2016 Polaris Slingshot
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 25 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 9 Slingshot model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 2 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, wiring, fuses and circuit breakersOct 18, 2019
Polaris Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Slingshot motorcycles. Excessive electrical current may damage the battery fuse holder terminals.
Damaged terminals may result in the loss of forward and rear lighting, instrument cluster gauges, or power steering assist. Any of these scenarios increase the risk of a crash.
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery fuse block terminals and relocate the 50 amp chassis fuse, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Polaris's number for this recall is T-19-01.
Campaign 19V750000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraNov 15, 2018
Polaris Industries (Polaris) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Polaris Slingshot, Slingshot SL and Slingshot SL LE motorcycles equipped with a backup camera. The back-up camera may fail internally, possibly melting the voltage regulator and blowing the fuse for that circuit, thereby preventing the taillight from functioning properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.
The melted voltage regulator can increase the risk of a fire. The loss of a tail light can increase the risk of a crash.
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the back-up camera, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 2, 2019. Owners may contact Polaris at 1-855-863-2284. Polaris' number for this recall is T-18-04.
Campaign 18V809000 on NHTSA.gov
SeatsMar 26, 2018
Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling all 2015-2018 Polaris Slingshot motorcycles. The driver-seat and passenger-seat seat belt and seat back anchoring bracket may have been improperly welded. Additionally, differences in the seat assembly may prevent proper latching of the seat slider, allowing the driver's seat to move unexpectedly.
If the seat belt buckle or seat back detach from the seat base, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash. If the driver's seat unexpectedly moves, it can cause the driver to lose control of the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt bracket and seat back welds, and the seat slider latching function. If the weld is missing or incomplete, or if the slider doesn't latch properly, the seat bases will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on April 16, 2018. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Polaris' number for this recall is T-18-01.
Campaign 18V195000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, wheel speed sensor/tone ringJun 1, 2017
Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Slingshot vehicles. The affected vehicles previously had their rear swingarms replaced during the remedy of NHTSA recall number 16V-255. The replacement swingarms may have been installed without the sealing grommets installed, potentially resulting in road debris contaminating the rear wheel speed sensor.
Contamination of the rear speed sensor will disable the ABS and Traction/Stability Control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the swingarms for missing grommets, installing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2017. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-888-704-5290. Polaris' number for this recall is T-17-04.
Campaign 17V357000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, drivelineOct 19, 2016
Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Slingshot motorcycles manufactured March 4, 2014, to September 7, 2016. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with a swing arm that has insufficient strength.
Due to the insufficient swing arm strength, the swing arm may fracture resulting in a loss of momentum or vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and repair or replace the swing arm, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Polaris' number for this recall is T-16-06.
Campaign 16V755000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsOct 18, 2016
Polaris Idustries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Slingshot motorcycles manufactured March 4, 2014, to October 7, 2016. The affected vehicles may have insufficient clearance between the fuel line and the hood structure.
The insufficient clearance may allow the fuel line to rub against the hood until it leaks fuel. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will replace the replace the engine fuel line, and inspect the retention clips to reduce the risk of interference, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Polaris' number for this recall is T-16-03.
Campaign 16V754000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulicOct 18, 2016
Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Slingshot motorcycles manufactured December 28, 2015, to April 27, 2016. The brake pressure switch may have been over tightened in the affected motorcycles.
Over tightening of the brake pressure switch may damage the seal, allowing brake fluid to leak, resulting in reduced brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will install new brake pressure switch seals, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Polaris' number for this recall is T-16-02.
Campaign 16V752000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsNov 20, 2015
Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Slingshot motorcycles manufactured April 21, 2014, to October 22, 2015, Slingshot SL motorcycles manufactured April 28, 2015 to October 23, 2015, and Slingshot SL SE motorcycles manufactured December 15, 2014, to October 22, 2015. In the affected motorcycles, the headlight relay may fail and result in a loss of headlights.
A loss of headlights can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will replace the single headlight relay with a circuit that uses two headlight relays, free of charge. The recall began on December 3, 2015. Owners may contact Slingshot customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Polaris' number for this recall is SLI-15-05.
Campaign 15V777000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
6 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 25, 2022
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
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jun 29, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 POLARIS SLINGSHOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE THROTTLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DHY MOTORSPORTS (1300 CLEMENTS BRIDGE RD, TOWNSHIP, NJ 08096, 856-848-8500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A PIN IN THE HARNESS WAS NOT CONNECTING TO THE THROTTLE, WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER. THE FRONT END OF THE SLINGSHOT WAS SMASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER BACK AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND POSSIBLY REPAIRED, IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,900.
Steering, Service brakes, Aug 2, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 PORALIS SLINGSHOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND SEIZED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURED HIP THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWING ARM WAS FAULTY. THE SWING ARM WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.
Steering, Service brakes, Mar 2, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 POLARIS SLINGSHOT. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WAS UNSTABLE AND WOULD PULL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE THE VEHICLE STOP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 05/02/17*LJ *CN
Power train, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 4, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 POLARIS SLINGSHOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V752000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 16V754000 (FUEL SYSTEM), AND 16V755000 (POWER TRAIN). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Service brakes, Nov 9, 2015
BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS DOWN TO THE FLOOD WHEN APPLIED. DEALER STATES THAT ALL SLINGSHOTS ACT THIS WAY. THE PEDAL WILL COME BACK UP IF PUMPED. BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER. NO AIR IN THE LINE. THE PROBLEM MUST BE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.. WHEN TRAVELING AT NORMAL ROAD SPEED AND BRAKES NEED TO BE APPLIED, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING EFFICACY IN COMPROMISED. I CALLED POLARIS, BUT NOBODY HAS RETURNED MY CALL.