2021 Polestar Polestar 2

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 109 complaints for rear-view camera failures on Model Year (MY) 2021 to MY 2025 Polestar 2 vehicles. On June 26, 2024, Polestar recalled certain MY 2021 – MY 2024 Polestar 2 vehicles for visualization issues during a backup event and failure to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 (Rear Visibility) (Recall 24V-477). Specifically, Polestar stated that the rear-view camera “may have limited visualization, be inoperative, or function incorrectly when reverse gear is engaged, thereby affecting the driver’s rear visibility capability in a backing event.” Polestar proposed to remedy this condition via a software update to minimize an Infotainment Head Unit (IHU) graphical rendering limitation by shortening the retry times of the camera streams, as well as removing the rendering of the map in the driver display during backing events to release the graphic memory for the use of the rear-view camera. Subsequent consumer complaints to ODI reported continued rear-view camera outages in remedied vehicles pointed to limitations in Polestar’s 24V-477 approach, and, on April 25, 2025, Polestar filed a new recall to address the rear-view image visualization issues (Recall 25V-280). Polestar's stated remedy for this recall provided an additional software update intended to always maintain the high-speed signal connection between the Parking Assist Camera (PAC) and IHU, instead of toggling on and off by request. The update would also be designed to add a reset of the IHU video signal receiving hardware in case a synchronization error is detected, instead of just setting an error message. On June 21, 2025, ODI began receiving complaints from consumers whose vehicles had been remedied according to Recall 25V-280, but whose rear-view cameras were nevertheless continuing to fail in the same manner that they had previously. In July, ODI discussed the complaints with Polestar, which confirmed that their over the air software remedy for Recall 25V-280 did not correct the original issue. ODI is therefore opening this Recall Query to further evaluate the adequacy of Recall 25V-280’s remedy. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

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.

Rear driveshaft/axle shafts failing at 39,000 miles on a 2021 Polestar 2. Symptom is a ticking/clicking noise during deceleration at low speed cadenced to wheel speed. Polestar issued Technical Journal TJ 36854.1.0 in March 2024 acknowledging this as a known issue on 2021-2023 model year vehicles with VST Operation Number 46602-2. Despite this being a documented manufacturer defect, Polestar is not covering the repair outside the bumper-to-bumper warranty period. Quoted $2,547 for both rear axle shafts at an authorized service center. This defect affects multiple vehicles across multiple model years and warrants investigation for a formal recall.

NHTSA ID

11755105

Incident

Aug 5, 2026

Center entertaiment touchscreen which provides visiblity for the rear camera as well as the backup sensors and A/C controls for front defogger went is completely blank. Polestar2 logo appears, but no longer boots. This causes the rear camera to be completely useless.

NHTSA ID

11746309

Incident

Jun 22, 2026

Well backing out of a parking space at the grocery store. My rear camera failed to activate even after several times trying to get the camera to work. I decided to try and back out by just looking over my shoulder, but could not see through the back window and collided into a shopping cart. None of the advanced systems activated no object detection, no camera and no collision warning.

NHTSA ID

11744618

Incident

Apr 14, 2025

Vehicle Info: 2021 Polestar 2 74,765 mi Software version 5.0.10 About 2 weeks ago, I updated to the newest OTA update 5.0.10, which may be unrelated. 1 week ago, the normal start-up safety procedure flagged the airbag and instructed me to find a service station immediately. I scheduled an appt and I was charged $300 diagnostic fee. It's unclear if the airbags would deploy in a collision based on the fault. The service manager shared with me that there are two reasons for the issue in his experience - 1. the vehicle was in a collision and the sensors fail to lock out or 2. there is wiring under the seat that failed either at the harness or on the wire directly. #1 can be ruled out by the vehicle history report and the car was never in a collision. #2 is the only viable reason based on vehicle use. If this is the case, it's a design flaw that must be addressed by the manufacturer. More investigation should be conducted to find the cause (e.g. electronic seat adjustments damaging SRS wiring, faulty electrical components, OTA software patches, etc.). Regardless, it's unacceptable for customers to bear the financial responsibility of an SRS failure.

NHTSA ID

11735978

Incident

Apr 26, 2026

An update was applied last year to fix the reverse camera issue. The issue remains, sometimes the camera is unavailable, it the camera goes in to 360 degree mode. Happens about once a week or every two weeks

NHTSA ID

11727818

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

Polestar has issued two recalls and claims they fixed the reverse camera issues with a software update, but they have not been remedied. When reversing, the camera screen will still often go blank, freeze, or stutter. I am not confident that the picture I'm seeing on the screen is a real time depiction of the view behind me or is simply frozen. This presents safety issues where the screen may have frozen or gone blank just before someone runs behind the vehicle, and the driver is led to believe there is nothing behind the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11724680

Incident

Mar 16, 2026

2021 Polestar 2, consistently the rear back up camera fails to display. In my case the issue did not occur until my car was updated past 3.2.8. The issue is caused by extremely dated hardware. The processor, and memory are insufficient for the more modern software that is being released. I also believe this is why my car will slam on the brakes in reverse when there is no object behind the car while I am reversing. Polestar has released a IHU hardware upgrade in other Polestar markets, but has not given any dates or information for this to be released in the US. A further software update is not going to rectify this issue, unless features are removed to fre up resources. Not a safety concern but Media will stop playing in SiriusXM and have to be restarted after 20 minutes of driving. After parking over night the IHU will take 2-3 minutes to fully wake up to be able to set navigation or activeate Apple Car play.

NHTSA ID

11722842

Incident

Feb 11, 2026

Backup Camera still doesn't function when reversing after multiple recalls.

NHTSA ID

11722803

Incident

Mar 8, 2026

This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 3 png files and 1 mp4 file CSD Stuck in Recovery Mode, iCUP. Provide vehicle report.

This is a TJ - Text plus 1 PDF - If the customer reports the navigation map in the DIM become black during driving or at start-up, follow the instructions under "Service" (see attached picture TJ_37516_1.pdf).

This is a Technical Journal - Text plus 1 .png attachment- If during a Software Download (SWDL) at the workshop, and connected to VIDA, the CSD (Center Stack Display) turns black and the IHU (Infotainment Head Unit) becomes stuck in programming mode or is unresponsive, follow the advice under "Service". This TJ concerns ICUP vehicles / Vehicles with Variant Designation Number (VDN) Code RP03.

This is a Technical Journal: Headlamp condensation inside lens - Note that normal condensation will not be solved by replacing the headlamp. The headlamps are designed to withstand moisture and the functionality of the lamp is not affected by condensation. To avoid or eliminate moisture in the headlamps, use the car regularly. The car also needs to be used for longer period of time with low beam on

This is a TJ - Text only - no attachment - Do not perform fault tracing or replace any parts before reading this journal. An acceleration constraint from a standstill when the driver's seatbelt is unbuckled has been implemented and should be regarded as expected behavior. The models listed in this journal are the first to receive this software, but it will be rolled out progressively throughout the coming months to all BEV vehicles.

This is a TJ - Text plus 3 PD's - If customer complains about any of the symptoms regarding Bluetooth / Cellular as noted in this TJ Do not replace any components for this issue, follow but not limited to the 10 steps, and all instructions under "Service".