FILE PHOTO: A view shows a second-generation R1S at electric auto maker Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, U.S. June 21, 2024. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez/File photo

(Reuters) - Rivian is recalling 24,214 R1S and R1T electric vehicles due to a software defect that may cause its hands-free Highway Assist system to misidentify lead vehicles, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday.

The issue affects certain 2025 Rivian vehicles running an older software version in the United States, the NHTSA said.

Rivian has issued an over-the-air software update to fix the problem, the NHTSA added.

The defect was identified after an incident involving a 2025 R1S model vehicle, where the system misclassified a low-speed vehicle and the driver failed to maintain control.

Automakers have increasingly competed to roll out advanced driver-assistance features like lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

Rivian has also been working on hands-free and "eyes-off" systems as part of its push into autonomous driving technology.

(Reporting by Preetika Parashuraman and Rajveer Singh Pardesi in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)