Published
June 30, 2026
Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet
This article describes a class action complaint. The statements below are unproven allegations. Rivian has not been found liable, there is no certified class, and nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
What Is This About?
Three Rivian owners have filed a proposed class action accusing the automaker of years of false and misleading marketing about the self-driving capabilities of its first-generation R1T pickup and R1S SUV (the "Gen 1 Vehicles"). The complaint, Cornellier v. Rivian Automotive, Inc., was filed June 17, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division (Case No. 8:26-cv-01564), and demands a jury trial.According to the complaint, from around November 2018 through at least March 2023 Rivian allegedly marketed the Gen 1 Vehicles as capable of "Level 3 autonomy" and "true hands-free driving" through its "Driver+" system, and represented that such functionality — whether at delivery or through later over-the-air updates — would be standard on every Rivian. Plaintiffs allege those representations were false: that the Gen 1 Vehicles were built without the hardware, cameras, sensors, lidar, and compute needed for Level 3 operation, and that no software update can enable them to perform as advertised. Rivian has not responded to the allegations in court, and none of these claims has been proven.
Status
Complaint Filed · June 17, 2026
No class certified yet · litigation just beginning
Who It Covers
2022–2024 Rivian R1T & R1S
Vehicles marketed with Driver+, Level 3 autonomy, or hands-free driving · purchased/leased Oct 1, 2021–present
Can I Claim?
No — nothing to claim yet
No settlement exists; this is a pending lawsuit
What Rivian Allegedly Promised
The complaint points to a multi-year marketing campaign that, plaintiffs allege, ran across Rivian's website, online materials, public statements by founder and CEO RJ Scaringe, in-person sales representations, and company events. Among the representations cited:- A November 2018 unveiling presentation in which Scaringe allegedly described a "platform" integrating cameras, radar, high-precision GPS, and "two lidars" enabling on-road and off-road self-driving "we haven't seen in the market before."
- Website copy from late 2018 through at least October 2020 allegedly stating "Level 3 autonomy will be available on every Rivian vehicle," letting drivers take their "hands off the wheel" and "eyes off the road."
- Post-November 2020 marketing of "Rivian Driver+" as delivering "true hands-free driving assistance," powered by a hardware suite of ultrasonic sensors, exterior cameras, radars, and GPS, with enhancements promised over the air "at no expense."
- An October 2021 IPO Form S-1 statement that Rivian expected its platform architecture would "enable us to evolve and expand our Driver+ offerings to support SAE Level 3 autonomy."
- An October 2022 appearance at TechCrunch Disrupt where Scaringe allegedly described the ability to take "your hands off the wheel and eyes off the road and have the vehicle drive."
Why Plaintiffs Say the Claims Were False
Plaintiffs allege that Level 3 "conditional" automation requires a sophisticated hardware suite — high-resolution cameras, radar, lidar, high-performance onboard computing, and redundant safety systems — that must be designed into a vehicle at manufacture and cannot be retrofitted through software alone. The complaint alleges Driver+ is actually a hands-on highway-assist system (adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and similar active-safety features) that was never engineered to support the autonomy Rivian advertised.The complaint further alleges that at a December 11, 2025 "Autonomy & AI Day," Rivian unveiled a new "Autonomy+" platform for its Gen 2 and forthcoming Gen 3 vehicles and acknowledged that the Gen 1 Vehicles lacked the hardware and compute needed for Level 3 or true hands-free driving — and could not be upgraded to reach it. Plaintiffs allege Scaringe later told WIRED that the original autonomy approach was reset around the time the R1 launched. Plaintiffs say this December 2025 disclosure is when they first could have discovered the alleged falsity of the earlier marketing. Rivian has not admitted wrongdoing, and a court has not ruled on any of these allegations.
Who Is Covered?
The complaint proposes a nationwide class, with alternative California, Michigan, Wisconsin, and multi-state subclasses, generally defined as people who purchased or leased a model year 2022–2024 Rivian R1T or R1S with Driver+ (or marketed as featuring Level 3 autonomy or hands-free driving) from October 1, 2021 through the present. The proposed classes are limited to buyers who are not bound by Rivian's arbitration agreement and class-action waiver (the named plaintiffs say they opted out). No class has been certified — these definitions are only proposed, and the court may narrow, expand, or reject them.What the Lawsuit Seeks
The complaint brings claims for fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment, plus violations of the California Unfair Competition Law, California False Advertising Law, California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, the Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and a multi-state group of consumer-protection statutes. Plaintiffs seek class certification, injunctive and declaratory relief, restitution and disgorgement, actual and punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and interest. Whether any of this is awarded depends on how the litigation proceeds.What Happens Next?
Filing a complaint is the first step. Rivian will have an opportunity to respond, likely through a motion to dismiss and/or an answer, and may contest the allegations and the proposed class definitions. The case must clear class certification before any class-wide relief is possible, and many class actions are narrowed, settled, or dismissed along the way. There is currently nothing for owners to file or claim. If a settlement or claims process is ever established, the official details would come from a court-approved notice — not from any third party.Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Rivian class action allege?
It alleges Rivian falsely marketed its first-generation R1T and R1S vehicles as capable of Level 3 autonomy and true hands-free driving through Driver+, when the Gen 1 hardware was allegedly never capable of that level of automation and could not be upgraded over the air. These are unproven allegations; Rivian has not been found liable.
Which vehicles are involved?
The proposed class covers model year 2022–2024 Rivian R1T and R1S vehicles marketed as featuring Driver+, Level 3 autonomy, or hands-free driving, purchased or leased from October 1, 2021 through the present.
Is there a settlement or anything to claim?
No. This is a newly filed complaint. No class has been certified, there is no settlement, and there is nothing to claim at this time.
Where was the lawsuit filed?
The complaint, Cornellier v. Rivian Automotive, Inc., was filed June 17, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division (Case No. 8:26-cv-01564).
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Class Action Complaint (PDF)
Sources
- Cornellier v. Rivian Automotive, Inc., Case No. 8:26-cv-01564 (C.D. Cal., filed June 17, 2026) — Class Action Complaint (PDF above).
- SAE International, J3016 Levels of Driving Automation.
- NHTSA, Automated Vehicles for Safety.
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Status
Complaint Filed
Case Title
Cornellier v. Rivian Automotive, Inc.
Case Number
8:26-cv-01564
Court
U.S. District Court, Central District of California (Southern Division)
Date Filed
June 17, 2026
Vehicles
2022–2024 Rivian R1T & R1S with Driver+
