VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Rivian R1T2022–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Rivian R1T
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Rivian R1T Years to Avoid
10 recalls · 59 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: SUSPENSION
6 recalls · 39 complaints
Top issue: AIR BAGS
5 recalls · 8 complaints
Top issue: STEERING
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the R1T became recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 25, 2026.
Rivian R1T — 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 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 62 | 34 | 52 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 5 | 5 | — | — | 55 | 49 | 53 | Good |
| 2024 | 5 | 8 | — | — | 53 | 62 | 56 | Good |
| 2023 | 6 | 39 | — | — | 37 | 72 | 49 | Caution |
| 2022 | 10 | 59 | 6 | — | 37 | 79 | 52 | 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 R1T 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 R1T compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year R1T to buy?+
The 2025 Rivian R1T scores highest on our Buyer Score (53/100) — combining a reliability score of 55/100 with a value score of 49/100. It has 5 recalls and 5 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which R1T years have the most problems?+
The 2022, 2023, 2024 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2022 R1T leads with 10 recalls and 59 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 R1T problems?+
The most frequently reported Rivian R1T issues involve: AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SUSPENSION, STEERING. 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.