Rivian Recalls Cars for Camera Problem

Rivian Automotive is recalling nearly 100,000 vehicles over a software issue that can cause rearview camera problems.

The snafu occurs in rare circumstances, Rivian said in a recall notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “This overlap condition requires a very specific set of operations in a specific order to potentially occur,” the company said.

According to the automaker, stability control must be turned off, and the driver must have left the vehicle for a period of time and returned. The center display must then show a required safety alert noting that stability control is off and asking whether the driver wants to turn it back on. If the driver then shifts directly into reverse without responding to the prompt, the drive-mode notification can overlap the rearview camera image, delaying it until the vehicle actually starts moving.

“A rear-view image that does not display at the start of a backing event may increase the risk of a crash,” Rivian said.

The recall covers certain 2022 to 2027 R1S sport utility vehicles, as well as 2022 to 2026 R1T pickup trucks and a small number of 2027 R2 SUVs. Rivian said it spotted the issue through internal testing and is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the defect. 

Many of the cars have already received over-the-air software updates designed to fix the problem. Still, Rivian plans to notify owners of recalled vehicles by mail by November 9. The company will encourage those who have not already received the fix to do so.

California Lemon Law Rights for Rivian Drivers

These kinds of recalls are sadly old hat for Rivian and other major automakers. The companies routinely issue sweeping recalls, citing safety risks that threaten to put people in harm’s way.

Rivian, for example, recalled some 20,000 pickups and SUVs earlier this year with defective rear suspension toe link joints. At the time, it said the problem could make the vehicles harder to control if they hit small bumps or changes in road surfaces.

The good news is that California's lemon law offers valuable rights and protections for Rivian drivers in the Golden State. You don't necessarily need to wait for the company to issue a formal recall to force it to fix your vehicle.

The lemon law generally requires carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also requires them to buy back covered vehicles they cannot or refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the car’s purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car costs, and other related expenses.

No specific number of repair requests or attempts must occur before the buyback or replacement requirement kicks in. An experienced California lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and take action.

Talk with a Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a Los Angeles lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a Los Angeles lemon law attorney.