14 Rivian R2s Grounded Over High-Voltage Battery Fastener Checks

Rivian has temporarily grounded 14 R2 vehicles for inspections of high-voltage battery pack fasteners, with some owners being told to stop driving while their vehicles are towed to service centers.

Rivian confirmed the number of affected vehicles in a September 28 update, while service-side information indicates the inspections are focused on how battery packs were assembled.

Rivian Orders Early R2s Off the Road

The issue came to light after an R2 owner reported being contacted by Rivian service and instructed to stop driving immediately, with a tow arranged for the vehicle. The owner’s R2 had been in service for roughly two weeks and was built around mid-August, with a VIN in the 74XX range.

The service request in the Rivian app subsequently listed the reason as a Rivian directive for a high-voltage circuit fastener inspection. Rivian also provided the owner with Uber credits and a rental vehicle while the inspection was being handled.

Rivian later clarified that 14 R2 vehicles are currently impacted. The automaker has not publicly identified the specific VIN range affected in the supplied information.

According to a service-side source cited by RivianTrackr, the affected battery packs may include assembly issues involving missing or improperly tightened fasteners. The source described cases involving bolts that were missing, under-tightened, over-tightened, or stripped, as well as packs that may not have been properly bolted and sealed.

Most R2s May Only Need a Fastener Check

The inspection itself is described as relatively straightforward. A technician checks the relevant fasteners, with vehicles that pass the inspection able to return to service. Vehicles that fail may require more extensive work.

In some cases, the service-side source said the entire high-voltage battery pack could need to be removed and replaced. That could result in longer repair times because replacement packs are reportedly being prioritized for R2 production at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois, facility, leaving relatively few spares available for service centers.

Staffing could also affect turnaround times. The source said that many service centers currently have only one technician fully trained to perform deeper R2 work, while other technicians handle less complex repairs.

Rivian’s clarification currently limits the known scope to 14 R2 vehicles. The supplied information does not establish whether additional vehicles will ultimately be affected or provide a complete VIN range for the inspection.

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