2021 Polestar Polestar 2 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera (95) · Visibility/Wiper (13) · Suspension (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Polestar Polestar 2 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Back Over Prevention:software 2025-09-15 · campaign 25V615000 · 27,816 vehicles
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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes 2025-07-02 · campaign 25V409000 · 2 vehicles
Defect: Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2021 and 2024 Polestar 2 vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "One Pedal Drive," the vehicle may lose brake function.
Risk: A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to use "One Pedal Drive" until the repair has been completed. Polestar has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2025. Owners may contact Polestar's customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1061.
Back Over Prevention:software 2025-04-25 · campaign 25V280000 · 27,816 vehicles
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."
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.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:electrical:infotainment:software 2024-06-26 · campaign 24V477000 · 25,825 vehicles
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."
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery:management System/Energy Control Module (Bms/Becm):software 2021-02-24 · campaign 21V110000 · 3,457 vehicles
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.
Risk: A disconnected high voltage system can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (181)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-24 · 37894.1.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj - text only - no attachments - if the software version displayed in the csd is not aligned with the actual software version installed in the vehicle (this may occur after a failed software download), and no total upgrade is available in vida, follow the instructions under "service". not
Unknown Or Other 2026-06-26 · 36569.5.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: text plus 3 png files and 1 mp4 file csd stuck in recovery mode, icup. provide vehicle report.
Unknown Or Other 2026-06-13 · 37516.3.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj - text plus 1 pdf - if the customer reports the navigation map in the dim become black during driving or at start-up, follow the instructions under "service" (see attached picture tj_37516_1.pdf).
Electrical System 2026-05-23 · 37439.5.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal - text plus 1 .png attachment- if during a software download (swdl) at the workshop, and connected to vida, the csd (center stack display) turns black and the ihu (infotainment head unit) becomes stuck in programming mode or is unresponsive, follow the advice under "servi
Exterior Lighting 2026-05-06 · 35844.8.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: headlamp condensation inside lens - note that normal condensation will not be solved by replacing the headlamp. the headlamps are designed to withstand moisture and the functionality of the lamp is not affected by condensation. to avoid or eliminate moisture in the headl
Power Train 2026-05-02 · 37798.1.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj - text only - no attachment - do not perform fault tracing or replace any parts before reading this journal. an acceleration constraint from a standstill when the driver's seatbelt is unbuckled has been implemented and should be regarded as expected behavior. the models listed in this j
Showing the 6 most recent of 181 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-14 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i am reporting a recurring, unresolved propulsion-system fault affecting my 2021 polestar 2 dual motor. since 2025, this vehicle has experienced repeated electrical and propulsion-system problems, including an incident in november 2025 when the vehicle became immobilized and would not engage drive or reverse. that incident was resolved after the 12…”
2026-08-05 · Power Train“rear driveshaft/axle shafts failing at 39,000 miles on a 2021 polestar 2. symptom is a ticking/clicking noise during deceleration at low speed cadenced to wheel speed. polestar issued technical journal tj 36854.1.0 in march 2024 acknowledging this as a known issue on 2021-2023 model year vehicles with vst operation number 46602-2. despite this bein…”
2026-06-24 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera“center entertaiment touchscreen which provides visiblity for the rear camera as well as the backup sensors and a/c controls for front defogger went is completely blank. polestar2 logo appears, but no longer boots. this causes the rear camera to be completely useless.…”
2026-06-16 · Back Over Prevention: Warnings · 💥 crash“well backing out of a parking space at the grocery store. my rear camera failed to activate even after several times trying to get the camera to work. i decided to try and back out by just looking over my shoulder, but could not see through the back window and collided into a shopping cart. none of the advanced systems activated no object detection…”
2026-05-06 · Electrical System“vehicle info: 2021 polestar 2 74,765 mi software version 5.0.10 about 2 weeks ago, i updated to the newest ota update 5.0.10, which may be unrelated. 1 week ago, the normal start-up safety procedure flagged the airbag and instructed me to find a service station immediately. i scheduled an appt and i was charged $300 diagnostic fee. it's unclear …”
2026-03-29 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera“an update was applied last year to fix the reverse camera issue. the issue remains, sometimes the camera is unavailable, it the camera goes in to 360 degree mode. happens about once a week or every two weeks …”
2026-03-16 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera“polestar has issued two recalls and claims they fixed the reverse camera issues with a software update, but they have not been remedied. when reversing, the camera screen will still often go blank, freeze, or stutter. i am not confident that the picture i'm seeing on the screen is a real time depiction of the view behind me or is simply frozen. th…”
2026-03-08 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera“backup camera still doesn't function when reversing after multiple recalls.…”
2026-03-08 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking“2021 polestar 2, consistently the rear back up camera fails to display. in my case the issue did not occur until my car was updated past 3.2.8. the issue is caused by extremely dated hardware. the processor, and memory are insufficient for the more modern software that is being released. i also believe this is why my car will slam on the brakes in …”
2026-03-03 · Vehicle Speed Control“the vehicle was serviced on 2/13 at the polestar service center in seattle. i believe this is when software version 4.2.13 was installed. in the last week, i've noticed a new behavior. when i accelerate from a stop, the vehicle intermittently does not accelerate as it used to. for approximately 2 - 3 seconds, i have no control over acceleration and…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.