Rivian Automotive began business a scant 15 years ago; in comparison, the average age of an American automobile has now hit 13.7 years. In June of 2009, RJ Scaringe and a hand-picked team of MIT engineers moved on their idea of electrification and self-driving technologies in the automotive world.
Rivian’s first venture into a new world began with the all-electric, five-seater pickup truck, the R1T. The Rivian R1T features an electric motor at each wheel with a 0 to 60 time of under three seconds.
The Rivian Truck is highly complex to produce, and the company has low production numbers. Potential buyers should know the base model 2025 R1T starts at an eye-watering $71,700. Those who want a Rivian must wait until 2026 for the R2, a mid-size SUV.
The Rivian R1T pickup was delivered in October of 2021 and each vehicle of the new company has the 17-digit alphanumeric code mandated by the NHTSA in 1981.
Rivian VIN Decoder
Prospective buyers, fleet managers, and others can use a handy VIN decoder tool to decipher the 17-digit code assigned to every modern vehicle. The manufacturer encodes each character in the VIN with a specific piece of information. Often, the automaker combines the characters to offer a more significant piece of data that clarifies the model, engine type, and safety equipment. Input the code into a quality tool such as the Free GoodCar VIN Decoder, and the application will instantly return a basic profile report on any vehicle.
Deciphering an Rivian VIN
- 1
- F
- T
- 8
- W
- 3
- D
- T
- 8
- 5
- 5
- c
- 3
- 8
- 8
- 9
- 9
A - Electric, Quad-Motor, AWD
B - Electric, Dual-Motor, AWD
C - Electric, Tri-Motor, AWD
A - 2x front airbags; 2x knee airbags; 2x front row side airbags; 2x curtain airbags; 2x front row 3-point seat belts; 3x second row 3-point seat belts.
A - Adventure
E - Entry (Formerly Explore, New for 2025)
L - Launch Edition (Discontinued for 2025)
P - Premium (New for 2025)
Locations of the Rivian VIN
Rivian follows the NHTSA mandates for two required locations of the VIN.
- The first location of the Rivian VIN is on the inside of the vehicle, on the dashboard above the steering wheel. The VIN must be permanently stamped on a non-removable plate affixed to the frame at the windshield and visible through the glass.
- Rivian’s VIN should be permanently attached to a plate on the door jamb or post about halfway down. The plate will contain other vital information, such as the vehicle’s tire type and pressures.
- Additional locations of the VIN include registration docs, tiles info, and insurance information.
Popular Rivian Models
Rivian R1S SUV
Rivian’s R1S SUV, at $75,900, is a distinctive EV that would fit nicely into anyone’s garage. The R1S features two trim levels or four drive line configurations, including the Adventurer and Ascend. Each model has room for seven passengers and plenty of horsepower, including 533hp for the Adventurer and 850hp for the Ascend. Each model of the R1S has enough torque and towing power to get that 38-foot RV to any campsite in style. Rivian has concentrated a great deal of its resources on making charging times palpable for EV owners. The R1S can get to an 80% charge in about 30 minutes on the right charger, like Tesla’s nationwide Supercharger network. Take advantage Of Rivian’s extensive color options as well as their wheel packages. A full range of connectivity, navigation, safety, and security applications are available. Among the many options is a dynamic glass roof that can go from panoramic to complete privacy at the touch of a button. There is a full attention to detail with the R1S. Even though the Rivian is pricey, the R1S is worth it.
The Rivian VIN
Like other EV automakers, Rivian continues to expand each 17-digit VIN position to distinguish electric models from their gasoline-powered counterparts. VIN positions four through eight now detail electric motors, EV styles, and different interior options to give owners, insurance personnel, and prospective buyers more helpful information.
Rivian VIN Lookup
A VIN lookup from a quality provider such as the GoodCar VIN Check tool can provide specific information when purchasing a vehicle from a private seller, auction company, or local dealer. Use the GoodCar VIN Check tool to get started on finding the exact information you need.
Use the GoodCar service for a complete historical timeline of every significant event that has occurred with a specific vehicle.
GoodCar Rivian VIN Checks
When it is time to purchase another used automobile, knowing the vehicle’s history and current retail, wholesale, and trade-in values is a must-have to make an informed decision. A GoodCar VIN Check provides all the values a prospective purchaser may need.
There are over 50 different title brands that may be assigned to a vehicle, depending on its current condition and legal status. A salvage title tells the user that the vehicle has been in a severe accident and insurance companies have deemed the vehicle a total loss or of no value.
Owners, fleet managers, and similar automotive users must know of any recalls or technical service bulletins to make a wise decision on a vehicle. GoodCar provides instant information as soon as recalls hit the internet. GoodCar provides the date, NHTSA, CPSC, or manufacturer's ID number, and the exact reason for the recall. The service also provides information on what action the owners should take next.
Technical Service Bulletins
TSB ID# RSB-18-24-001-1, Recalling 2022 to 2023 models. Rivian is initiating a technical service bulletin for some 2022-2024 R1T and R1S vehicles. In some situations, the driver may notice a squeaking or chirping noise coming from the front of the vehicle when driving on uneven surfaces below 20mph. This chirping does not affect vehicle performance. Rivian will replace the front hydraulic jounce lines with upgraded components to eliminate the noise.
August 2024, MFG. ID RSB-93-24-001, Recalling 2022 to 2024 R1T and R1S models. Rivian is launching a TSB for model years 2022-2024, R1T, and R1S, which are prone to excessive cabin noise and vibration from the A/C compressor. While the vehicle is safely functioning as designed, some customers might be unaccustomed to the noise of the A/C compressor in an electric vehicle. The noise is usually not noticeable in hybrid vehicles. Rivian will retrofit brackets on the A/C lines and, if necessary, reroute a harness to reduce noise and vibration in the cabin.
Recalls
September 2024, NHTSA Recall #24V-686. Recalling 2025 R1S models. Vehicles may have been manufactured with steering column control modules that were missing cruise control system markings due to a supplier error. Rivian is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this condition. Rivian will inspect potentially affected vehicles and replace the SCCMs that are missing cruise control markings, if any, at no cost to owners.
June 2024, NHTSA Recall ID#24V-458. Recalling model year 2022-2023 Rivian R1S and R1T vehicles. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (“FMVSS”) 571.110 (S4.3) – The driver’s side door post and tire placard require that "each vehicle shall show...(a) vehicle capacity weight expressed as "the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kilograms or XXX pounds." Rivian vehicles are equipped with a tire placard label that does not correctly define the max vehicle capacity weight. A driver may rely on the incorrect payload capacity and overload the vehicle, which can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. Rivian will mail the correct tire placard overlay labels to customers.