🔍 Inspection plan
2024 Rivian R1S — what to check before you pay, built from this car's own records. Print it and bring it.
1️⃣ Run the VIN — it's free
This model has 6 recall campaigns. Recall repairs are FREE at any dealer, forever — the question is whether THIS car already got them.
- Get the 17-character VIN from the listing, windshield corner, or driver's door jamb.
- Paste it into the government's own free checker: nhtsa.gov/recalls — it shows recalls still open on that exact car.
- Ask the seller for proof these campaigns were completed: 24V319000, 24V367000, 24V408000, 25V370000, 26V003000, 26V009000. If any are open, the dealer fixes them free — factor the trip into your negotiation.
Why don't we run the VIN for you?
The government protects its VIN checker with a human-verification step, so no website can honestly automate it — including us. Some sites charge a fee to do this lookup; the data is free and takes 30 seconds. We'd rather teach you the free door than charge you to walk through it.
Source: NHTSA — Safety Recalls · re-checked about every 24 hours
2️⃣ Check what actually fails on this model
Generated from 16 owner reports filed with the government about this exact year/make/model — most-reported areas first.
1. Suspension4 owner reports · 1 involved a crash or fire
Look: Press down hard on each corner of the car — it should bounce once and settle. Uneven tire wear (feel the tread edges) often means worn suspension or alignment problems.
On the drive: Drive over a speed bump slowly and some rough road: clunks from the front usually mean sway-bar links or strut mounts. Listen for creaks in slow, tight turns.
Read the real reports in the complaints section.
2. Vehicle Speed Control3 owner reports · 2 involved a crash or fire
Owners report trouble in this area — read their actual reports on the full report page and ask a mechanic to focus here.
Read the real reports in the complaints section.
3. Unknown Or Other3 owner reports
Owners report trouble in this area — read their actual reports on the full report page and ask a mechanic to focus here.
Read the real reports in the complaints section.
4. Forward Collision Avoidance3 owner reports · 3 involved a crash or fire
Owners report trouble in this area — read their actual reports on the full report page and ask a mechanic to focus here.
Read the real reports in the complaints section.
5. Wheels2 owner reports · 1 involved a crash or fire
Look: Check all four tires: even wear across the tread, matching brands, and the DOT date code (tires older than ~6 years need replacing regardless of tread). Don't forget the spare.
On the drive: Vibration at highway speed often starts with wheels/tires — note the speed where it appears and ask for a balance/alignment check.
Read the real reports in the complaints section.
6. Electrical System2 owner reports
Look: Check every electronic thing in one sweep: all windows, locks, mirrors, seats, lights, wipers, horn, USB ports, and the infotainment screen (reboot or freeze during the visit = real problem).
On the drive: Watch the dash at startup — every warning light should turn on then OFF. Flickering gauges, dimming lights at idle, or a battery/alternator light are electrical-system flags.
Read the real reports in the complaints section.
Source: NHTSA — Owner Complaints · re-checked about every 24 hours
3️⃣ Standard practice for any used car
Not model-specific — just the checks every used-car buyer should run.
- Work through our 11-point pre-purchase checklist (saves your progress on your device).
- Pay a mechanic ~$100–$200 for an independent pre-purchase inspection on a lift. On a used car it's the best-value insurance there is — and this page tells them where to look first.
- Match the VIN on the windshield, door jamb, and title. Mismatch = walk away.
- Check the title status (salvage/rebuilt/flood brands) and consider a vehicle history report for accident and odometer records.
This plan is generated from public government records and general inspection practice. It is not a substitute for a professional inspection — it's the map that makes one better.