Rivian has issued a recall for 5,128 R1T pickups and R1S SUVs from model year 2025 because their exterior lights may not work properly. However, the company has already fixed the problem through a software update.
Like many electric vehicles, Rivian cars are highly dependent on software. The company regularly sends over-the-air updates to that software, sometimes adding new features while the cars sit in customer driveways.
Last month, Rivian got playful with that capability, allowing owners to download “Halloween costumes” that changed the cars’ interfaces to look like famous cars from movies and TV shows.
They had some bugs, the company says. Rivian tells the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that “certain exterior vehicle lighting may have been unavailable during vehicle operation if the Car Costume feature was activated after the vehicle had entered the ‘Ready’ state.” The company is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to pretending your car is the “Back to the Future” DeLorean.
So Rivian disabled the costumes with a software update. The company has already fixed the problem, but under federal law, it must notify owners of a safety recall through the mail.
As with all recall repairs, the fix was free. Manufacturers attempt to contact every owner but don’t always reach them all with the news. Find out if your car has any outstanding recalls at our recall center.
