2016 Polaris Slingshot problems & reliability
25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Polaris Slingshot, alongside 8 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
1 complaint report injuries (1 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 7 | 28% |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 24% |
| Steering | 6 | 24% |
| Suspension | 4 | 16% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 12% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 12% |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 8% |
| Structure | 2 | 8% |
| Unknown OR Other | 2 | 8% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 8% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 13 reported components →Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Driver side.. brake doesnt stop ,can feel it in brake pedal,constantly filling up resorvoir..also stays accelerated when coming to a stop..there is recalls on issue”
Service Brakes · filed Oct 25, 2022
“The contact owns a 2016 Polaris Slingshot. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 20 MPH, the power steering failed, and the vehicle drove onto a sidewalk without warning. The contact called the manufacturer and referred him to a local dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken the local dealer however…”
Electrical System · filed Oct 22, 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2016 polaris slingshot. While riding at various speeds, the rpms suddenly revved high and the vehicle accelerated on its own. The vehicle was taken to cycle sports center (4001 n. John young pkwy, orlando, fl) where the failure was confirmed, but the cause could not be determined. The…”
Vehicle Speed Control · filed Nov 8, 2019
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Seatbelt Retractor Failure
Preliminary Evaluation PE17005 · opened Sep 18, 2017 · closed Mar 25, 2019 · led to recall 18V531000
Technical service bulletins
41 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2016 Polaris Slingshot. The 10 most recent:
This Ask Polaris article provides information to systematically identify the root cause of excessive exhaust smoke by distinguishing between oil consumption, coolant intrusion, and fuel-related conditions.
SLG-6.18.2026 · Other · issued Jun 19, 2026
This Slingshot help center article provides information regarding battery maintenance on Model Year 2019 and older Slingshot vehicles.
SLG-6.5.2026 · Other · issued Jun 6, 2026
This Ask Polaris article provides information about how to perform a leakdown test on Polaris Slingshot vehicles.
SLG-6.1.2026 · Other · issued Jun 2, 2026
A new input shaft seal, PN 3610429, has been released for Model Year 2015-2026 Slingshot right angle drives for improved leak resistance. Vehicles produced after 11/10/2025 have the updated seal. When installing, this…
T-26-02-01 · Other · issued Feb 5, 2026
This Slingshot help center article contains instructions for inspecting and adjusting your lights for model year 2019 and older Slingshot vehicles.
SLG-11-20-25 · Other · issued Nov 21, 2025
This Slingshot help center article provides information regarding replacing the angle drive fluid on model year 2015-2019 Slingshot vehicles.
SLG-10.16.25 · Other · issued Oct 17, 2025
This Slingshot help center article provides information regarding spark plug inspection and replacement on model year 2015-2019 Polaris Slingshot vehicles.
SLG-8.29.2025 · Other · issued Aug 29, 2025
This Slingshot Help Center article provides information regarding fuse replacement for Model Year 2019 and older Slingshot vehicles.
SLG-04-15-2025 · Other · issued Apr 14, 2025
This Slingshot help center article provides information regarding adjustment and maintenance of the headlamps on Model Year 2019 and older Slingshot vehicles.
SLG-11.20.2024 · Other · issued Nov 20, 2024
This article provides information regarding battery maintenance on MY2019 and older Slingshot vehicles.
SLG-04.18.2023-2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 18, 2023
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2016 Polaris Slingshot has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2016 Polaris Slingshot?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.