What weaknesses does the Rivian R1S Gen1 have?

	Weakness	Cost
✖	Air suspension collapse — expensive after warranty Same issue as R1T. Air bags or compressor fail around 60,000 miles. Vehicle sags at one corner. Out-of-warranty repair: $3,500-7,500. Service centers confirm this as a known issue. Symptoms: Vehicle sags at side or corner, air suspension warning, permanently harsh ride from 80,000 km Ad Rivian air suspension R1S Rivian air strut R1S Rivian suspension compressor R1S	High
●	Front halfshaft clunk and clicking noise Same platform as R1T, same issue. Clunking or clicking from front on low-speed acceleration or turns. Rivian has revised parts. Under warranty not a problem; afterward $400-1,800. Symptoms: Clicking from front at low speed or when turning from 40,000 km Ad Rivian halfshaft R1S Rivian CV axle R1S front	Medium

Test Reports

consumer_reports

Consumer Reports

Below average

R1S reliability rating from Consumer Reports.

2024-01

NHTSA Owner Complaints

Below Average

78 complaints · 2022–2024

Airbags

32 ⚠ 1

Seats

Other

16 ⚠ 2

Electrical

13 ⚠ 3

Collision Avoidance

10 ⚠ 7

Top Reported Issues

⚠ Airbags (32 complaints)

⚠ Seats (17 complaints)

⚠ Other (16 complaints)

Source: NHTSA (nhtsa.gov) · 2026-04

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Known Problems and Issues

A total of 16 weaknesses have been documented for the Rivian R1S Gen1 (2022–2024) — 6 engine-related and 10 vehicle-related. Typical issues affect Suspension, Other, HVAC, Body. Considered reliable: R1-Dual-Gen1 (Electric Motor (Dual, Gen1)).

R1S (R1-Quad-Gen1, 2022–2024) — Be Careful: Drive unit failure — Quad Motor, 12V auxiliary battery parasitic drain, High-voltage battery long-term degradation. Power: 835 PS.

What to watch out for with the Rivian R1S? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What problems and weaknesses does the Rivian R1S Gen1 have? +

The Rivian R1S Gen1 has 6 known engine weaknesses and 10 vehicle weaknesses.

What should I look for when buying a used Rivian R1S Gen1? +

faq.watch_a_solid

Which engine is recommended? +

Good choice: R1-Dual-Gen1 (Electric Motor (Dual, Gen1)). The most reliable engine is the R1-Dual-Gen1 (Electric Motor (Dual, Gen1)) with the lowest risk score. The most fun to drive is the R1-Quad-Gen1 (Electric Motor (Quad, Gen1)).

Which Rivian R1S Gen1 engine is the most reliable? +

The {code} ({displacement}) is the most reliable engine in the Rivian R1S Gen1. It has the lowest risk score of all available engines and is rated "Good Choice". However, there are 3 known weaknesses to be aware of.

Which Rivian R1S Gen1 engine is the most fun? +

The {code} ({displacement}) offers the most driving fun in the Rivian R1S Gen1 — rated: "Legendary!". {description} The R1S sits heavier than a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, seats two more people, fords 43 inches of water, and out-accelerates anything in its segment. Tesla Model X Plaid does 0-60 in 2.5 sec but can't ford a river or sleep six on a campsite. The R1S does both. Per-wheel torque vectoring on a full-size SUV means the chassis actually rotates into corners rather than pushing wide. Early build quality was rough — panel gaps and software bugs were widespread on 2022 production — but the platform itself is genuinely capable. No electric SUV available at launch matched this combination of seating, range, off-road depth, and straight-line pace.

Is the Rivian R1S Gen1 worth buying used? +

The Rivian R1S Gen1 is a good choice as a used car — 1 of 2 engine variants are rated 'Good Choice'.

What horsepower variants are available for the Rivian R1S Gen1? +

The Rivian R1S Gen1 is available with engine variants from 540 to 847 hp.

Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee