The safety probe specifically targets potential rear suspension vulnerabilities within the automaker’s popular R1S and R1T flagship models.
Federal investigators acted after receiving two formal owner questionnaires detailing sudden left rear toe link separation events during operation.
According to agency documents, these dangerous mechanical failures caused the affected electric vehicles to swerve unexpectedly across highway lanes.
One of the reported suspension separation incidents rapidly escalated into a collision involving an adjacent vehicle and a roadside barrier.
Government engineers will rigorously evaluate the joint’s sensitivity to ordinary road conditions and inspect Rivian’s authorized toe link repair procedures.
Rivian personnel did not provide immediate comments regarding the federal probe outside of their regular corporate business hours on Thursday.
Previously, the electric automaker voluntarily recalled nearly 20,000 vehicles to address incorrectly assembled rear toe links from past maintenance.
During that earlier campaign, the manufacturer resolved the defect by replacing the rear suspension hardware entirely free of charge for owners.
