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Polestar Car Guide: Common Problems, Maintenance & Best Used Models

What Polestar owners report most, model by model, drawn from 674 complaints filed with the U.S. safety regulator. Plus recalls, a service schedule and the model years to check carefully.

Data as of 2020 to 2026 model years

Quick facts

Polestar

Origin
Swedish
Status
Sold new, electric only
Most complaints
Polestar 2 (593)
Most-reported area
Backup camera system
Busiest model year
2022 (305 complaints)
owner complaints on file with NHTSA
674
models with at least one complaint
3
of complaints mention backup camera system
64%
recall campaigns covering the Polestar 2
7

01Common problems by model

Polestar Common Problems by Model

The 2 Polestar models with the most owner complaints, and the part of the car each complaint was about.

Polestar models with the most NHTSA complaints, 2020 to 2026 model years
ModelComplaintsMost-reported areasModel year with the mostRecalls
Polestar 2593Backup camera system and electrical system2022 (305)7
Polestar 379Electrical system and forward collision avoidance2025 (79)6
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases, read on October 12, 2026. Complaints are reports filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each model were sold, so best-selling models appear higher.

The Polestar 2 leads with 593 complaints, most of them about backup camera system and electrical system. That does not make it the worst Polestar. A model that sells in large numbers collects more reports, and these counts are not adjusted for sales.

Use the table to know where to look. If you own or are buying one of these models, ask about the area in the third column first, and price the repair with the repair cost estimator.

02Problem areas

Where Polestar Problems Concentrate

Every Polestar complaint names the part of the vehicle involved. These are the areas named most often across all 3 models.

By part of the vehicle

  1. Backup camera system433 · 64%
  2. Electrical system117 · 17%
  3. Visibility or wipers45 · 7%
  4. Forward collision avoidance33 · 5%
  5. Fuel or propulsion system27 · 4%
  6. Lane departure system20 · 3%

One complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

By model year

  1. 2021147
  2. 2022305
  3. 2023116
  4. 202424
  5. 202580
  6. 20262

Recent model years have had less time to gather complaints, so a short bar at the bottom is not yet good news.

03Best and worst used models

Polestar Model Years to Check Carefully

The model years of each popular model that drew the most complaints. Start your questions there when you shop used.

How to choose a used car

  • 593 complaints

    Polestar Polestar 2

    1. 2022305 complaints
      4 recalls
    2. 2021147 complaints
      5 recalls
    3. 2023116 complaints
      4 recalls

    Mostly about backup camera system and electrical system.

  • 79 complaints

    Polestar Polestar 3

    1. 202579 complaints
      6 recalls

    Mostly about electrical system and forward collision avoidance.

A year with many complaints is one to inspect closely, not one to rule out. The fault may have been fixed under recall, and a well-maintained car from a busy year can be a better buy than a neglected one from a quiet year.

Before you buy any used Polestar, decode the VIN, check it for open recalls and follow the inspection checklist. A complaint count cannot tell you about the one car in front of you.

04Recalls

Polestar Recalls by Model

The number of safety recall campaigns that cover each model, with the most recent ones listed.

  • Polestar Polestar 2 recalls

    7

    recall campaigns, 2021 to 2025 model years

    1. Sep 15, 2025Backup camera system: software25V615000
    2. Jul 2, 2025Hydraulic brakes: power assist25V409000
    3. Apr 25, 2025Backup camera system: software25V280000
    4. Dec 18, 2024Airbags: frontal24V939000
    5. Jun 26, 2024Equipment: electrical24V477000

  • Polestar Polestar 3 recalls

    6

    recall campaigns, 2025 to 2025 model years

    1. Jan 23, 2026Seats: critical fasteners26V037000
    2. Aug 26, 2025Body structure: body25V555000
    3. Jul 14, 2025Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly25V420000
    4. Jul 7, 2025Electrical system: wiring25V453000
    5. May 7, 2025Backup camera system: software25V293000
Check your VIN at NHTSA

A recall is free to have repaired at a Polestar dealer. The lookup shows only the recalls still open on your vehicle.

05Maintenance schedule

Polestar Maintenance Schedule

An electric Polestar has no engine oil, spark plugs or timing belt. These are the services that remain.

Build a schedule for your mileage
Typical maintenance intervals for a Polestar
ServiceTypical intervalGood to know
Tire rotation5,000 to 8,000 milesEasiest to do at every oil change.
Cabin air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesSooner in dusty or high-pollen areas.
Brake fluidEvery 2 years or 30,000 milesIt absorbs moisture with age, whatever the mileage.
Engine coolant30,000 to 60,000 milesLong-life coolants can go further. Never mix types.
Typical intervals drawn from AAA's maintenance guidance, not Polestar's own schedule. Follow the schedule in your owner's manual, and use its severe-service intervals if you tow, make short trips or drive in extreme heat or cold.
Maintenance by mileageWhat each service costs

06Related guides and tools

Next steps for Polestar owners and buyers.

Guides

Free tools

All car brandsUsed car buying guide

07Questions

Polestar: common questions.

What are the most common Polestar problems?

Among 2020 to 2026 model-year Polestar vehicles, the areas owners report most often to NHTSA are backup camera system (64% of complaints), electrical system (17% of complaints) and visibility or wipers (7% of complaints). A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect.

Which Polestar model has the most complaints?

The Polestar 2, with 593 complaints on file for 2020 to 2026 model years. Its 2022 model year has the most, at 305. Popular models attract more complaints simply because more of them are on the road.

How do I check a Polestar for recalls?

Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows safety recalls that have not been repaired on that exact vehicle, and recall repairs are carried out by the manufacturer's dealers at no charge.

What maintenance does a Polestar need?

An electric Polestar has no engine oil, spark plugs or timing belt to service. It still needs tire rotation, a cabin air filter, brake fluid and coolant at the intervals in its owner's manual.

08About this guide

Where the figures come from.

Every count on this page comes from records published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was read on . We count the records. We do not reproduce owners’ statements, and we do not rate or rank models ourselves.

CarTipsMentor is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Polestar. The Polestar name and logo belong to their owner and are used only to identify the make. Full disclaimer.

Sources

  1. [1]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Vehicle owner complaints database
  2. [2]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety recalls by vehicle
  3. [3]AAA Automotive, Time-Stamped Car Maintenance Checklist

Complaint counts cover 2020 to 2026 model years. Each complaint is counted once and assigned to the model named in the complaint. Counts change as new complaints are filed.