Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, faces a setback as owners of the 2022 R1T and R1S models discover a glitch in the accelerator pedal assembly that may inaccurately interpret gentle foot movements, leading to potential malfunctions. The encouraging news is that Rivian has promptly responded to this issue by deploying an Over-the-Air (OTA) software update, and as of late December, approximately 53% of affected vehicles have received the remedy.
The recall affects 7,873 Rivian R1Ts and R1Ss from the 2022 model year, featuring an accelerator pedal assembly produced out of tolerance by Precision Varionic International Sensor, the supplier. Rivian first detected this fault in March 2022 when an owner reported difficulties with the vehicle entering "sleep mode." Over the ensuing months until December 2023, the automaker received 35 service requests related to this problem. Fortunately, there have been no reported crashes, injuries, or fatalities attributed to the accelerator pedal malfunction.
Owners expressed concerns that their vehicles failed to enter "auto-hold" or "park" mode automatically, with more severe cases involving unintended forward movement, necessitating manual brake application or the use of the "park" button to secure the vehicle in place. Investigations revealed that accelerator pedal assemblies installed in Rivian vehicles between June 10, 2021, and October 31, 2022, received faulty chips with a stronger magnetic pole than intended. Elevated cabin temperatures could cause the pedal to drift outside the designated dead band, leading the sensor to inaccurately register pedal application, thus giving the impression that the driver was lightly pressing the pedal.
To address this issue comprehensively, Rivian has rolled out an Over-the-Air (OTA) software update aimed at rectifying the accelerator malfunction. The company assured the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it is committed to replacing all affected accelerator pedals to ensure customer satisfaction. Starting February 16, Rivian plans to initiate communication with owners of the affected models to schedule replacements and further enhance the safety and functionality of their electric vehicles.