May 28 - The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Thursday that it has opened a preliminary investigation into 114,922 Rivian vehicles concerning a problem with the rear toe link. The inquiry covers the automaker's R1S and R1T electric vehicle models.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation said it received two vehicle owner questionnaires that described a failure of the left rear toe link while driving. According to the reports, the component separated during operation and caused the vehicles to swerve across multiple lanes of traffic. In one of the reported incidents, the loss of the toe link led to a collision with an adjacent vehicle and with a roadside barrier.
The preliminary probe is designed to assess several technical and procedural elements. NHTSA will evaluate the sensitivity of the rear toe link joint to foreseeable road and service conditions. In addition, the agency will review Rivian's current toe link repair procedure as part of its examination, among other steps listed in the agency's investigation plan.
Rivian did not immediately provide a response to inquiries about the newly opened probe.
This action follows an earlier recall in January in which Rivian recalled nearly 20,000 R1S and R1T vehicles in the United States. At that time, the company cited an incorrectly assembled rear toe link as the reason for the recall. The remedy announced then was the free replacement of the rear toe-link bolts, according to regulatory communications.
The NHTSA preliminary investigation will determine how the rear toe link joint performs under expected operating conditions and whether the automaker's repairs are adequate. The agency's review is a standard step that can include testing, component inspection, and evaluation of repair records as it seeks to establish whether a defect-related safety risk exists.
As the probe proceeds, NHTSA's findings will inform whether further action is necessary, but the investigation itself does not yet signify a final determination regarding a defect or additional remedies.