Polestar 2 (1st)
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
E400V6
402 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
E400V9
228 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Polestar Polestar 2 Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Battery Electric (BEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2
That's near the typical rate for BEVs in this dataset (median 5.7 per year). Within the normal range for the category.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 15 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Regen brake feel, one-pedal driving, B-mode complaints.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Battery & propulsion recalls (1)
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.
Consequence: A disconnected high voltage system can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Sample complaint excerpts
Regenerative Braking
- [2021] Under regen braking the car has very loud ticking in the rear and feels as if the axles are sheering themselves. Looking into the issues with other owners the culprit is the ERAD motor turns to recoup the energy. It looks like this component is used in a wide variety of Volvo based vehicles like this one and other models report the same issue. The worry comes with failure, as this is a braking com
- [2022] The polestar 2 continues to be unsafe. When reversing the rear camera freezes up always, and takes minutes to stop lagging, being very unsafe when backing up onto a busy road out of the driveway. One pedal drive glitches and fails to brake when letting off the foot, another safety concern. TCAM and connection issues, my IPhone 16 constantly drops Bluetooth to the car, and when it drops connectio
- [2022] Polestar release version 3.6.4 update that when applied did not inform us that the one pedal drive was set. The vehicle prior to the update was set to 2 pedal meaning when the gas pedal was let go it would coast and slowly come to a stop. The one pedal immediately was enabled which is a safety as I was not aware and the software did not mention it being activated. It nearly caused me to have a saf
Charging System
- [2022] 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 place
- [2022] 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
- [2022] Since software update 5.x the behicle it throws a false "Disconnect Charging Cable" message on the dashboard display even though no charging cable is attached to the vehicle. This leaves the vehicle immobilized. Multiple instances since approx [XXX]. I checked codes and there is a fault code VCU1-U116E00. Further research indicated that prior reports to nhtda resulted in 2 seperate service bul
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2021] Car was stopped, battery died
- [2022] The polestar 2 continues to be unsafe. When reversing the rear camera freezes up always, and takes minutes to stop lagging, being very unsafe when backing up onto a busy road out of the driveway. One pedal drive glitches and fails to brake when letting off the foot, another safety concern. TCAM and connection issues, my IPhone 16 constantly drops Bluetooth to the car, and when it drops connectio
- [2022] Vehicle becomes nonrespive and becomes disabled. The only way to get vehicle to function is by disconnecting the 12v battery and waiting for the car to reset and then proceed. This happened multiple times and the manufacturer is not taking care of the problem.
Electric Propulsion
- [2022] 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 collisi
- [2022] We were driving our car with two little kids in it on a rainy day at 60mph and the car screeching braked to 5mph on a highway with a ‘propulsion system failure’ message. The car would knock at 5mph and continue in turtle mode. We could have been killed if there was a car behind us in that rain. When we took the car to polestar service (prestige Volvo) they did a software upgrade in 30 mins and sa
- [2023] Over the last 1.5 months, the liftgate system on the vehicle has failed to fully close and latch. The vehicle shows the liftgate as unsecured and the liftgate has play despite being partially latched. Investigation of the vehicle shows that the tailgate damper drive unit wiring harness is designed in a way that the wires pinch and short to ground. This design flaw causes the vehicle to lose commun
High-Voltage Battery
- [2022] 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.
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Battery: Volvo / Polestar CMA pack (78 kWh, LG cells)
Pack overview
Known issues
How this pack ages (industry context)
Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).
OEM warranty floor on this pack: 8 yr / 100k mi to 70% capacity.
Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.
Battery: Volvo / Polestar CMA pack (82 kWh, CATL cells)
Pack overview
Known issues
How this pack ages (industry context)
Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).
OEM warranty floor on this pack: 8 yr / 100k mi to 70% capacity.
Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Polestar Polestar 2, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2
On a used 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the airbags and driver-assist systems (439) and the electrical system (68). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 439 owner complaints on the 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2 about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 68 owner complaints on the 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2 about the electrical system.
Recalls (7)
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.
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.
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."
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2024 Polestar 2 electric vehicles. The clamps may be improperly crimped on the driver's side inner far side air bag module (FSAB), which can cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
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."
Show 2 older recalls
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2023 Polestar 2 vehicles. The front left lower ball joint may have been incorrectly installed, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the steering knuckle.
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.
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2 complaints?
Owners have filed 593 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2. The systems they name most often are the safety systems, the electrical system and the fuel system.
Is the 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2 a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 593 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2 have?
NHTSA has 593 owner complaints on file for the 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2 as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls covering some 2021-2025 Polestar Polestar 2 vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Polestar Polestar 2?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the safety systems, the electrical system and the fuel system, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Polestar 2?
The 2025 Polestar Polestar 2 received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 5 stars (8.3% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 593 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.