The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is digging into how electric car manufacturer Rivian services its R1 models' rear suspension, following reports of sudden vehicle loss of control. According to the Office of Defects Investigation, both vehicles had previously been serviced, one even after a collision. Rivian acknowledged that the rear toe link was sensitive to service procedures, leading them to update their repair process.

The probe will examine why this critical component is so fragile and compare incidents across 115,000 vehicles. In one case, a driver veered off the road at high speed before crashing into a guardrail; in another, an R1S careened wildly onto sidewalks and back onto the road. The company has already recalled nearly 20,000 vehicles for the issue.

Rivian remains bullish on their safety measures, stating that the toe link joints are operating as intended despite the ongoing investigation. They also note that one of the affected cars was serviced by a third party. As Rivian readies to launch its new R2 SUV and expand service centers, this incident looms large over their future.

The investigation arrives just weeks before delivery of the highly anticipated R2 begins, with expectations of higher sales volumes. Rivian hopes simpler design will ease maintenance burdens but finds itself dealing with a safety crisis that could impact consumer trust significantly.