I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the front passenger seat mounting assembly on my 2027 Rivian R1S. While removing the front passenger seat to access the 12V battery, the front-right floor-mounted captive nut detached from the vehicle’s mounting structure as I loosened the seat bolt. The nut spun freely, preventing bolt removal. I had to cut the bolt, and the detached nut fell into the cavity beneath the floor. During reinstallation, a second captive nut at the front-left floor mounting point also detached while tightening the bolt with a standard hand wrench. The bolt initially turned normally before encountering resistance. No torque measurement was available. Two separate captive nuts have now failed, leaving the passenger seat improperly secured to the vehicle floor and creating a significant occupant safety concern, particularly during a collision. I am concerned about the integrity of the captive nut attachments and whether this represents a manufacturing or assembly defect. The cause has not yet been determined. I request that NHTSA investigate whether similar seat anchorage failures affect other Rivian R1S vehicles. I am also requesting a manufacturer-approved structural repair and engineering evaluation from Rivian.
- NHTSA ID
- 11774898
- Incident
- Oct 31, 2026