The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Wednesday it has launched a preliminary evaluation into 17,198 Rivian (RIVN.O) electric delivery vans following concerns over a potential seat belt defect.
The review centers on the driver’s front outboard seat belt anchorage system, which relies on a steel-braided cable to secure the belt to the seat frame. According to NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, six complaints from vehicle owners described cables that had frayed, broken or unraveled, raising the risk that drivers could be unrestrained during a crash or sudden stop.
Regulators emphasized there have been no reports of crashes, fires, injuries or fatalities tied to the issue. However, the agency cautioned that a weakened or detached anchorage may not meet required load-capacity standards, creating what it called “an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.”
Investigators will examine the durability of the seat belt assembly, how it was installed, and whether design or manufacturing shortcomings contributed to the potential defect. A preliminary evaluation is the first stage of the agency’s defect process and could lead to an engineering analysis and, if necessary, a recall.
Rivian’s electric delivery van (EDV) was originally built exclusively for Amazon, which became its largest commercial customer. That exclusivity ended in late 2023, and in February 2025 Rivian opened U.S. order books for the EDV to other buyers, with prices starting at just under $80,000.
