Rivian Recalls About 100,700 EVs Over Software Bug That Can Block Rearview Camera Display

Rivian Automotive said on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, that it is recalling about 100,700 vehicles, a majority of all the vehicles it has produced to date, because a software issue can obstruct the rearview camera display, according to CNBC. Of that total, 98,828 vehicles are covered by the U.S. recall filing, per RivianTrackr's review of the documents.

What the recall covers

The recall spans certain 2022-2026 R1T pickup trucks, 2022-2027 R1S SUVs and 2027 R2 models, Rivian told CNBC. RivianTrackr's breakdown of the filing puts the U.S. figures at 34,088 R1Ts from model years 2022 through 2026, 62,259 R1S SUVs from 2022 through 2027, and 2,481 R2s from model year 2027. Adding those three figures together (34,088 + 62,259 + 2,481) comes to 98,828 vehicles, our calculation, which matches the U.S. total reported by RivianTrackr. Because 2,481 R2s from model year 2027 are included, Rivian's newest model is caught up in the campaign alongside the older R1 lineup.

What actually fails

According to recall documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and reviewed by Yahoo Autos, an on-screen safety alert or notification prompt on the center infotainment display can overlap and obstruct the rearview camera feed when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. Rivian gave Reuters a narrower description of when this happens: in an emailed statement carried by CNBC and confirmed by AOL, the company said that in rare instances when stability control is off, a safety prompt asking the driver to re-enable it can overlap the rearview camera view when shifting into reverse, persisting until the vehicle actually starts moving.

CNBC reported that the issue is a non-compliance matter involving U.S. and Canadian rear-visibility safety standards rather than a mechanical defect. Because the backup camera image can be partially hidden before the vehicle begins moving, the condition fails to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, "Rear Visibility," Yahoo Autos reported, with CNBC citing the equivalent Canadian rear-visibility requirement. NHTSA said the obstructed display could "reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash," according to RivianTrackr and Yahoo Autos.

A fix most owners already have

Because the defect stems from display software logic rather than a hardware fault, Rivian developed an over-the-air software update to resolve the problem free of charge, Yahoo Autos reported. Owners do not need to visit a service center, provided their vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network to accept the update. CNBC reported that Rivian said more than 95% of affected vehicles have already received the software fix, and that all vehicles produced after Aug. 10 shipped with the updated software already installed.

RivianTrackr, citing its own tracking of Rivian's software release notes, reported that the underlying bug was resolved in release 2026.23 for R1 vehicles and 2026.31 for R2 vehicles, meaning the fix reached many vehicles before Rivian's formal recall notice. Owner notification letters explaining the recall campaign are expected to be mailed on Nov. 9, 2026, according to Yahoo Autos. Rivian has said it is not aware of any accidents, injuries, fatalities or customer complaints tied to the defect, per reporting from Yahoo Autos and RivianTrackr.

R2 volume and context

The inclusion of 2,481 R2 units is notable given how early the model is in its production run. Rivian's 2026 guidance, as reported by CNBC, called for full-year deliveries of 62,000 to 67,000 units, up 47% to 59% from 2025, an increase the company said would be aided by the R2 SUV's launch in the second quarter. CEO RJ Scaringe told CNBC's Phil LeBeau that the R2 is expected to become the "majority of the volume" of Rivian's business by the end of 2027. Set against that ramp, the roughly 2,500 R2s pulled into this recall represent an early slice of a model line the company is counting on to drive most of its future volume; that framing is our interpretation of the guidance context rather than a figure Rivian has attached directly to the recall.

Rivian markets its vehicles as software-defined, telling customers on its own site that its cars are "designed to evolve" and can gain new features through updates "just like a phone," so that the vehicle "actually improves over time." That is the same over-the-air mechanism the company used to close out most of this recall before owners even receive a mailed notice.

A separate, unrelated recall on Rivian's books

Rivian's own support page also lists an earlier, distinct recall covering certain 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles that fail Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 governing lamps and reflective devices. Unlike the camera software issue, that campaign involves a front turn signal lamp problem and requires Rivian to physically replace one or both lamps free of charge at a service center rather than push a remote software update. The two recalls involve different components and different remedies, and nothing in the available filings ties the turn signal issue to the rearview camera display bug.

Bottom Line

Rivian's rearview camera recall touches about 100,700 vehicles in total, including the 98,828 R1 and early R2 units named in the U.S. filing, but the company told CNBC that more than 95% have already received the over-the-air software fix, with no service visit required. The episode illustrates both the convenience and the scale exposure of software-defined vehicles: a single display logic bug can trigger a recall spanning model years 2022 through 2027 and two vehicle platforms, even as the actual remedy reaches most owners automatically before a formal notice arrives in the mail, which Yahoo Autos reported is expected on Nov. 9, 2026.