RoadVitals

2015 Polaris Sportsman 1000XP Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
16
Latest Aug 28, 2023
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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.
8

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Polaris Sportsman 1000XP, 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

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

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2015 Polaris Sportsman 570. The contact stated while starting the vehicle. The engine ran for approximately 10 minutes and shut off. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the failure recurred on a third occasion. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was overheating. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID 11541182 · filed Aug 28, 2023

THE POOR DESIGN OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ROUTES THE HEADER PAST PLASTIC AND YOUR ANKLE AREA. MY EXHAUST HAS, SEVERAL TIMES, HEATED UP TO CHERRY RED. THE LAST TIME IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED THE PLASTIC AND BURNED MY BOOT (MY BODILY DAMAGE TO PERSONS). POLARIS REFUSES TO ADMIT A PROBLEM. THE HEAT IS SO GREAT WHEN RIDING IT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT IN THE WHEEL WELL ON THE FOOT REST MAKING THIS MACHINE A FIRE HAZARD IN FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL FORESTS AS WELL AS A HAZARD TO BEING BURNED OR LOOSING YOUR MACHINE TO FIRE. POLARIS IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID 10818840 · filed Jan 8, 2016
All 9 reports naming engine

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

EXHAUST PIPES FROM MOTOR TO MUFFER CHERRY RED AND PLASTIC MELTING HOT TO THE TOUCH IF U RIDE IT FOR MORE THAN TEN MINS ON DIRT ROAD OR IN CREEKS.

NHTSA ID 10873843 · filed Jun 13, 2016

EXHAUST TO HEAT

NHTSA ID 10763205 · filed Sep 11, 2015
All 8 reports naming body & structure

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTS OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WET AND IT DRAINS THE BATTERY. WATER GETS INTO THE DRIVE BELT WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WET AND THE BELT SLIPS.

NHTSA ID 10892845 · filed Aug 3, 2016

ATV POLARIS SPORTSMAN 1000 XP 2015 ALMOST NEW, 120 MILES ON IT. EXHAUST HEAT MELTED THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR HARNESS, FENDER AND OTHER SMALLER PLASTIC PARTS. FLEXIBLE HEAT SHIELDS WERE NOT ENOUGH AND DISTROYED AS WELL. VEHICLE GOT ON FIRE (MELTED PLASITC IGNITED), I TURNED THE FIRE WITH HANDS (TKS GOD I HAD GLOVES). DEALER WANT TO REPLACE PARTS ONLY, NO CHANGES AT ALL. HAVE BEEN WAITING 9 WEEKS FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE, NO PARTS YET. I'M A MECHANICAL ENGENEER AND ALMOST SURE THAT WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HOPE POLAIRS FINALLY LISTEN AND PROTECT THEIR CUSOTMERS SAFETY, BEFORE SOME ONE GET HURT. AS PER FORUMS, MORE THAN 50% OF THESE ATVS POLARIS SPORTSMAN 1000 XP 2015, HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, MELTED PLASTIC PARTS.

NHTSA ID 10750322 · filed Aug 21, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2015 Polaris Sportsman 570. The contact stated while starting the vehicle. The engine ran for approximately 10 minutes and shut off. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the failure recurred on a third occasion. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was overheating. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID 11541182 · filed Aug 28, 2023

WHEN I RIDE THIS BRAND NEW SPORTSMAN XP 1000 THE EXHAUST SYSTEM GETS GLOWING RED HOT, PLASTIC FENDERS NEAR THE EXHAUST ARE UNTOUCHABLE, REAR TIRE IS EXTREMELY HOT, AND SOME GRASS THAT WAS THROWN ONTO THE EXHAUST CAUGHT FIRE. THIS IS A TWO WEEK OLD ATV WITH 13 MILES ON IT. I AM NOT RIDING THIS MACHINE HARD. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE MACHINE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AT A MINIMAL RPM. POLARIS SAYS THIS IS NORMAL BREAK IN OCCURRENCES. THESE MACHINES WILL CATCH AN OWNER'S PROPERTY ON FIRE AND/OR HURT SOMEONE SUBSTANTIALLY IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ID 10726286 · filed Jun 19, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTS OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WET AND IT DRAINS THE BATTERY. WATER GETS INTO THE DRIVE BELT WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WET AND THE BELT SLIPS.

NHTSA ID 10892845 · filed Aug 3, 2016

MUFFLER ON THIS MACHINE BECOMES RED HOT WITH NORMAL USE, AT SPEEDS OF 15-25 MPH PLASTIC IN AREA OF MUFFLER AND HEAT SHIELD BECOMES TO HOT TO TOUCH, IN SOME CASES MELTING PLASTIC BODY PARTS. IF THIS RED HOT MUFFLER WERE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH BRUSH THERE WOULD BE HIGH PROBABILITY OF FIRE. POLARIS DOES NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN SOLVING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID 10730620 · filed Jun 26, 2015

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

Data on this page last refreshed .