The Polestar 2, promises Scandinavian design, thrilling performance, and a tech-first experience. But as an early-generation luxury EV, it comes with some minor issues.

This guide explores reliability ratings from independent surveys like What Car?, common problems from real-world owners, and important recall information to help you make an informed decision.

Jump to:

• Is the Polestar 2 Reliable?
• Polestar 2 Recalls
• Polestar 2 Common Reliability Issues
• Is the Polestar 2 Worth It?

Is the Polestar 2 Reliable?

What Car?’s 2024 reliability survey ranked the Polestar 2 10th out of 20 electric cars with a score of 89.3%, placing it favourably ahead of models like the Kia EV6 and Porsche Taycan, though behind the Tesla Model 3. 42% of owners reported issues, mostly related to infotainment and electrical systems—but almost all were remedied swiftly and under warranty.

Auto Express’ Driver Power survey ranked the Polestar brand 2nd overall in 2023. The Polestar 2 model itself came 17th out of 75 but 69% of first-year owners reported faults, resulting in a poor 71st-place in reliability rankings.

Polestar 2 Recalls

Recalls are manufacturer-led responses to a common and premature fault on a vehicle; it can be on any part of the car, but they are most often issued when it affects the safety of the vehicle. 

Recalls are fixed by the manufacturer at no cost to the owner/driver of the car. To see if your vehicle is affected, check the government website.

Inverter Capacitor Terminals Causing Short Circuiting

The terminals of the capacitors found in the inverter module are plated with a tin-coating, likely to reduce electrical resistance. On some models, this plating was found to be defective and could cause short-circuiting or other issues with the inverter. 

This was leading to driving issues and warning lights on the dash. The fix involves replacing the inverter module with a non-affected one. Just under 700 cars were affected, and were all made in 2020. 

High-Voltage Contactor Recall

On nearly 2,400 cars made in 2021, an issue with the contactors in the battery energy control module. The issue seems to be from the car's software, as the solution to the recall is to update it at the dealership. 

Symptoms of the issue are unexpected and unintentional losses in power, accompanied by warning signs and lights on the dashboard. The fix is free of charge and carried out at a Volvo or Polestar dealership.

Polestar 2 Common Reliability Issues

Infotainment / Screen Freezes

One of the most commonly reported issues from UK owners is frequent infotainment glitches, such as touchscreen freezes, audio drop-outs, and system resets. Seemingly, some owners have remedied the fault with a system reset, but others needed intervention from the dealership.

Even after a dealer software update, some owners reported repeated faults occurring.

TCAM / Connectivity Failures

Similar to the above, another common issue is faults with the antenna module. This connects the car to the internet and, therefore, the Polestar service centres. This means functions such as app control, eCall, GPS, and digital key stopped functioning.

Thankfully, many owners reported that having the module replaced by the dealership solved the issue, so it might be a faulty batch/software version.

Propulsion System Errors “Limp Mode”

Some UK reports echo early shutdowns and limp-mode errors, often requiring recovery services. These may or may not be related to some of the above-mentioned recall issues.

Symptoms include: sudden loss of power from the motor, “Propulsion System Service Required”, and warning lights on the dashboard. Some owners have said that a software update from the dealership helped.

Drivetrain / Suspension Knock

Owners have noticed knocking or clunking noises from the front suspension, especially during braking or on uneven surfaces. Members on a Polestar forum discussed a service bulletin that was issued to replace the strut bearings with upgraded parts. 

It is unclear if this same bulletin was issued in the UK, and if that is the cause of some of the problems, but be sure to keep a lookout for any test drives, and get the seller to sort the issue before you purchase the car.

Is the Polestar 2 Worth It?

Data shows mixed reliability. While it’s technologically advanced, fun to drive, and well-appointed, issues with electronics, connectivity, and drivetrain errors are common, especially in early models. 

That said, most of the issues from earlier cars should be ironed out by now, and the later cars seemed to fare much better, making the Polestar 2 a compelling choice. 

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.