimates that around one percent of vehicles could be affected. All 2022 models of the brand, i.e. the Rivian R1T pickup truck, the Rivian R1S SUV, and the Rivian EDV-Van are affected. That is a total of 12,212 electric vehicles.
Mail from the NHTSA
The second document is a letter from NHTSA addressed directly to Rivian. He informs the company about the incident and proposes a remedy. Accordingly, the steering knuckle attachment of the affected vehicles should be checked by the car dealer and tightened if necessary.
To do this, the vehicles must of course first be recalled. Owners of a Rivian vehicle should be notified by November 24 at the latest so that their vehicle can be inspected.
In mid-August, Rivian noticed a problem for the first time. Here the upper wishbone had come loose from the steering knuckle on one vehicle. As a result, Rivian conducted further investigations and identified six additional incidents potentially related to this issue by the end of September.
Rivian picks up speed
The history of Rivian is quite a roller coaster ride. This year alone, the company has experienced some ups and downs. From the end of 2021 to May 2022, the company’s stock lost around 72 percent in value, with major investors such as Ford selling their shares.
But there was good news for the e-car startup as early as July. Rivian works with Amazon and has delivered the first vehicles. These bring benefits such as cooled seats and 360-degree visibility to suppliers. By 2030, 100,000 delivery vehicles should be on the roads.
Rivian has closed another deal with the German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. The two companies want to produce electric vans together in a factory in Europe. Production is scheduled to start “in just a few years”.
