Every 2021 Polestar 2 Is Being Recalled for Random Shutdowns
After its limited-production hybrid GT, Swedish brand Polestar has fully pivoted to EVs. And its first fully-electric car, the Polestar 2, is a genuine rival to the Tesla Model 3. However, despite its strengths, Polestar’s first production EV now faces a production-wide recall. That’s because it’s leaving some of its owners stranded.
The 2021 Polestar 2 shutdown recall news
Polestar has delivered 2,189 2s to European and Chinese customers so far, Automotive News reports. Unfortunately, they’re all being recalled because they can randomly shut off, Roadshow reports.
Some Polestar 2 owners experienced this issue while they were driving their cars, Autoblog reports. The cars lost power, shut down, and couldn’t be restarted. And parts scarcity has left some stuck in the shop for over a month, InsideEVs reports. There is a short-term solution, which involves exiting the vehicle, leaving it off for 10 minutes, and restarting it. But that doesn’t resolve the root cause.
Fortunately, there have been no collisions, accidents, or injuries associated with these glitching Polestar 2s. According to Business Insider, that’s because the brakes and steering remain operational even if the power goes out.
Still, because of the issue’s severity, Polestar decided to recall every one of its EVs.
What’s the solution, and how quickly will it be implemented?
It’s not clear exactly what’s causing the Polestar 2 shutdown issue. However, it appears to be a software glitch or bug that’s behind it, Engadget reports. As of this writing, Polestar hasn’t detailed the specific solution for the recall. However, it’s reasonable to believe that it will be some kind of software update.
Theoretically, Polestar could issue an over-the-air update for potentially-affected 2s. And not every 2 has suffered a shutdown. Unfortunately, the automaker’s OTA service won’t launch until early 2021, Automotive News reports. Hence the production-wide recall: each car has to be individually updated/repaired.
As of this writing, Polestar hasn’t released a specific timeline for the recall repairs. The company informed its customers of the issue on Friday, October 2nd, 2020.
Does this recall mean you shouldn’t consider getting a Polestar 2?
Fortunately, the Polestar 2 isn’t yet available in the US. Deliveries were scheduled to start in September 2020. However, that appears to have changed. Luckily, that means the US-spec models shouldn’t suffer the same glitch.
It’s worth point out that first-year cars often suffer from these kinds of issues and glitches. That’s especially the case with totally brand-new ones. That’s why Consumer Reports cautions buyers of such vehicles.
Plus, it’s not like the Polestar 2 is the only recalled EV. Tesla’s cars have been recalled several times for quality-control glitches. The early Model 3s even suffered a similar shutdown issue, Roadshow reports, linked to their 12-volt batteries. The Chevy Bolt, Jaguar I-Pace, Porsche Taycan, and Kia Soul EV have also been recalled for various reasons.
And it’s not just EVs that have dealt with electrical issues. BMW recalled several plug-in hybrid models because their batteries could catch fire. Both the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and non-hybrid Honda CR-V have also suffered battery issues; in the latter case, it was definitely a software-related problem.
The Polestar 2, then, is in good company when it comes to electrical recalls. And while it doesn’t have quite the Tesla Model 3’s range, it’s the better-handling and more pleasant EV, Wired reports. Hopefully, the company irons out these glitches soon.
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