The Notification That Blocks the Camera
Rivian is recalling 98,828 electric vehicles in the United States — its largest U.S. recall ever — because a software notification can cover up the rearview camera image when the driver shifts into reverse. The issue reduces the view behind the vehicle and increases the risk of a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday.
According to Reuters, the recall covers certain 2022–2026 R1T pickups, 2022–2027 R1S SUVs and — for the first time — the 2027 R2, Rivian’s new lower-priced midsize SUV that began customer deliveries in June.
A Stability-Control Prompt Is the Culprit
In an emailed statement, Rivian told Reuters that in rare instances when stability control is switched off, a safety prompt asking the driver to re-enable it can overlap the backup camera view after shifting into reverse, staying there until the vehicle starts moving. The condition fails the rear-visibility requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111.
The company says it is not aware of any customer complaints, accidents, injuries or fatalities tied to the defect, and that the bug was caught during internal testing. All vehicles built after August 10 already roll off the line with corrected software.
The Fix May Already Be in Your Driveway
This is a software recall, and for most owners the remedy has already landed. According to USA Today, Rivian has released a free over-the-air update and more than 95 percent of affected vehicles have already downloaded it. Owners with software version 2026.23 or newer on R1 models — and 2026.31 or newer on the R2 — already have the fix and need to do nothing.
Formal notification letters are still scheduled to go out by mail on November 9, which means many owners will receive an official recall letter for a problem their truck or SUV fixed itself weeks ago. A Rivian spokesperson told USA Today that about 100,700 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada are potentially affected — a majority of every vehicle the company has produced to date.
Why This Matters
This recall lands at a delicate moment for Rivian. The R2 is the company’s big bet on the mainstream market — a smaller, cheaper SUV meant to carry Rivian from a niche adventure brand to a volume automaker. Its first recall including the R2 is an unwelcome headline just months into deliveries, and shares slipped about 1 percent on Wednesday, trading well below their 52-week high near $22.69.
But the episode also shows why software-defined cars are different. A decade ago, recalling 99,000 vehicles meant 99,000 service appointments. Here, the fix pushed to nearly the entire fleet overnight, before most owners even knew there was a problem. The awkward part is the paperwork: federal rules still require physical letters, so the mail will bring news of a fix that’s already history. Owners who want to confirm their status can check the recall number, FSAM-1866, on NHTSA’s website or call Rivian at 1-888-748-4261.
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