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2025 Polestar Polestar 3 Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2025 Polestar Polestar 3 carries 6 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering propulsion system and software. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “AC onboard charger failure preventing Level 2 charging.” Polestar keeps EV maintenance sparse and time-based: a factory service every 2 years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first, covering the cabin filter, wipers, inspections, and software. Two fine-print items matter. Services must happen within a month or 750 miles of the due point to keep warranty standing, and Polestar does not publish its full item-by-item chart publicly; the per-car Status and Warranty booklet and the dealer system govern, so figures beyond the master interval are dealer-level detail. The Polestar 1 is the exception in the lineup, a plug-in hybrid with a Volvo twin-charged engine that wants a conventional annual oil service.

6 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM

Campaign #24V940000 · Dec 18, 2024

Issue: 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.

Fix: Dealers will replace the High to Low Voltage Converter Module (HLCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Polestar customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1043.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Campaign #25V293000 · Jul 5, 2025

Issue: 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.

Fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 24, 2025. Owners may contact Polestar's customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1057.

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Campaign #25V420000 · Jul 14, 2025

Issue: 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.

Fix: Polestar will replace the panoramic glass sunroof, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 28, 2025. Owners may contact Polestar's customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1060.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Campaign #25V453000 · Jul 7, 2025

Issue: 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.

Fix: Polestar will replace the bumper harness and the inline front bumper/engine bay connector on the engine bay harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2025. Owners may contact Polestar's customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1063.

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

Campaign #25V555000 · Aug 26, 2025

Issue: 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.

Fix: Polestar will inspect the hood wing bumper for missing screws. If any screws are missing, the bumper and screws will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 30, 2025. Owners may contact Polestar's customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1064.

SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Campaign #26V037000 · Jan 23, 2026

Issue: 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.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat backrest striker bracket mounting nuts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 4, 2026. Owners may contact Polestar's customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1079. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 30, 2026.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2025 Polestar Polestar 3.

Reported to NHTSA

AC onboard charger failure preventing Level 2 charging

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

35 NHTSA complaints · 2025-01 → 2026-06

“Onboard charger (OBC), which is the unit that converts AC power (what home wall outlets have) to DC power (what the battery holds/uses has failed 3 times now in less than a year of ownership. Brand new car, leased from Polestar”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11707288
“The onboard charger has failed twice now in less than 1,800 miles. Bought the car new and it has been in the shop this time for 31 days and parts are not available to fix it until at least Sept. 30th”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11689031
“On-board AC charger failure. Confirmed by dealer, parts on 4-6 week backorder. System gave two different messages”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11639559

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear camera defaults to overhead view after gear cycling

BACK OVER PREVENTION

6 NHTSA complaints · 2025-01 → 2025-05

“The issue is with the displaying of the rear view camera. When I put the car in reverse the rear view camera displays on the bottom of the screen and the 360 view at the top of the screen as it should”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11634052
“Activation and persistence of the rearview camera. This situation occurs when selecting reverse, drive and then reverse again in short order (i.e. parallel parking, maneuvering to get into our garage with a narrow driveway and tight turn)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11643197
“The rear view parking camera software is defective. If you put the car into reverse, the rear parking camera view comes up (as intended)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11634053

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

False critical fault warnings and display blackouts

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

7 NHTSA complaints · 2025-01 → 2026-06

“Since taking delivery of the vehicle, multiple electronic and computer-related systems have failed or malfunctioned”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11745934
“As reported on Polestar Forums, the car throws critical system errors telling you to park, call support, etc. while driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11713205
“- Vehicle displays are unresponsive and stay off or black, the display shows key indicators like speed & turn signals. Because the vehicle has no physical buttons you cannot control heat, cannot use backup cameras”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11639924

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration and unexpected loss of braking

POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

11 NHTSA complaints · 2025-01 → 2026-02

“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)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11685027
“I was driving my Polestar 3 2025 Performance into a gated garage. The car was on one pedal mode, I slowed down to come to a stop to open the gate. When the clicker for the garage door was clicked the car lunged forward and full speed rammed into the opening gate”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11668236
“There are several issues with this vehicles, but here are the two most glaring safety issues: 1.) Emergency Braking System - on two occasions this was activated with no actual emergency”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11637492

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Propulsion loss and reduced power (turtle mode)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2025-07 → 2026-04

“On [XXX], while driving, the car issued a warning that stated, “driving performance reduced. Book a service” and an icon of a turtle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11730450
“The Polestar 3 failed while driving with my family on 8/16/25. It had a propulsion failure (with "turtle mode") and it would only go 6 mph or less and would not go up a hill”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11690676
“Vehicle suddenly lost power with no warning on a busy four-lane highway. Despite the obvious crash possibility, I was luckily able to move to the shoulder, but the entire electrical system soon went out”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11674724

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Vehicle immobilization with doors failing to open

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

3 NHTSA complaints · 2025-06 → 2026-06

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11721359
“After being away for a couple days the car has been completely unresponsive. I can not access the car and doors will not open. The car had to be towed and seems to be an issue with electrical powertrain such as 12V battery that is dying for some reason”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11664905
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11744550

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Factory Service

Every 20,000 mi

Every 2 years or 20,000 miles: inspections, cabin filter, wiper blades, and a software update. Land it within 1 month or 750 miles of the due point; the warranty language is specific about that.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free with any paid service. A flashlight and 10 minutes covers the basics yourself.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

EV torque and weight wear tires fast; rotate around 7,500 miles where fitment allows. Performance-pack cars with staggered setups get wear checks instead.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Polestar publishes no public interval; it lives in the per-car schedule. Every 2 to 3 years is sound EV practice, since regen braking leaves fluid aging unused.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Brake Inspection

Every 20,000 mi

Checked at each factory service. The risk on a regen-heavy car is corrosion and sticking, not wear; occasional firm stops keep the discs clean.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Oil Service (Polestar 1 only)

Every 10,000 mi

The Polestar 1 PHEV carries a Volvo 2.0 twin-charged engine; an annual oil service around 10,000 miles follows Volvo practice for the shared powertrain, though Polestar publishes no standalone figure. Polestar 2, 3, and 4 have no engine.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replaced at every 2-year factory service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Battery & Drive Coolant

Every 100,000 mi

Checked and adjusted at services; no public replacement interval. Coolant work on the battery loop is dealer territory.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

12V Battery

Every 20,000 mi

Inspection-based, tested at services. The car cannot wake without it.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2025 Polestar Polestar 3 reflects Polestar's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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