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Polestar · NHTSA safety record

2022 Polestar Polestar 2

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 305 safety complaints about the 2022 Polestar Polestar 2 with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is back-over prevention, named in 209 complaints, 69% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 20,000 miles, the median across the 5 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers January 2022 to August 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

305 complaints on file

305

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints rose 42% year on year: 148 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 104 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
BACK OVER PREVENTION 209 · 69%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 46 · 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 40 · 13%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 20 · 7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 9 · 3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9 · 3%
LANE DEPARTURE 9 · 3%
POWER TRAIN 5 · 2%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 · 1%
SUSPENSION 4 · 1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 · 1%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 · 1%
0 85 169

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 305.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 212.

224 168 112 56
22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2022 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2022 Polestar POLESTAR 2, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 5 HB AWD 5 HB FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 8.3% 8.3%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

25V615000 · September 15, 2025

The defect
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Polestar 2 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
The risk
A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 4, 2026. Owners may contact Polestar's customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1069. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 20, 2026. This recall replaces previous NHTSA recalls 24V477 and 25V280. Vehicles previously repaired under those recalls will need to have the new remedy performed.

Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. · up to 27,816 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

25V280000 · April 25, 2025

The defect
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Polestar 2 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2025. Owners may contact Polestar's customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1056. Vehicles in this recall that were previously repaired under 24V-477 will need to have the new remedy completed.

Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. · up to 27,816 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:SOFTWARE

24V477000 · June 26, 2024

The defect
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Polestar 2 vehicles. The Infotainment Head Unit (IHU) software may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Polestar has released an over-the-air IHU software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Polestar customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1016.

Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. · up to 25,825 vehicles across all model years covered · fixed by software update

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY:MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ENERGY CONTROL MODULE (BMS/BECM):SOFTWARE

21V110000 · February 24, 2021

The defect
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Polestar 2 vehicles. The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) microprocessor may reset and cause the high voltage system to disconnect.
The risk
A disconnected high voltage system can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Polestar will notify owners, and the software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 23, 2021. Owners may contact Polestar customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is R10079.

Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. · up to 3,457 vehicles across all model years covered · fixed by software update

Defect investigations

2 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Loss of rear-view camera image

RQ25004

Closed recall query · opened July 9, 2025 · closed August 28, 2026 · led to recall 25V615

back-over prevention

On July 9, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query (RQ) 25004 to investigate and review the effectiveness of the remedy for Recall 25V-280.Polestar initiated Recall 25V-280 to address shortcomings in the remedy for Recall 24V-477, which intended to address rear camera outage conditions. Consumer complaint traffic reporting rear-view camera outages after receiving the remedy for 25V-280prompted the RQ opening. On July 7, 2024, Polestar initiated Recall 24V-477 to address issues with the rear-view camera display in certain Model Year (MY) 2021-2024 Polestar 2 vehicles. According to Polestar, this failure was due to a memory allocation error in the IHU. To address this error, the remedy, provided by an over-the-air (OTA) software update , shortened the retry times of the camera streams and removed the rendering of the map in the driver display during backing events to release the graphic memory for the rear-view camera. On April 25, 2025, Polestar initiated Recall 25V-280 to address similar issues with the rear-view camera display in certain MY 2021-2025 Polestar 2 vehicles. The recall remedy consisted of an OTA software update intended to correct a synchronization error between the Parking Assist Camera (PAC) and the Infotainment Head Unit (IHU). The updated software would maintain the high-speed signal connection between the PAC and IHU, instead of toggling on and off by request. ODI has received two hundred seventy-five (275) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) alleging failure of the rear-view camera to display after receiving the remedy for Recall 25V-280. Consumers reported that the rear-view camera failed to display once the vehicle was initially placed in reverse, as well as losing the rear-view image while the vehicle was traveling in reverse . Failure to display the rearview image will reduce the driver’s visibility in a backing event, increasing the risk of a crash. On July 18, 2025, ODI sent Polestar an Information Request (IR) letter requesting data for vehicle production, field incidents, and any modifications related to the backup camera and its software. ODI also requested information pertaining to Polestar’s internal assessments, problem resolutions, and their assessment of the alleged defect. On September 15, 2025, Polestar issued Recall 25V-615, which sought to remedy the failure of Recall 25V-280. Polestar acknowledged that the prior remedy was insufficient and that further engineering analysis would be required for final software development and validation. Polestar worked with its supplier (Volvo) and began validation of the new software in February 2026. On April 20, 2026, Polestar released the remedy for Recall 25V-615 via an OTA software update. The update provided general stability improvements to the operating system, as well as bug fixes for the rear-view camera. Since the deployment of the 25V-615 remedy, ODI has received only 3 VOQs alleging a rear camera outage, yielding a complaint rate of 0.01% for Recall 25V-615. ODI assessed the conditions that led to the 25V-280 remedy failures and the countermeasures deployed to prevent recurrence in vehicles that received the remedy for 25V-615. To measure its efficacy, ODI analyzed materials produced by Polestar in its responses to ODI’s July 18, 2025, IR letter and additional materials Polestar furnished in response to email requests and a technical meeting in 2026.ODI also reviewed information Polestar provided in response to another IR letter NHTSA sent on March 25, 2026, requesting additional information related to the decision-making process for correcting the remedy failure of Recall 25V-280. On June 10, 2026, at the request of ODI, Polestar presented a technical briefing of the remedy for Recall 25V-615, which included both completion rates and remedy failure counts. ODI has monitored the remedy for Recall 25V-615 since April 2026 and has observed the failure rate to remain low. ODI is closing this RQ following manufacturer action in the form of Recall 25V-615. The Agency will continue to monitor the remedy and reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Pedestrian alert sounds

DP22005

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

crash

While backing up, my vehicle collided with a an approaching vehicle due to reduced rear visibility. At the time of the incident, the rearview camera system did not display any image on the center screen. There were no warning messages or indicators alerting me to a malfunction prior to or during the incident. The loss of rear camera function put my safety and the safety of others at risk, as I was relying on the system for visibility behind the vehicle. Shortly after the accident, I received a safety recall notice from the manufacturer stating that a defect in the parking assist camera system may reduce rear visibility and increase the risk of a crash. The timing of the incident suggests

NHTSA complaint 11669958, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

towed · 13,000 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Polestar PS2. The contact stated while exiting a parking lot, the vehicle started jerking and decelerated, followed by the turtle mode warning light being illuminated. The contact was able to make it home safely. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing, but the dealer stated that no failure was found. On another occasion, while driving 65 MPH, the collision warning light illuminated and made a beeping sound. The vehicle steered independently out the lane. The contact was able to steer the vehicle back into the proper lane. The dealer was contact but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was

NHTSA complaint 11515607, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
When getting into the vehicle to drive, there are instances where one is unable to put the vehicle into drive. Center driver screen displays an issue “remove charge cable before start” and there is no charging cable connected to the vehicle. I have been put in situations in which I have been late to events, deliveries I had to drop off have been late, and I have been stuck/stranded in random places. Not just the grocery store parking lot or even at home, but peoples driveways while performing deliveries. I would imagine other drivers have been in similar situations. Polestar knows this is an issue and I was quoted $900 for a software fix (which could truly not lead to the fix if there

NHTSA complaint 11760971, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Driver information display has not been turning on when car wakes from sleep on hot days, typically over 105 degrees and parked for over five hours. Driver unable to see current speed, current state of charge, etc. Display turns on, with no issues, the next morning or after the car is parked in the shade for more than 30 mins.

NHTSA complaint 11755691. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Electric vehicle DC charging pins have defective insulator on its tip. The insulator freely rotates, is loose, and one has fallen off or can get stuck in charger handles. The easily detachable insulator, if not present, can cause shorting and arcing of high voltage at the charge port. Polestar has specified the charge port is an important safety related component in communications with them. With the defective charge port DC insulator easily falling off, this could lead to electrocution, fire at charge port due to melting pins from arcing, damage to charging station plugs. The service center the vehicle has been taken to claimed damage was caused by a defective charging handle at charger

NHTSA complaint 11754613, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
When starting the vehicle and placing it in reverse, the center screen was frozen and did not show the backup camera or other sfaety information. Safety was put at risk because reverse visiblity / backover prevention were impaired. Other functions such as reverse auto brake were likely unavailable, or a least unmonitored (rear cross traffic allert was definitely unavailable as it depends on the center screen). This was resolved by re-parking the vehicle and rebooting the infotainment system / center screen. It has not been independently reproduced or inspected, as it's presenting as random flakiness and the driver stopped and took troubleshooting steps (out of an abundance of caution).

NHTSA complaint 11747674, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The rear view camera malfunctioned, despite complying with the recent recall. It is available for inspection upon request. Safety was compromised by reduced rear visibility due to the lack of a rear view camera. This is an intermittent issue, not reliably reproducible for a dealer or service center. There has been no third party inspection, and no warning. The failure correlated with switching drivers; this may be part of oingoing issues with the underpowered IHU not handling driver switching well. If you are trying to reproduce the issue on a sample vehicle, I encourage swapping a few times between two drivers.

NHTSA complaint 11746121. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
There was as turn signal malfunction. It is not clear if the issue was purely internal or external, or confirned to the sound versus also impacting the lights. The turn signal sound was slow / irregular, missing beats, and appeared to slow down and catch up. it is unlclear if safety was at risk as I can't see the outside of the vehicle to verify whether this was just an audio issue or a signal issue. It hasn't been independently reproduced, and can't be consistently reproduced, though there is a correlation with switching users (possibly due to the underpowered IHU). The only other symptom was an unusably slow IHU (like taking more than a minute to pull up recent destinations on the center

NHTSA complaint 11746122, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Polestar Polestar 2

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 24 5 —
2023 116 4 —
2021 147 5 —

Every Polestar on this site — 5 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst