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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary investigation on Thursday into 114,922 Rivian $RIVN R1T and R1S electric vehicles over a potential defect in the rear toe link suspension component.
Two complaints from vehicle owners — each describing a left rear toe link that gave way while driving, sending their vehicles veering across several lanes — prompted NHTSA to act, according to Reuters. In one of the two cases, the loss of control ended with the Rivian striking both a nearby car and a roadside barrier.
Mounted between the wheel hub and the vehicle chassis, the rear toe link is a suspension rod that helps maintain wheel alignment, according to Bloomberg. Among its planned steps, NHTSA intends to examine the component's durability under typical road and service conditions and review whatever repair procedure Rivian currently has in place.
While acknowledging it is working with NHTSA, Rivian disputed the premise of the inquiry, saying its internal review found no evidence that the toe link was responsible for either incident, according to Bloomberg. "Rivian data indicates R1 toe link joints are operating as intended," the company said.
