Exterior
Full walk-around in good light
0/14
Vehicle matches your order confirmation
Cross-check exterior color, interior color/material, wheel spec, battery pack, and all packages against the window sticker.
Panel gaps consistent — doors, fenders, hood
Uneven gaps are the most common delivery issue. Document any that look off before signing.
Paint — no chips, scratches, or swirl marks
Check all four corners and the hood leading edge in daylight or under the service center lights.
All doors open, close, and latch smoothly
Test every door: frunk, tailgate (R1T) or liftgate (R1S). A door that won't latch is worth escalating before signing.
Front turn signals — both sides flash correctly
Recall 25V085000 found some R1S/R1T front turn signals failed to illuminate. Test left and right through a full blink cycle. Safety issue — don't skip.
Headlights — no condensation, all beam modes work
Check for moisture inside the housing. Test DRL, low beam, and high beam. A low-beam cold-weather failure recall (25V537000) has affected some builds.
Wheels — correct spec, no curb rash
Verify size and color match your order. Check all four for transport damage.
Tires — no sidewall damage, reasonable pressure
Check sidewalls for bulging or cuts. Glance at PSI on all four corners via the instrument cluster.
Undercarriage — no shipping straps or transport blocks left on
Crouch and look under all four corners. Transport hardware occasionally gets left on at delivery — a critical safety miss if overlooked.
Reinforced underbody shield present (if on sticker)
Standard on Quad; included with All-Terrain Package. Some owners received vehicles where it appeared on the window sticker but wasn't installed.
Frunk — opens, closes, seal intact, sub-tray present
Check the rubber perimeter seal for gaps. Water intrusion has been reported. Confirm the under-tray is present — some 2026 deliveries arrived without it.
Charge port opens, closes, and accepts a cable
Test manually and via the Rivian app. All 2026 R1 models use a native NACS port — no adapter needed for Tesla Superchargers.
Powered tonneau cover operates smoothly (R1T — if equipped)
Standard on Tri and Quad; $2,000 option on Dual. Test open, close, and stop. Check the seal along all four edges.
Gear Tunnel doors flush and latch easily (R1T)
A known delivery issue: doors occasionally require significant force or sit proud of the body. Open and close both sides.
Glass & Wipers
Windshield, windows, pano roof, wipers
0/4
Windshield — no chips, cracks, or edge delamination
Inspect at an angle to catch chips and star cracks. Check edges for white haze or bubbling at the perimeter.
Side, rear, and pano roof glass — no chips or cracks
Hairline cracks in the roof glass have been reported. Look from outside at an angle in daylight. Check the liftgate glass on R1S carefully.
Electrochromic roof transitions fully (if equipped)
Included with Sound & Vision Package on Dual, and standard on Tri/Quad. It switches fully between opaque and clear — verify no stuck zones or partial patches.
Wipers — no streaking, auto mode activates with water
Run wipers with washer fluid. Rain-sensing wipers are standard on all 2026 trims — verify auto mode triggers.
Interior
Trim, seats, accessories, and HVAC
0/14
Trim panels — no gaps, defects, or sharp seams
Run your hand along all trim edges. A defect in the Dark Ash Wood trim was caught at my delivery this way.
Seats — no tears, stains, or stitching defects on any row
Check all rows, especially the bolsters — a common spot for cosmetic defects on new vehicles.
Powered seat adjustments work in every direction — both fronts
Eight-way power front seats are standard. Test every axis on both. Also test second-row fold/slide (R1S) and third-row fold (R1S).
All seat belts retract, latch, and lock under load — all rows
Two active recalls: front D-ring anchor bolts (FSAM-1681) and second-row retractor bolts (FSAM-1795). Confirm both are closed on your VIN via NHTSA. Physically test every belt.
No unusual odors
Mold, chemical, or musty smells can indicate water intrusion during transport. Easier to flag at delivery than diagnose later.
Heat produces warm air within 5 minutes
Set to max heat and time it. One of my delivery issues — the heater took over 20 minutes. Should be warm within 3–5 minutes.
A/C cools properly — listen for unusual fan noise at high speed
Run A/C on max. A loud clicking or "jet engine" sound beyond normal compressor noise may indicate a loose fan blade. Flag before leaving.
Seat heating and ventilation work on both front seats
Both heated and ventilated front seats are standard on all 2026 trim levels. Test all levels on both driver and passenger.
Rivian Torch present in driver's door — powers on
A 1,000-lumen rechargeable flashlight stows in the driver's door frame. Press to eject and test. Frequently missing at delivery — verify before leaving.
Air Compressor Kit present with hose and adapters
Standard on all 2026 R1T and R1S. Stowed in the gear tunnel (R1T) or cargo subfloor (R1S). Confirm hose and adapters are all present.
J1772 AC adapter present — CCS1 DC adapter present (Quad only)
All 2026 R1 vehicles include a J1772 adapter. Quad configurations add a CCS1 DC adapter. Confirm both are in the vehicle.
Standard inclusions present — floor mats, storage drawer, first aid kit
Easy to leave at the service center in the delivery rush. First aid kit is in the right gear tunnel door (R1T) or under the cargo subfloor (R1S).
Any ordered accessories accounted for
Camp speaker, crossbars, roof tent, bike rack — verify each is physically in the vehicle. Missing accessories are far harder to chase after you drive away.
Spare tire kit present and installed (All-Terrain Package)
If ordered, verify the compact spare is in the correct location with all hardware. Skip if not on your window sticker.
Tech & Software
Screens, keys, connectivity, and recall software
0/10
Main 15.6" touchscreen — no dead zones or backlight bleed
Tap all corners and edges. Look for unresponsive areas or display anomalies.
Driver display and rear console screen both functioning
Verify speed/range display correctly on the 12.3" cluster. The rear 6.8" console screen is standard on all 2026 trims — confirm it responds.
No active warning lights or fault codes on delivery
Confirm no active suspension faults, drivetrain alerts, or battery errors on either screen. If any warning is showing, do not sign without a written explanation and open service ticket.
Rivian app paired — test remote lock/unlock and horn honk
Verify the vehicle appears in your app. The app is your primary key — essential to confirm before leaving.
Phone key — proximity unlock and walk-away lock both work
Walk away and confirm it auto-locks. Then approach and confirm it unlocks before you reach the handle. Passive entry failures are a commonly reported issue.
Both KeyCards test on B-pillar reader and center console reader
2026 vehicles include two KeyCards — no key fob. Test each on both readers. Key fobs are a separate $250 purchase.
Software version at or above 2025.18.30 (Highway Assist recall)
Check Settings → About. Recall 25V585000 required an OTA fix for Highway Assist. If your unit is below that version, ask the service center to update before you leave.
Bluetooth audio connects and all speakers work without distortion
Pair your phone, play music at moderate volume, and check each zone. Test at higher volume if you have Rivian Premium Audio.
All USB-C ports functional — bring a cable and test
R1T has 6 ports; R1S has 8. Test at least front console and rear seat ports. Dead ports are common enough to check quickly.
Gear Guard camera feeds visible in app with clean images
Verify all feeds show a clear image in live view. Note: the Gear Guard USB-C SSD cable is NOT included — it's a separate Gear Shop purchase if you want local recording.
Road Test
10–15 min drive before signing — local streets only
0/7
Steering wheel centered when wheels are pointed straight
Before you move, sit with wheels straight and check that the spokes are level. Many owners report the wheel arriving 2–5° off. Requires a return alignment visit to correct — flag it now.
Air suspension cycles through all height modes (if equipped)
Standard on Tri and Quad; included with All-Terrain Package on Dual. Cycle Low/Entry → All-Purpose → Off-Road → Max and confirm full travel each way. "Service Suspension" warnings within weeks of delivery are a documented issue.
Vehicle tracks straight — no pull to one side
On a flat, straight road, briefly release the wheel. A consistent pull indicates an alignment issue — one of the most common delivery complaints. Easier to document before signing.
Brakes — no grinding or pulsation; regen transitions smoothly
Apply firm progressive braking at low speed and listen. Test regen by releasing the accelerator — should engage smoothly without lurching. Verify one-pedal Hold mode works.
Suspension — no clunks over bumps
Drive over a speed bump at low speed and listen for clunks from any corner. A single loud clunk is worth flagging and documenting.
Steering feel — no vibration through the wheel while moving
Persistent vibration at any speed typically indicates a wheel balance issue or flat spot from transport. Test on two different road surfaces before dismissing it.
No drivetrain whine or unusual noise under acceleration
Accelerate firmly on a quiet street and listen. A persistent whine at steady cruise is not normal. Highway-speed testing is fine to do on your drive home — you don't need freeway access at the service center.
Recalls & Docs
Do the NHTSA check the night before — takes 2 minutes
0/6
NHTSA VIN check completed — all recall campaigns closed
Do this at nhtsa.gov/recalls the night before. Active campaigns on the 2026 platform include seat belts (FSAM-1681, FSAM-1795), turn signals (25V085000), HVDB ground strap (FSAM-1723), headlights (25V537000), and ADAS software (25V585000). Bring a screenshot.
HVDB recall confirmed closed on your VIN (2025-built units)
Recall FSAM-1723 found an improperly grounded connection in the High Voltage Distribution Box that can cause sudden loss of drive power. Especially important to verify on 2025 model-year builds.
Window sticker photographed or saved via Rivian Roamer
Useful for warranty claims, insurance, and verifying all ordered options were included. rivianroamer.com lets you pull it by VIN.
VIN recorded for your records
Found on the driver door jamb and dashboard (visible through the windshield). You'll need it for insurance and future recall lookups.
Any delivery issues photographed with timestamps
Do this before leaving. Timestamped photos carry significantly more weight than claims filed after the fact.
Service request filed in Rivian app for any noted issues
Open a service ticket before you leave. Delivery-day tickets get prioritized. The delivery tech can often add notes on the spot.
From my delivery: Using a checklist caught four issues I would have missed — two misaligned doors, a defect in the Dark Ash Wood trim, and an HVAC problem where the heater never produced warm air. Rivian's app-based service request system made documenting everything straightforward.
If you find issues, don't panic. Rivian expects some and the process for getting them fixed is clear. The key is documenting everything before you drive away.
Have a suggestion to improve this checklist? If you've been through a Rivian delivery and noticed something missing, I'd love to hear it — rivianresource@gmail.com.
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