Head-to-head reliability
Rivian R1S vs Toyota Camry
How the Rivian R1S and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Rivian R1S vs Toyota Camry: The R1S averages 32.8 complaints/year with 44 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints/year with 31 recalls. R1S owners report unintended acceleration and screen blackouts; Camry owners report hesitation and brake noise. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Rivian R1S or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Rivian R1S
The Rivian R1S is an electric SUV with an average of 32.8 complaints per year over five years, totaling 164 complaints and 44 recalls. Owners frequently report unintended acceleration, stuck accelerator pedals, and infotainment screens going black, which can disable speedometer, blind spot monitoring, and airbag alerts. These issues, along with 24 crash-related complaints and 12 injuries, suggest that living with an R1S may involve persistent software and hardware glitches that affect safety systems.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with an average of 205.6 complaints per year over ten years, totaling 2,056 complaints and 31 recalls. Common owner complaints include power train hesitation, shuddering, stuck ignition keys, and brake system noises, with 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries. While the Camry has a higher annual complaint rate, many issues are familiar to mechanics and may be easier to diagnose and repair than the Rivian's electronic faults.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Rivian R1S | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 164 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 44 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 24 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 32.8 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Rivian R1S
- 01AIR BAGS36
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER35
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE23
- 05SEATS17
Owners report unintended acceleration where the vehicle accelerates despite violent braking, and infotainment screens going black, which disables airbag and seatbelt alerts. These failures could delay airbag deployment or leave drivers unaware of safety system status.
Complaints describe sudden uncontrolled acceleration and deceleration while driving, with no warning, creating immediate collision risk. Such electrical glitches can make the vehicle unpredictable and hard to control.
Owners report that automatic emergency braking may not prevent rear-end collisions, even when enabled, as seen in low-speed and highway crashes. This suggests the system may not reliably intervene in time.
Repeated ineffective repair attempts at service centers and a stuck accelerator pedal that causes rapid acceleration are reported. These issues can leave owners without a fix and at risk of sudden speed increases.
“The contact owns a 2024 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while his wife was attempting to park in a parking space, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The brake pedal was violently depressed however the vehicle continued to accelerate. No warning lights…”
“While driving my Rivian R1S, 2025 at highway speeds, the infotainment screen went completely black, disabling the speedometer, blind spot monitoring, lane warnings, airbag/seatbelt alerts, and navigation. I had no access to critical safety information while t…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent ignition key sticking (cannot remove key even in Park) and hesitation/shuddering with check engine light. These can leave drivers stranded or cause delayed acceleration.
Complaints include several-second delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, and hesitation/shuddering at various speeds. This lag can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking/vibrating noise from the brake pedal area is common. These issues can prevent the car from moving or indicate ABS problems.
Multiple systems—smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. Such widespread failures can severely compromise safety and control.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Rivian R1S — 44 recalls
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2024 R1T and R1S vehicles. The dashboard air bag warning label may be missing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk: Without the dashboard label, operators may be unaware of the increased risks that an air bag poses to an infant or child in the front seat, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.
The fix: Rivian mailed owners the warning label information, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1429.
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2023-2024 EDV, R1S, and R1T vehicles. The headlights may be improperly aimed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
The risk: Improperly aimed headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, decreasing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Rivian will inspect and adjust the headlight alignment as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 28, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSA…
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025-2026 R1S and R1T vehicles. One or both front turn signals may fail to illuminate and flash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices,…
The risk: Turn signals that do not function properly increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Rivian will inspect and replace the front turn signals as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall i…
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1S and R1T vehicles that previously had service performed. The toe link may have been reassembled incorrectly during service procedures performed before March 10, 2025.
The risk: The toe link joint may separate, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Rivian will replace the rear toe link bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1794. Vehicle Iden…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Rivian R1S or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Rivian R1S has far fewer complaints per year (32.8) than the Toyota Camry (205.6), but the R1S has more recalls (44 vs. 31) and a higher proportion of crash-related complaints (24 out of 164 vs. 171 out of 2,056). In practice, the Camry's higher complaint volume reflects a larger owner base and more familiar issues, while the R1S's lower volume includes severe electronic and acceleration faults that may be harder to resolve.
Key differences
- Rivian R1S owners report unintended acceleration and stuck accelerator pedals, while Camry owners report delayed throttle response and hesitation.
- Rivian R1S has infotainment blackouts disabling safety alerts; Camry has multiple system malfunctions (stability, steering, blind spot) occurring together.
- Rivian R1S has 44 recalls in 5 years, including suspension and seat belt anchorage; Camry has 31 recalls in 10 years, including air bag sensors and seats.
- Rivian R1S averages 32.8 complaints/year; Camry averages 205.6 complaints/year, but Camry's issues are often mechanical and widely documented.
- Test the accelerator pedal for sticking or unintended acceleration during a test drive, especially at low speeds.
- Check the infotainment screen for blackouts or flickering, as this can disable speedometer, blind spot monitoring, and airbag alerts.
- Try removing the ignition key in Park; if it sticks, it may indicate a power train defect requiring battery disconnection.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area and test the electronic parking brake engagement/disengagement.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full NHTSA complaint and recall history for the specific VIN.
- Test drive the Rivian R1S at highway speeds to check for infotainment blackouts and unintended acceleration.
- Test drive the Camry from a cold start and at various speeds to feel for hesitation or shuddering.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Rivian's suspension fasteners and seat belt anchors, and the Camry's brake system and ignition key mechanism.
- Ask for service records to see if repeated repair attempts were made for electronic or power train issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Rivian R1S | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 0 |
| 2025 | 54 | 163 |
| 2024 | 17 | 50 |
| 2023 | 75 | 64 |
| 2022 | 4 | 61 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Rivian R1S or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Rivian R1S vs Toyota Camry
- Rivian R1S total complaints
- 164
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Rivian R1S total recalls
- 44
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Rivian R1S avg complaints/year
- 32.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Rivian R1S
- Rivian R1S top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN