The defect
Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2016-2017 GEM E2, E4, E6, and ELXD vehicles. The drive mode switch can send an incorrect signal, causing the vehicle to become inoperative or go in the opposite direction than intended.
The risk
If the operator intends to go forward, but the vehicle reverses instead, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The remedy
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive mode system with one that has separate inputs for each position (forward, neutral and reverse), free of charge. The recall began November 28, 2018. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V-884. Vehicles previously repaired under that campaign need the repairs covered by this campaign as well.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| GEM E2 | 2016, 2017 |
| GEM E4 | 2016, 2017 |
| GEM E6 | 2016, 2017 |
| GEM Elxd | 2016, 2017 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEM E2 | 2016 | 1 | 4 |
| GEM E2 | 2017 | 3 | 3 |
| GEM E4 | 2016 | 1 | 3 |
| GEM E4 | 2017 | 0 | 3 |
| GEM E6 | 2016 | 0 | 3 |
| GEM E6 | 2017 | 0 | 3 |
| GEM Elxd | 2016 | 0 | 4 |
| GEM Elxd | 2017 | 0 | 3 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2018
105 of the 912 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2018 concerned the electrical system; Polaris Industries, Inc. filed 24 campaigns in all.
| 18V946000 31 Dec 2018 | Arcimoto Inc |
| 18V933000 27 Dec 2018 | Forest River, Inc. |
| 18V930000 21 Dec 2018 | Daimler Trucks North America LLC |
| 18V929000 21 Dec 2018 | Daimler Trucks North America LLC |
| 18V917000 20 Dec 2018 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) |
| 18V921000 20 Dec 2018 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 18V895000 19 Dec 2018 | Dennis Eagle Inc. |
| 18V909000 19 Dec 2018 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2018