What breaks most · 2015 to 2018 model years
Polaris Slingshot problems by year
Owners have filed 55 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Polaris Slingshot across model years 2015 to 2018. Three years stand out: 2015 for speed control and throttle complaints, 2016 for powertrain and transmission complaints and 2017 for stability control complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2015, 2016, 2017
- Complaints on file
- 552015 to 2018, all trims
- Worst year
- 201532 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 73 fires · 7 injuries · 3 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 2kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 31Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 4 | 9 | Speed control and throttle (6) | |
| 20 | 2 | 8 | Powertrain and transmission (7) | |
| 2 | 1 | 9 | Stability control (1) | |
| 1 | 0 | 5 | Brakes (1) |
What fails on the 2015 Polaris Slingshot
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 19% |
6 | 1 | Shop all speed control and throttle parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 19% |
6 | 0 | Shop all engine parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 19% |
6 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 16% |
5 | 0 | Shop all suspension parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 16% |
5 | 0 | Shop all brakes parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 13% |
4 | 0 | Shop all fuel system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 9% |
3 | 0 | Shop all electrical system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 9% |
3 | 1 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
I was driving my slingshot down the road . The road is a sweeping curve around a pond . The cruise control turned on .the vehicle accelerated extremely fast forcing me off the road . I then stuck a tree . Resulting in two fractured ribs and a fractured spine .
-
2016 polaris slingshot. Consumer writes in regards to drivers seat slides out of position while driving. *smd the consumer stated the seat would fly backwards. The consumer also stated a warning light illuminated and it seemed to reflect a change in the steering. *jb
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Polaris Slingshot years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2015, 2016, 2017 carry the most filings on the Polaris Slingshot. The 2015 alone has 32 complaints, led by speed control and throttle.
What is the most common Polaris Slingshot problem?
On the 2015 model year, the most-reported component is speed control and throttle with 6 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Polaris Slingshot problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Polaris Slingshot complaints that include mileage is about 2,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.