Buyer Research

2022 Rivian R1S — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $58,000–$78,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Kestrel Take

The three-row electric adventure SUV — the R1S shares the R1T's impressive quad-motor performance, off-road ability, and long range in a family-friendly seven-seat body. Same caveats as the R1T: it's a first-gen vehicle from a young company, so software maturity and service/parts availability matter. A well-kept R1S with updates done and a healthy battery is a genuinely capable, desirable EV; verify software/recalls, battery health, and your proximity to Rivian service.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11

NHTSA holds 4 owner complaints for the 2022 Rivian R1S, across 12 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 75% of them are about one thing — seats. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.

12 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Not written up yet: the driver-assist and automatic braking systems (1 complaint). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.

Looked at and set aside: airbags (2) — 2 airbag complaints on file, almost always a recall matter rather than a repair bill; have a dealer check this VIN for open airbag campaigns and confirm any were performed.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2022 Rivian R1S

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

First-gen build / software quirksMedium

Early R1S had software bugs, fixes, and recalls; verify updates/recalls were done and all systems work.

Repair cost (estimate): $0-$2,000

Source: 12 NHTSA recall campaigns on this model year.

Service / parts availabilityMedium

Rivian's service network is still growing; factor in your location and potential wait times.

Repair cost: Not yet priced

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Tire wear (heavy SUV)Low

Very heavy; tires wear and cost more.

Repair cost (estimate): $1,000-$1,800

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Outstanding recalls/software
✗Battery/range concerns
✗Far from Rivian service
✗Salvage title

Good Signs

✓Updates/recalls done
✓Healthy battery, remaining warranty
✓Reasonable proximity to service

Found a specific Rivian R1S?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2022 Rivian R1S in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.