Dec 3 (Reuters) – Rivian Automotive is recalling 34,824 electric delivery vehicles in the U.S. as their seat belt system may fail to properly restrain the driver, increasing the risk of injury during a crash, the U.S. auto safety regulator said on Tuesday.
In a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Rivian said it was not aware of any incidents or injuries related to this issue.
Rivian said the issue occurs when drivers repeatedly sit on a seat belt that is already buckled, causing damage to the pretensioner cable – a key component designed to tighten the belt instantly during a collision or sudden deceleration.
The NHTSA had opened a preliminary probe into Rivian’s 17,198 electric delivery vans in September after complaints of cables that frayed, broke, or unravelled, leaving drivers at risk of being unrestrained in a crash or sudden stop.
The EV maker has released an over-the-air software update that enables automatic detection of any seat belt misuse by the driver.
In addition, Rivian will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver’s seat belt pretension assembly in the affected vehicles, free of charge.
(Reporting by Mihika Sharma and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Leroy Leo)
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