RoadVitals

2016 Gem E4

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Jan 30, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jul 19, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2016 Gem E4, most frequently naming the electrical category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 24 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V484000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Jul 19, 2018
2,110 units potentially affected
The defect: Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2016-2017 GEM E2, E4, E6, and ELXD vehicles. The drive mode switch can send an incorrect signal, causing the vehicle to become inoperative or go in the opposite direction than intended.
The risk: If the operator intends to go forward, but the vehicle reverses instead, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The remedy: Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive mode system with one that has separate inputs for each position (forward, neutral and reverse), free of charge. The recall began November 28, 2018. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V-884. Vehicles previously repaired under that campaign need the repairs covered by this campaign as well.
Polaris Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number L-18-02View on NHTSA.gov
17V279000

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

Apr 26, 2017
1,254 units potentially affected
The defect: Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2016-2017 GEM E2, E4, E6, and ELXD electric vehicles, equipped with steel wheels. The lug nuts on the front wheels may loosen, potentially resulting in a front wheel detaching from the vehicle.
The risk: If a wheel separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: GEM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lug nuts, and inspect the wheels. The recall began June 8, 2017. Owners may contact GEM Consumer Service Department at 1-855-743-3436. Polaris' number for this recall is L-17-01.
Polaris Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number L-17-01View on NHTSA.gov
16V884000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dec 8, 2016
1,644 units potentially affected
The defect: Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2016-2017 GEM E2, E4, E6, and ELXD electric vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to November 18, 2016. The drive mode switch can send an incorrect signal, causing the vehicle to go in the opposite direction than intended.
The risk: If the operator intends to go forward, but the vehicle reverses instead, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The remedy: Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 28, 2016. Owners may contact GEM Consumer Service Department at 1-855-743-3436. Polaris' number for this recall is L-16-01.
Polaris Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number L-16-01View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP22005ClosedDefect Petition

Pedestrian alert sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023
Closed Aug 7, 2023

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEMLed to recall 22V063000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Jan 30, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GEM E4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES, WHICH REPORTED INCORRECT INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE, THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE IN THE INCORRECT DIRECTION EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V884000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10948521
Incident
Dec 12, 2016
Mileage
3,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

L-21-01 FAQ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FAQ regarding the L-21-01 Service Bulletin.

L-21-01

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Some 2016-2021 GEM vehicles built with Fast Chargers (3 kW or 6 kW) may experience a premature failure to the charger itself, if a short circuit occurs on the vehicle.

L-21-01 Email

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Email to dealers about L-21-01 Service Bulletin.

L-20-09-01

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

GEM has released this Team Tip to inform dealers that a BMC software update has been released which improves the reliability of the BMC.

L-19-01

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Some 2016-2018 GEM vehicles built with the 500W DC/DC converter have exhibited premature failure of the component, including some thermal-related damage. To address this concern, GEM is releasing this Service Bulletin for dealers to remove 500W converters on all affected units, and replace with a 300W converter.

L-18-04-01 R02

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

GEM has observed instances where customers operating in cold weather are reporting vehicles slowing down at a higher state of charge, as if batteries are low. This Team Tip was released to inform dealers that there is a Polaris BMC reflash available for vehicles equipped with AGM batteries to factor ambient temperature into the state of charge reading. This communication also shows how to calculate a customer’s estimated range based on ambient temperature for vehicles equipped with flooded batteries.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Gem E4 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025020—
2024020—
2023010—
2022010—
2021001—
2020001—
2019001—
2018001—
2017031—
2016Viewing131—
2015111—
2013011—
2012011—
2011011—
2010111—
2009011—
2002200—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.