Front Passenger airbag sensor does not recognize when a passenger is sitting in the seat. Airbag sensor turns off and on while driving depending on how passenger sits. If passenger shifts slightly forward the airbag sensor no longer detects them. I have never seen an issue like this in any other vehicle.
2023 Rivian R1T airbags problems
moderate Owners of the 2023 Rivian R1T have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2022 R1T | 5 |
| 2023 R1T (this page) | 14 |
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 38% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2023 Rivian R1T trucks report that the passenger airbag fails to arm when lighter adults (roughly 110–135 pounds) sit in the front passenger seat. The "Passenger Airbag OFF" warning light illuminates even when a buckled, properly seated passenger is present. The issue is inconsistent: the same passenger may trigger the sensor to flip on and off during a single drive, or behave normally on one trip and fail on the next. Owners note that posture matters—crossing legs, reclining the seat, or shifting slightly forward can cause the sensor to drop out mid-drive. Several owners report visiting Rivian service centers and being told the vehicle is functioning as designed; a few were informed the weight threshold is near 135–150 pounds, though Rivian has not published official specifications. Owners have documented the problem with photos and video. One service center reproduced the issue during diagnosis but declined to repair it, citing spec compliance. No owner mentions a factory recall, technical service bulletin, or warranty coverage for this condition.
Failure modes owners describe
Occupant Classification System (OCS) passenger airbag sensor—false negative on light adults
The pressure sensor in the front passenger seat fails to recognize occupancy in adults weighing roughly 110–135 pounds, causing the airbag to remain disabled ('Passenger Airbag OFF' telltale lit) even when an adult passenger is seated with the seatbelt fastened. The sensor behaves inconsistently: the same passenger may trigger enable/disable cycling during a single drive, or the airbag may arm normally on one trip and fail on another.
When: Occurs at startup and intermittently during driving when passenger is seated.
Symptoms owners cite: 'Passenger Airbag OFF' warning light remains illuminated with an adult passenger present and buckled; Airbag sensor toggles on and off during a single drive as passenger shifts position; Airbag remains disabled at startup despite occupant presence; Shifting seat position or adjusting posture (crossing legs, reclining seatback) can trigger or clear the disabled state; Inconsistent behavior across different drives with the same passenger
Repairs/costs cited: Service centers have reportedly reproduced the issue during diagnosis but have not repaired it, citing that the vehicle functions within specification. No parts, costs, or corrective steps are documented in the narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Rivian service centers have stated the vehicle is functioning as designed. One service contact reported being told the weight threshold is near 125 pounds and that 125 pounds is 'near the threshold.' Another reported being told the airbag operates per spec. No recall, technical service bulletin, or warranty extension program is mentioned in any narrative.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
Hello, I have a concern about the passenger side airbag in my 2023 Rivian R1T pickup truck. My wife is very small (weighs about 110 lbs., 5'2" tall). I've noticed on several occasions that when she's sitting in the passenger seat the airbag sensor will turn off because it's not detecting her sitting there. This happens more often if she crosses her legs or reclines the seat too much. As if…
The front passenger airbag sensor goes on and off when my passenger sits in the front seat. My passenger is 133 pounds and sometimes it triggers the "disabled" airbag icon and sometimes it doens't. It's very inconsistent and I fear that if it is in the disabled position at the time of an accident the airbags will not deploy. The vehicle has not been inspected by a licensed professional,…
The Rivian R1T's passenger airbag does not engage if you weigh less than a certain amount. I am 5'2" and 120 pounds, and the airbag is "off" if I sit in the passenger seat. Some Rivian dealers say it is set at 135 pounds; one dealer said it is set at 150 pounds. When we complain to Rivian, they say the car is "functioning as designed," but will not tell us what those design parameters are. I…
When there's a passenger sitting in the passenger seat, the car consistently fails to detect the passenger and the "AIRBAGS OFF" indicator remains on. I've brought the car in for service and Rivian says it's acting in normal parameters.
Front passenger airbag sometimes fails to activate when my friend, weighing 120 pounds, is sitting in the front passenger seat.
I've witnessed on multiple occasions where the 'Passenger Air Bag Off' warning comes on while my 120-125lb husband is sitting in the seat. If he shifts his seating position it comes back on, but it doesn't seem appropriate that the air bag would disable mid-drive while his seat belt had been buckled and door closed the entire time. If it detected him at the start of the drive, it should remain on…
The passenger airbag is not engaged for anyone under 150lbs, which includes my wife, 16 year old daughter, 14 year old son and 13 year old daughter. Seems a dangerous setting to have such a high weight threshhold for Rivian and they keep responding to owners that all is functioning normal.
The passenger airbag sensor is malfunctioning. When a passenger weighing 115 pounds is seated in the front passenger seat with the seatbelt connected, the vehicle disables the airbag. This has been documented with pictures and video multiple times to Rivian. They had the vehicle at their service center recently and informed me that the sensor was working properly. I implored them to road test it…
The passenger side airbag notification shows that the airbag is disabled when a passenger is seated in the seat and the car is moving. This happens very frequently when driving at various speed. If the passenger is not seated exactly at 90 degrees deeply in the seat in a perfect position, the airbag will be disabled. The sensitivity of the airbag sensor is very concerning. No one will sit…
Had airbags trouble with your 2023 Rivian R1T?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2023 Rivian R1T?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2023/Rivian/R1T.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.