2018 Polaris Slingshot Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Polaris Slingshot, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical240.0%
- Airbags120.0%
- Brakes120.0%
- Tires & wheels120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 POLARIS SLINGSHOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V750000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED FREEDOM POWERSPORTS WEATHERFORD (3202 EAST INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 20, HUDSON OAKS, TX 76087; (817)241-2031) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE BETWEEN AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2020. UNTIL THEN, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE NOT BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 POLARIS SLINGSHOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V750000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED RIDENOW POWERSPORTS PEORIA & INDIAN MOTORCYCLE PEORIA (8546 W LUDLOW DR, SUITE 100, PEORIA, AZ 85381, (877) 822-1352) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER UNTIL DECEMBER 5, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: C/6129161T0C1H6. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER FRIEND WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF A 2018 POLARIS SLINGSHOT EQUIPPED WITH LEXANI 101WXL TIRES, SIZE: 515/25DR22 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH, THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS FASTENED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, A FRACTURED PELVIS, A BROKEN BONE IN THE RIGHT ELBOW AND LOWER BACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE, STITCHES AND STAPLES IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD, LACERATIONS ON THE BACK OF THE SKULL, A COLLAPSED LUNG WITH FLUID AND AIR AROUND IT, AND ROAD RASH ACROSS THE BACK AND RIGHT ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FRACTURED RIBS THAT ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PERSONALLY INSPECTED WHILE STATIONARY. I HAVE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT WEAR DIFFERENCE IN THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WHILE IT IS BEING BEDDED. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT FRONT ROTOR TYPES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE RIGHT ROTOR IS A SINGLE PIECE ROTOR WHILE THE LEFT ROTOR IS THE DUAL-PIECE ROTOR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE SLR VERSION. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, THE SINGLE ROTOR MINIMUM THICKNESS IS FRONT 4.5MM, REAR 6.5MM WHILE THE DUAL-ROTOR MINIMUM THICKNESS IS FRONT 19MM, REAR 19M. THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT SIZES WHICH WILL POSSIBLY CAUSE ADVERSE BRAKING ACTION AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER FRIEND WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF A 2018 POLARIS SLINGSHOT EQUIPPED WITH LEXANI 101WXL TIRES, SIZE: 515/25DR22 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH, THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS FASTENED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, A FRACTURED PELVIS, A BROKEN BONE IN THE RIGHT ELBOW AND LOWER BACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE, STITCHES AND STAPLES IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD, LACERATIONS ON THE BACK OF THE SKULL, A COLLAPSED LUNG WITH FLUID AND AIR AROUND IT, AND ROAD RASH ACROSS THE BACK AND RIGHT ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FRACTURED RIBS THAT ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .