VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Rivian R1S2022–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Rivian R1S
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Rivian R1S Years to Avoid
8 recalls · 64 complaints
3 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
7 recalls · 51 complaints
3 reported injuries
Top issue: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
11 recalls · 13 complaints
9 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the R1S became recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 25, 2026.
Rivian R1S — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 47 | 28 | 40 | Good |
| 2025 | 7 | 51 | 3 | — | 33 | 43 | 37 | Avoid |
| 2024 | 5 | 10 | 2 | — | 47 | 56 | 50 | Good |
| 2023 | 8 | 64 | 3 | — | 28 | 66 | 41 | Avoid |
| 2022 | 11 | 13 | 9 | — | 37 | 73 | 50 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Rivian R1S Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the R1S compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year R1S to buy?+
The 2024 Rivian R1S scores highest on our Buyer Score (50/100) — combining a reliability score of 47/100 with a value score of 56/100. It has 5 recalls and 10 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which R1S years have the most problems?+
The 2023, 2025, 2022 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2023 R1S leads with 8 recalls and 64 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common R1S problems?+
The most frequently reported Rivian R1S issues involve: AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.