Owners have filed 126 complaints
about the 2025 Polestar Polestar 3 with NHTSA between 2025 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Camera
725.0%
Automatic Emergency Braking
621.4%
Warnings
517.9%
Adaptive Cruise Control
310.7%
Assist
27.1%
Body
27.1%
Latch
27.1%
Interior Trim
13.6%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2025peak 22Jun 2026
Recalls on the 2025 Polestar Polestar 3
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
26V037000
SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2025 Polestar 3 vehicles. The striker brackets that secure the rear seat backrest may be loose. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: A loose rear seat backrest may fall forward and allow cargo to enter the cabin during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
25V555000
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2025 Polestar 3 vehicles. The hood wing front bumper may be missing bolts, allowing the bumper to detach.
Risk: A detached bumper can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
25V420000
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2025 Polestar 3 vehicles. The panoramic glass sunroof may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk: A detached glass sunroof can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
25V453000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2025 Polestar 3 vehicles. Water may damage the electrical connectors between the engine bay and front bumper cable harnesses.
Risk: Damage to harnesses can cause various electrical malfunctions, such as a loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
25V293000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain Polestar 3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
24V940000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2025 Polestar 3 hybrid electric vehicles. Fluctuations in the 12-volt system may have damaged the High to Low Voltage Converter Module (HLCM).
Risk: A damaged HLCM reduces the system's ability to convert energy, causing a sudden loss in drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20253641,100 units in Canada
Electrical
Issue: On certain vehicles, water could leak into the connector between the engine bay wiring harness and the front bumper wiring harness. If this happens, there could be a loss of power steering and/or certain driver assistance systems may not work properly, including the pedestrian warning system and parking assistance system. Note: This problem could cause the vehicle not to start, the parking brake not to release and/or different warnings to display. Safety Risk: A loss of power steering assist would result in a sudden increase in steering effort, especially at low vehicle speeds. This could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, driver assistance systems that don't work properly could increase the risk of a crash and/or injury. Corrective Actions: Polestar will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the front bumper wiring harness and connector on the engine bay wiring harness.
Recall 2025243287 units in Canada
Visual System
Issue: Under certain conditions, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image to display the wrong camera view. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display when the vehicle is reversing. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volvo will notify owners by mail and send a wireless over-the-air software update to eligible vehicles to update the vehicle software. Alternatively, you may schedule an appointment to have the update performed at a Volvo dealership.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 745 milesLos Angeles, CACrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2025 Polestar Polestar 3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 3 MPH in a parking lot, as he depressed the brake pedal, to slow down the vehicle did not slow down. The contact stated no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped a curb and ran over some shrubbery. The contact stated that the passenger side front and rear doors had scraped a light pole, and then the vehicle rolled out of the parking lot and over a retaining wall. The contact stated that the vehicle landed on a sidewalk and then continued out onto a road below the parking lot and finally stopped. The contact stated that a warning had illuminated that his rear driver's side tire had deflated. The contact stated that the lower front bumper had been damaged, and some plastic parts of the driver's side wheel well had broken off. The contact had no personal injuries. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the parking lot and had the vehicle towed to a collision shop. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer for any diagnostic tests. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 745.
NHTSA complaint #11715540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 745 milesLos Angeles, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2025 Polestar Polestar 3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 3 MPH in a parking lot, as he depressed the brake pedal, to slow down the vehicle did not slow down. The contact stated no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped a curb and ran over some shrubbery. The contact stated that the passenger side front and rear doors had scraped a light pole, and then the vehicle rolled out of the parking lot and over a retaining wall. The contact stated that the vehicle landed on a sidewalk and then continued out onto a road below the parking lot and finally stopped. The contact stated that a warning had illuminated that his rear driver's side tire had deflated. The contact stated that the lower front bumper had been damaged, and some plastic parts of the driver's side wheel well had broken off. The contact had no personal injuries. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the parking lot and had the vehicle towed to a collision shop. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer for any diagnostic tests. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 745.
NHTSA complaint #11715540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harrison, NYCrash1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Date of Incident: [XXX] US Eastern Time Location: [XXX] Incident Type: Safety defect and vehicle malfunction due to Sudden Unintended Acceleration with multiple safety system failures On the date referenced above, while traveling at approximately 5 mph and preparing to park in a gravel parking lot, I removed my foot from the accelerator pedal to bring the vehicle to a complete stop using the normal deceleration process (with One-Pedal Mode disabled). Instead of the expected behavior, the vehicle: 1.Suddenly and violently accelerated without input 2.Drove straight into a parked vehicle at high speed, completely displacing it 3.Continued accelerating despite my attempts to control it 4.Required multiple brake applications before finally stopping 5.Traveled approximately 270 degrees across the parking lot while I desperately tried to avoid additional collisions 6.There were ~6 women that had been standing exactly where the incident happened only a few minutes before the accident, had I arrived earlier I could have hurt/killed these pedestrians Critical Safety System Failures During This Incident: •No pre-collision warnings or alerts activated •No collision avoidance sensors engaged •No automatic emergency braking deployed •No warning messages appeared on the vehicle display •No audible warning sounds of any kind •No air bag activation after my car rammed into the parked car This represents a catastrophic failure of multiple redundant safety systems that are fundamental to the Polestar 3's safety design. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11692656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harrison, NYCrash1 injured
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Date of Incident: [XXX] US Eastern Time Location: [XXX] Incident Type: Safety defect and vehicle malfunction due to Sudden Unintended Acceleration with multiple safety system failures On the date referenced above, while traveling at approximately 5 mph and preparing to park in a gravel parking lot, I removed my foot from the accelerator pedal to bring the vehicle to a complete stop using the normal deceleration process (with One-Pedal Mode disabled). Instead of the expected behavior, the vehicle: 1.Suddenly and violently accelerated without input 2.Drove straight into a parked vehicle at high speed, completely displacing it 3.Continued accelerating despite my attempts to control it 4.Required multiple brake applications before finally stopping 5.Traveled approximately 270 degrees across the parking lot while I desperately tried to avoid additional collisions 6.There were ~6 women that had been standing exactly where the incident happened only a few minutes before the accident, had I arrived earlier I could have hurt/killed these pedestrians Critical Safety System Failures During This Incident: •No pre-collision warnings or alerts activated •No collision avoidance sensors engaged •No automatic emergency braking deployed •No warning messages appeared on the vehicle display •No audible warning sounds of any kind •No air bag activation after my car rammed into the parked car This represents a catastrophic failure of multiple redundant safety systems that are fundamental to the Polestar 3's safety design. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11692656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Date of Incident: [XXX] US Eastern Time Location: [XXX] Incident Type: Safety defect and vehicle malfunction due to Sudden Unintended Acceleration with multiple safety system failures On the date referenced above, while traveling at approximately 5 mph and preparing to park in a gravel parking lot, I removed my foot from the accelerator pedal to bring the vehicle to a complete stop using the normal deceleration process (with One-Pedal Mode disabled). Instead of the expected behavior, the vehicle: 1.Suddenly and violently accelerated without input 2.Drove straight into a parked vehicle at high speed, completely displacing it 3.Continued accelerating despite my attempts to control it 4.Required multiple brake applications before finally stopping 5.Traveled approximately 270 degrees across the parking lot while I desperately tried to avoid additional collisions 6.There were ~6 women that had been standing exactly where the incident happened only a few minutes before the accident, had I arrived earlier I could have hurt/killed these pedestrians Critical Safety System Failures During This Incident: •No pre-collision warnings or alerts activated •No collision avoidance sensors engaged •No automatic emergency braking deployed •No warning messages appeared on the vehicle display •No audible warning sounds of any kind •No air bag activation after my car rammed into the parked car This represents a catastrophic failure of multiple redundant safety systems that are fundamental to the Polestar 3's safety design. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11692656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harrison, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was parking, lifted my foot off the accelerator to slow my car down, and instead my car unexpectedly went into high acceleration (note: not user error, I took my foot OFF the pedal). My car hit head-on into another car, then I steered the car sideways, and finally was able to get the car to stop by pumping the breaks several times.
NHTSA complaint #11685027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Rolsyn, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Since taking delivery of the vehicle, multiple electronic and computer-related systems have failed or malfunctioned. Initial issues included unreliable phone synchronization, dropped phone calls, and failure of the driver memory profile system, including seat and side mirror memory settings. Over time, the problems have become more serious and now involve safety-related systems. The vehicle intermittently displays SOS system failure warnings. The center and steering wheel display screens have gone black while the vehicle is in operation, resulting in the loss of vehicle information and audio alerts. During these incidents, it is difficult or impossible to confirm the status of certain vehicle functions through the display. The vehicle has also generated false occupant detection warnings indicating that a person has been left in the vehicle when no person or object was present. In addition, seat belt warning alerts repeatedly activate for a properly installed child safety seat. These warnings appear even when the child restraint is correctly secured. The failures occur intermittently and have been ongoing for months. The problems are particularly concerning because the vehicle is regularly used to transport young children. The combination of SOS system failures, display screen outages, and false safety warnings has significantly reduced confidence in the vehicle's ability to reliably communicate safety-related information to the driver. Multiple attempts have been made to obtain assistance and repairs through the manufacturer and service channels, but the issues remain unresolved. The vehicle should be available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11745934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sayre, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Unable to access brand new vehicle for several days. Would not respond to any keys (including the app). First tow company didn't have proper equipment. Spoke with Polestar support two days later and they sent out another tow company after trying some troubleshooting they suggested. Tow truck driver was able to get doors to open after jumping the 12v battery (which others have reported problems on). Upon starting vehicle, received electric system warning. Recommended to tow to nearest dealership.
NHTSA complaint #11744550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sayre, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Unable to access brand new vehicle for several days. Would not respond to any keys (including the app). First tow company didn't have proper equipment. Spoke with Polestar support two days later and they sent out another tow company after trying some troubleshooting they suggested. Tow truck driver was able to get doors to open after jumping the 12v battery (which others have reported problems on). Upon starting vehicle, received electric system warning. Recommended to tow to nearest dealership.
NHTSA complaint #11744550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Algonquin, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On-Board Charger not working on L2 charge
NHTSA complaint #11741511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY
I am submitting a complaint regarding my Polestar 3, which is subject to two open NHTSA safety recalls: 26V-037 and 25V-555. I attempted to have these recalls addressed on March 7, 2026, at Volvo Manhattan (an authorized Polestar service provider). Upon arrival, I was informed that no qualified Polestar technicians were available to service my vehicle, and I was told I would receive a follow-up call. No follow-up occurred. On April 30, 2026, I contacted the Polestar service desk at Volvo Manhattan again. I was informed that they currently have only two Polestar technicians, that they are unable to schedule a service appointment, and that no timeline can be provided for when recall service will be available. As of today, I have been unable to obtain any appointment to remedy these safety recalls, nor any estimate of when the defects will be corrected. I am concerned that Polestar is failing to meet its obligations under federal law to provide a timely remedy for safety recalls. My vehicle is approximately one year old and remains in service with unresolved safety issues. I request that NHTSA investigate whether Polestar is complying with recall remedy requirements in the United States, particularly with respect to service capacity and availability.
NHTSA complaint #11734764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Springs, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
On [XXX], while driving, the car issued a warning that stated, “driving performance reduced. Book a service” and an icon of a turtle. Then on [XXX], while driving on [XXX], the car suddenly slowed dramatically that me, my husband and our frenchie in a dog crate behind us lurched forward violently. Estimated 30 mph sudden drop in speed then the turtle icon appeared briefly. I took the car to the Polestar 3 service department in North Hills, CA on March 12 and it is now April 10 without any resolution in site. Notably, this Polestar 3 also would not unlock the morning of [XXX]x only one night after we signed a lease contract. It had to be towed from our Los Angeles house’s garage. Then on [XXX], it would not charge and had to be in service for almost four weeks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11730450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Springs, CA
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
On [XXX], while driving, the car issued a warning that stated, “driving performance reduced. Book a service” and an icon of a turtle. Then on [XXX], while driving on [XXX], the car suddenly slowed dramatically that me, my husband and our frenchie in a dog crate behind us lurched forward violently. Estimated 30 mph sudden drop in speed then the turtle icon appeared briefly. I took the car to the Polestar 3 service department in North Hills, CA on March 12 and it is now April 10 without any resolution in site. Notably, this Polestar 3 also would not unlock the morning of [XXX]x only one night after we signed a lease contract. It had to be towed from our Los Angeles house’s garage. Then on [XXX], it would not charge and had to be in service for almost four weeks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11730450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On [XXX], while driving, the car issued a warning that stated, “driving performance reduced. Book a service” and an icon of a turtle. Then on [XXX], while driving on [XXX], the car suddenly slowed dramatically that me, my husband and our frenchie in a dog crate behind us lurched forward violently. Estimated 30 mph sudden drop in speed then the turtle icon appeared briefly. I took the car to the Polestar 3 service department in North Hills, CA on March 12 and it is now April 10 without any resolution in site. Notably, this Polestar 3 also would not unlock the morning of [XXX]x only one night after we signed a lease contract. It had to be towed from our Los Angeles house’s garage. Then on [XXX], it would not charge and had to be in service for almost four weeks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11730450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rahway, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle has multiple ongoing defects, most critically a malfunctioning occupant detection system causing the alarm to activate randomly, including overnight when the vehicle is empty. This creates a safety concern and repeated public disturbances. The issue has not been resolved despite multiple service attempts. Additional issues include persistent propulsion system fault messages, repeated major service warnings, and intermittent system errors. The vehicle experiences charging failures, with inconsistent ability to charge at home or public stations. Infotainment system is extremely slow and unreliable, and both the center display and driver screen reset unexpectedly while driving or parked. Driver-side window intermittently reports as open or cracks open without input. Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay connections are unreliable. Driver profile settings do not consistently adjust seating and mirror positions. Mechanical issues include a glove compartment that does not open, premature wiper failure, and a front wheel center cap that detached while driving. Vehicle has required multiple tows and has been in service for an extended period (approximately one month) without resolution. Issues persist despite repeated repair attempts by an authorized service center. Polestar corporate has ghosted me and no longer will help.
NHTSA complaint #11729837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Laguna Hills, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The driver-side rear taillight assembly suffers from a persistent seal failure, allowing significant moisture accumulation and water droplets to build up inside the lamp housing. This defect was documented by the Polestar Delivery Specialist at the time of vehicle handover and has persisted despite two prior warranty replacements of the lamp assemblies (authorized under Polestar TIE case 01943145). The manufacturer now claims this is a "natural phenomenon" due to a vented design; however, the volume of water accumulation is sufficient to obstruct the clarity and brightness of the safety signaling. Repairs: The vehicle has had the taillight assemblies replaced twice (August 2025 and December 2025) with no permanent resolution.
NHTSA complaint #11729404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weston, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Failed to schedule recall RP1063 repair with dealer Boston Polestar (617) 925-7300 for my Polestar 3. I contacted Boston Polestar several times to schedule the recall RP1063 repair, but I was unable to get an appointment. The call operator redirected me to the Polestar service department, which was always busy. The operator left notes for the Polestar manager and promised I would receive a call back, but no one called back. Please help. Best, Jun
NHTSA complaint #11725801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elkhart, IN
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle has experienced repeated failures of the high-voltage charging system that prevent normal charging. The first failure occurred at approximately 511 miles, with warning messages related to the charging/high-voltage system and inability to charge reliably using normal AC charging equipment. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer/service center and the issue was confirmed. The vehicle was out of service from December 1, 2025 to January 9, 2026 for diagnosis/repair. After being returned, the same charging-related failure reoccurred. The vehicle again went back to the authorized service center and has been out of service from February 10, 2026 to March 4, 2026 and counting. (the issue remains unresolved / parts are on order). Total time out of service is approximately 63 days for the same defect. Current mileage is approximately 1,070 miles. In addition, when attempting to charge using DC fast charging, charging performance was also abnormal. The DC fast charging rate was significantly reduced and it took approximately one hour to add only a small amount of range/energy. This defect creates a safety risk because the vehicle cannot be charged reliably, increasing the risk of being stranded without the ability to safely operate the vehicle as intended, including being unable to travel to a safe location if the battery becomes depleted. The authorized dealer/service center has reproduced/confirmed the problem and the affected components are available for inspection at the service facility upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11721934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elkhart, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle has experienced repeated failures of the high-voltage charging system that prevent normal charging. The first failure occurred at approximately 511 miles, with warning messages related to the charging/high-voltage system and inability to charge reliably using normal AC charging equipment. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer/service center and the issue was confirmed. The vehicle was out of service from December 1, 2025 to January 9, 2026 for diagnosis/repair. After being returned, the same charging-related failure reoccurred. The vehicle again went back to the authorized service center and has been out of service from February 10, 2026 to March 4, 2026 and counting. (the issue remains unresolved / parts are on order). Total time out of service is approximately 63 days for the same defect. Current mileage is approximately 1,070 miles. In addition, when attempting to charge using DC fast charging, charging performance was also abnormal. The DC fast charging rate was significantly reduced and it took approximately one hour to add only a small amount of range/energy. This defect creates a safety risk because the vehicle cannot be charged reliably, increasing the risk of being stranded without the ability to safely operate the vehicle as intended, including being unable to travel to a safe location if the battery becomes depleted. The authorized dealer/service center has reproduced/confirmed the problem and the affected components are available for inspection at the service facility upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11721934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elkhart, IN
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle has experienced repeated failures of the high-voltage charging system that prevent normal charging. The first failure occurred at approximately 511 miles, with warning messages related to the charging/high-voltage system and inability to charge reliably using normal AC charging equipment. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer/service center and the issue was confirmed. The vehicle was out of service from December 1, 2025 to January 9, 2026 for diagnosis/repair. After being returned, the same charging-related failure reoccurred. The vehicle again went back to the authorized service center and has been out of service from February 10, 2026 to March 4, 2026 and counting. (the issue remains unresolved / parts are on order). Total time out of service is approximately 63 days for the same defect. Current mileage is approximately 1,070 miles. In addition, when attempting to charge using DC fast charging, charging performance was also abnormal. The DC fast charging rate was significantly reduced and it took approximately one hour to add only a small amount of range/energy. This defect creates a safety risk because the vehicle cannot be charged reliably, increasing the risk of being stranded without the ability to safely operate the vehicle as intended, including being unable to travel to a safe location if the battery becomes depleted. The authorized dealer/service center has reproduced/confirmed the problem and the affected components are available for inspection at the service facility upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11721934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cave Springs, AR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Upon purchase of the vehicle, the Onboard AC Charger (officially: "GHCA") failed on the first charge at home, utilizing Volvo (sister company) equipment that has charged another vehicle successfully for 5+ years. The equipment was confirmed still functional on the other vehicle after failure of the Polestar's on-board equipment. The part was replaced during a lengthy service visit, and the failure has reoccurred less than 3 months later with a repair pending for 6+ weeks. Unexplained electrical faults are always a safety concern. Vehicle on-road safety is compromised when pre-planned charging stops are suddenly and unexpectedly unavailable due to the failure of on-board equipment. Low state of charge conditions and being forced to drive on reserve power to arrive at a DC charging point leaves the potential to run out of power in traffic. Large numbers of failures on Polestar 3 and platform-sibling Volvo EX90 are rampant, causing parts shortages. Polestar/Volvo have been aware of this issue for more than a year and have provided no remedy or even communication on the subject. Their negligence to protect consumers needs to be mitigated.
NHTSA complaint #11721755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montpelier, VT
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
The car software seemed to be experiencing a few glitches, and we arrived home and put it in park. Then front passenger door would not open from the inside, nor would the rear passenger doors, with kids in the backseat. Despite locking and unlocking, the doors would not open. I climbed out the driver window, and went around to open the doors, and despite the external door handle being up/open, the doors would not pull open, it was hard because there was slight wiggle in it like something was blocking it, but it would not open. The driver door would open and everyone climbed out. I plugged the car in, and got back in to try and perform a soft and hard reset, and none of those functions were working. We are still waiting to hear back from polestar.
NHTSA complaint #11721359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montpelier, VT
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:INTERIOR
The car software seemed to be experiencing a few glitches, and we arrived home and put it in park. Then front passenger door would not open from the inside, nor would the rear passenger doors, with kids in the backseat. Despite locking and unlocking, the doors would not open. I climbed out the driver window, and went around to open the doors, and despite the external door handle being up/open, the doors would not pull open, it was hard because there was slight wiggle in it like something was blocking it, but it would not open. The driver door would open and everyone climbed out. I plugged the car in, and got back in to try and perform a soft and hard reset, and none of those functions were working. We are still waiting to hear back from polestar.
NHTSA complaint #11721359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montpelier, VT
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR
The car software seemed to be experiencing a few glitches, and we arrived home and put it in park. Then front passenger door would not open from the inside, nor would the rear passenger doors, with kids in the backseat. Despite locking and unlocking, the doors would not open. I climbed out the driver window, and went around to open the doors, and despite the external door handle being up/open, the doors would not pull open, it was hard because there was slight wiggle in it like something was blocking it, but it would not open. The driver door would open and everyone climbed out. I plugged the car in, and got back in to try and perform a soft and hard reset, and none of those functions were working. We are still waiting to hear back from polestar.
NHTSA complaint #11721359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manhattan Beach, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Previous on board charger (GHCA) failed and was replaced in January of 2026. In February I noticed the car was charging slowly on a 48A home charger (car showed 5.4kw at 22A). I unplugged the charger, waited a minute, and plugged it back in. The car then reinitialized charging and showed 11kw at 48A. The car then started making audible electrical crackling noises. I have a video in which you can hear the crackling. Is this a fire hazard?
NHTSA complaint #11720192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandria, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AC charging has failed for second time. OBC (on board charger) replaced at 2000 miles. Need another one again at 3500 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11719255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 745 milesLos Angeles, CACrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2025 Polestar Polestar 3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 3 MPH in a parking lot, as he depressed the brake pedal, to slow down the vehicle did not slow down. The contact stated no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped a curb and ran over some shrubbery. The contact stated that the passenger side front and rear doors had scraped a light pole, and then the vehicle rolled out of the parking lot and over a retaining wall. The contact stated that the vehicle landed on a sidewalk and then continued out onto a road below the parking lot and finally stopped. The contact stated that a warning had illuminated that his rear driver's side tire had deflated. The contact stated that the lower front bumper had been damaged, and some plastic parts of the driver's side wheel well had broken off. The contact had no personal injuries. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the parking lot and had the vehicle towed to a collision shop. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer for any diagnostic tests. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 745.
NHTSA complaint #11715540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Armonk, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
The one pedal driving / regenerative braking would randomly deactivate. I have my car set on high one pedal driving. 99.9% of the time, the one pedal driving would work as expected with the car slowing down as the accelerator is released. However, the car would randomly deactivate one pedal driving, so when I release the accelerator, instead of slowing down or stopping, the car would continue going, some times it feels like there's even a slight surge. This has happened several times at slow parking lot speed and at fast highway speed. There's no warning. It's just random. It hasn't been inspected by the dealer yet.
NHTSA complaint #11715465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 745 milesLos Angeles, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2025 Polestar Polestar 3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 3 MPH in a parking lot, as he depressed the brake pedal, to slow down the vehicle did not slow down. The contact stated no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped a curb and ran over some shrubbery. The contact stated that the passenger side front and rear doors had scraped a light pole, and then the vehicle rolled out of the parking lot and over a retaining wall. The contact stated that the vehicle landed on a sidewalk and then continued out onto a road below the parking lot and finally stopped. The contact stated that a warning had illuminated that his rear driver's side tire had deflated. The contact stated that the lower front bumper had been damaged, and some plastic parts of the driver's side wheel well had broken off. The contact had no personal injuries. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the parking lot and had the vehicle towed to a collision shop. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer for any diagnostic tests. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 745.
NHTSA complaint #11715540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelphia, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Onboard AC charging has failed 3 times in 4 months. Each time the GHCA has been replaced with a new charger. When the GHCA shorts out it only impacts AC charging leaving everything else working normally. DC charging is not impacted and works normally. Each time the issue with the GHCA has been verified and confirmed by the Polestar service center in Princeton, NJ in September 2025, October 2025 & December 2025. When the issue occurs there is a loud pop and the AC charging message changes to waiting. It does not go out of the waiting state until the GHCA unit is replaced
NHTSA complaint #11714730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
New City, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The car made a loud pop while charging then it would not charge again. The Pop also send a surge to the breaker popping it.
NHTSA complaint #11713567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.