NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2022 Polestar Polestar 2. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I recently received the recall notice for my 2022 Polestar 2, regarding the defective/intermittently inoperative rear/back up camera. I updated the software to version 3.6.4, which according to the recall notice, should have corrected the default, but I continue to get the "Camera Temporarily Unavailable" notice when reversing.
The backup camera fails to work at times with a message: “camera is unavailable” This was supposed to be fixed in the 3.6.4 update that Polestar put out but the problem continues to persist
Rear View Camera only works intermittently. Often times the display will report "Camera Not Available" when reversing. In addition, when the camera does work, the video will often freeze briefly or become choppy. The most recent recall software update which was supposed to correct this issue (3.6.4) has already been installed and the problem remains a regular occurrence.
I received a letter from Polestar claiming that software version 3.3.16 would resolve the "Camera is temporarily unavailable" while reversing. This issue has been recurring in my car for over a year.
When vehicle is put into reverse after latest recall update. Periodically it states rear camera is unavailable
When reversing the car, the rear view camera will malfunction and there will be a message that says "camera not available." This does not happen every time but it does happen once in a few times, which makes backing up dangerous. Polestar has put out an OTA update to fix this but it still occurs for me. The problem hasn't been seen by a dealer, the police, or insurance, etc. No warning lights or any indications that there is anything wrong.
Backup camera not functioning when reversing. Error instead of imaging on screen
Backup camera fails regularly even after software update to version 3.6.4. Video feed will stutter and lag, which gives the driver an unreliable view out the back of the car when reversing. Additionally, the screen will show a ‘Camera temporarily unavailable’ message when reversing, and no camera video feed is shown. The driver may be able to fix this by pressing the home button on the screen, and then tapping on the camera icon to bring up the video feed again, however this may not always work and is an extra step/distraction for the driver. This issue puts pedestrians, animals, vehicles, and other property at risk. Due to the design of the car, there is extremely limited visibility through the side and rear windows of the car. Without a reliably functioning backup camera, drivers may accidentally strike pedestrians or vehicles when reversing. When the issue was brought to the attention of my local Polestar/Volvo service center, I was told there was no solution they could offer and owners must wait for the issue to be solved with future OTA software updates to the vehicle. Polestar has issued several OTA updates, but the issue has not improved whatsoever. A quick search of Polestar forums and Reddit threads will confirm that this issue is widespread across the entire Polestar 2 fleet, with many owners reporting the issues described above. One more note: this camera issue has presented itself throughout the 3+ years I’ve owned the vehicle, however it has worsened over time. It is my opinion (and the opinion of many other Polestar owners) that the infotainment computer is seriously underpowered and in this car. Other apps and functions have presented errors and have become sluggish and unreliable (maps, Spotify, etc) and I believe it is because the system is running out of memory or other resources.
My vehicle's rearview camera occasionally fails to activate when I shift the transmission into reverse. Instead of displaying the camera feed, the infotainment system presents a persistent message stating, 'Camera is temporarily unavailable.' This issue significantly impairs my ability to safely maneuver the vehicle in reverse, increasing the risk of collision with objects or pedestrians due to the lack of visual information typically provided by the rearview camera system. This exists after the second recall fix for this issue was performed by a service center.
My vehicle's rearview camera occasionally fails to activate when I shift the transmission into reverse. Instead of displaying the camera feed, the infotainment system presents a persistent message stating, 'Camera is temporarily unavailable.' This issue significantly impairs my ability to safely maneuver the vehicle in reverse, increasing the risk of collision with objects or pedestrians due to the lack of visual information typically provided by the rearview camera system. This occurred after the second recall was performed for the issue.
I got the letter for polestar 2 back up camera recall, however my care was updated to 3.6.4 OTA before the letter came and I'm still getting the camera is unavailable warning when I put the car in reverse
Recall 25V-280 which involved a software update to resolve the camera issue did NOT resolve the issue in my car. When first put in reverse, I continue to frequently get blinking camera feed, delayed feed, and the message “camera is temporarily unavailable.” The software update P3.6.3 was meant to fix this to comply with the recall. This update did not provide any improvement and the safety issues continues.
After the OTA update from the Polestar manufacturer, we still get the "Unavailable Reverse Camera" notification that has plagued this car for years now. The physical hardware was made to bare minimum standards and is unable to operate proficiently since adding multiple feature to the car. Most cars that are affected are the pre-facelift models with less ram in the center infotainment console. Most reliably produced by starting the vehicle in the reverse from it sitting overnight. And even more reliably produced when it needs to swap driver profiles based on the person's key, if it's not the same one used the last time it was driven.
Rear view camera is still broke with the newest firmware. Please hold the accountable
My car is on the latest update (3.6.4) and the rear back-up camera and related reversing safety systems still malfunction. The camera feed is choppy and stutters which is disorienting. Additionally, the camera will suddenly go from functional to a blank screen while relying on it to reverse. I believe this is due to Polestar's outdated processor included in the infotainment module. They've sent many software updates and none have worked. This puts pedestrians, other drivers and myself at risk when I am reversing. All components are said to be working properly by Polestar when they clearly don't. It's been this way since I purchased the vehicle in 2022.
When backing up the camera becomes unavailable. This is after a software update (v3.6.4) that was suppose to resolve the issue.
Backup camera often displays message "Camera Temporarily Unavailable". This has been an ongoing problem, and I have the most updated software 3.6.4. I received a recall notice (25V-280) that outlines this problem, but it states that my car is ineligible because I have the latest software. In fact, the problem is WORSE with the latest software. This issue happens virtually every time I put the car into reverse. On prior software versions, the problem existed but was not as pronounced.
Even after software update 3.6.4 to fix recall for rear view camera, it is not working properly. This has happened multiple times since the update and many times since receiving this car in 2022.
The rear view camera consistently fails and gives a camera unavailable error. This is even after the most recent update from Polestar. This can create a very dangerous environment when backing up out of driveways, parking spots, etc.
The camera not unavailable error message continues to come up when the vehicle is in reverse, despite the update to 3.6.4. That update has not fixed the issue in any way even though Polestar claims that was the fix. This is still a dangerous issue
Camera error resulting in no rear camera feed when going in reverse.
Parking assist camera often does not turn on when car is placed in reverse. The "camera temporarily unavailable" message appears. This car has been updated with the V3.6.4 software "fix" for this problem. It has gotten worse since the installation of this new version. Failure of this system puts me and others outside of the vehicle in danger of collision and/or injury. User interface tablet and TCAM system have both been reset since installation of the V3.6.4 software update.
All Polestar 2 cars including mine have a critical failure in the cpu which prevents the backup camera from working correctly. When the car is placed into reverse the backup camera appears but flickers and ultimately goes out with a message stating “backup camera unavailable.” This is extremely dangerous and has not been fixed by any of their software updates. My car is currently on 3.6.4 which arrived over the air just a week ago.
There was a recent software update 3.6.4 that has made my reverse camera, reverse parking sensor and rear cross traffic warning totally disappear. When I put the car in reverse, the camera doesn’t work at all. It doesn’t even appear - totally unusable. This is a new issue with this update - the rear camera previously worked most of the time (occasionally, I would get “camera unavailable” message but I don’t even get that now - completely nonfunctional now)
backup camera does not work even after polestar released software and i installed it
This is related to safety recall 25V-280. My backup camera is still producing the “Camera temporarily unavailable” message with the latest software update 3.6.4. installed. Matter of fact it seems it has gotten worse since 3.6.4. to the point where it is reproduceable after each deep sleep. My vehicle is a 2022 Polestar 2 LRDM with no packages. The scenario that triggers the issue is: Car parked and locked overnight, unlock, get in, buckle up and put car in reverse. This process takes less than 4 seconds. The backup camera first flickers a few times then usually shows “Camera temporarily unavailable” message. I have started to capture this with my cell phone so I have evidence. It appears 3.6.4. is NOT a fix for the backup camera issues that triggered the recall 25V-280. I am not an expert but believe only a hardware upgrade with improved processing capabilities will fix this issue as all software fix attempts failed so far.
Backup camera was previously recalled. Polestar released version 3.6.4 and claimed it fixed the issue. However, it’s the same, if not worse, than before. “Camera currently unavailable” error message still displays upwards of 50% of the time after putting the car into reverse.
For reference, I have the 3.6.4 software update. The backup camera and 360 camera frequently flicker, so visibility is poor and limited. In addition, there are instances where it still says "Camera is temporarily unavailable" leading to complete failure of the backup camera. The most common time for these errors to occur is after accessing the car after it has been locked for a (longer) period of time. There are no other warnings or errors on the infotainment that indicate this issue other than the flickering and unavailable message.
Polestar has stated that software 3.6.3 and above address the rearview camera open recall issue, Manufacturer Recall Number RP1056, NHTSA Recall Number 25V280, however I installed 3.6.4 last week and I continue to have instances of reoccurence of the issue related to this recall campaign, "Camera Temporarily Unavailable" when entering reverse.
After updating the 2022 Polestar to to the latest version (3.6.4), I thought the previous issue with the rear camera being unavailable while reversing would be fixed. This is not the case. I still experience the "rear camera not available" screen while I'm actively backing out of parking lots in malls. This is still a safety hazard for me and others around me. The update did not fix the rear camera issue. The center screen fills with a "Rear camera not available" text when I shift the car to Reverse gear.
The backup camera has always been buggy but since the recent software update 3.6.4 which was supposed to fix those issues, it often doesn’t even work at all resulting in a “camera not available” error
I recently got the 3.6.4 software update that was supposed to fix the recall for the constant rear backup camera issues in the Polestar 2. The problem seems to have gotten even worse after the software update. I often have to wait 1-2 minutes while sitting in reverse for the camera to sometimes come on. If it does come on, I’ll start backing up, and halfway through the maneuver, the screen often goes black and says the backup cam isn’t available at this time. If I wait maybe 30 seconds, it sometimes comes back, but I can’t just stop in the middle of the street when I’m backing out of my driveway or a parking spot. The rear windshield already has very poor visibility, so I heavily rely on the backup cam to know what’s around me. Secondarily, the audio drivers seem to constantly malfunction, so I can’t hear any beeping that might come from the rear auto-brake/sensor functionality. Can’t even hear my turn signals when the audio is malfunctioning, too. No collisions or physical damage, but backing up feels like a significant safety hazard. My alley has small kids, and I need to be able to see behind my car. When the camera just freezes midway through backing out of my driveway, I’m kind of stuck. Polestar has released software updates to “fix” this twice, and it has only remained the same or gotten worse. I really think they need to do a hardware update on the central panel, as it seemingly can’t handle many functions that need some CPU power (e.g. it can also take upwards of a minute to load the map app)
I have installed the latest software update version 3.6.4 which was supposed to resolve the fault backup camera problem that has been persistent since the day I bought the car in 2021. The backup camera continues to fail to engage a majority of the times that I enter the car. Neither of the previous two recalls have been effective and the camera continues to consistently malfunction.
After the most recent update, there are still common rear view camera failures where the screen turns black. This has been the second software update to “fix” the issue without it being resolved.
Backup camera issue still not resolved with the latest update that was required to fix the issue. Car still opens on surround view, stutters really bad, or says disabled which is dangerous and has led to many accidents. The only solution seems to be to replace the head units in these vehicles. There is no reason a $70k vehicle doesn’t have a properly powered head unit for what it does. Has been a constant issue since the release of the vehicle.
Backup camera still failing after software update fix of 3.6.4. The screen still shows the message 'Camera is temporarily unavailable.' In one day it failed to initialize three times. Even repressing the camera button to force the rear view camera to work will fail again within seconds. This is dangerous because of the blind spots and all parking collision and rear cross traffic alerts also fail.
The vehicles backup camera still does not consistently work despite receiving an over the air software update to remedy the initial recall of the backup camera not working all the time.
My vehicle was recalled (NHTSA Recall No. 25V-280) and the software was updated. This is meant to fix issues with the rear camera not activating after the car is put in reverse. However this did not fix the issue. When I start the car in the morning and put it in reverse, the center console displays the message "Camera is temporarily unavailable" and the camera does not activate. This occurs about 40% of the time. Many other owners are still experiencing this issue after updating the vehicle. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
When initially starting to drive the car, the backup camera fails to activate when the car is put into reverse. If I stop and turn the camera off and then back on, it will begin functioning. I think the backup camera should just be on when the vehicle is in reverse.
Rear backup camera regularly does not display on center console while backing up, flickering between showing the feed, freezing on a still image and showing a black screen with a message stating “camera not available”. This is a known issue that Polestar has attempted to fix multiple times with a software update. I have updated to the most recent software version 3.6.4, which was released in part with the intent to fix this camera issue, and the issue persists.
While driving on an interstate highway recently, the main screen in the car froze and then went black. There were no warnings it would happen. The HVAC, navigation, screen and other controls were gone. I changed lanes to slow down and realized the turn signal sound was also not working. I wondered if the signals were working. Luckily, I remembered how to reboot the screen and did so. After a few minutes it started up and worked again. That was the third time in a year that it happened. Each time was on a highway. The first time was frightening as I had to exit the highway and research how to try to get it working again. I consider it a safety hazard because the driver must take attention off the road to deal with restarting it and to rerun applications like navigation. Also the the turn signal should not be dependent on the information screen working. The dealer was not informed because I found a solution by reading an owners forum. I also learned that it happens to others more often than it should and that the thinking is that the computer that handles the "infotainment" system is not powerful enough and does not have enough memory to handle the work it needs to do.
After updating the vehicle software per NHTSA Recall No. 25V-280, the rear camera system is still not stable. There have been several instances of the camera becoming "unavailable" since performing the software update meant to make the camera more reliable. Sometimes the camera will fail while the vehicle is in motion mid backing up. Additionally, the computing resources that were diverted from the infotainment system to "fix" the camera issue have made the infotainment system less reliable. This now results in multiple distractions while driving throughout the day to assess why the infotainment system is not operating as expected when input is provided. Severe delays with mapping. Pressing an app, but the app may or may not load which causes the driver to divert attention to the infotainment to reselect the app or confirm if the system is hung-up and requires a re-start. Additionally, there has been an increase in the speakers not working since the last software update. The speakers are not only for the stereo but provide turn signal indication and safety warnings for breaking and obstructions. There is no warning that the speakers are not working so sometimes one begins driving and only when a warning should be emitted or turn indication does the driver realize there is no audio. The driver must then reset the infotainment system to try and regain audio (my record is 9 restarts before the speakers begin working again). This is very dangerous to have to pull over to reset or be distracted while resetting the infotainment system (which takes over a minute for each start and requires pressing on the screen for approx. 20-30 seconds). This update did not improve the camera function and has made for many other dangerous compromises on the infotainment system which were not there previous to this update.
After the update that should fix the car, it now has several issues. One Pedal Driving doesn't work. When using One Pedal Driving the car should stop when you release the gas. Now the car continues to roll. It is reporting "Brake Failure" and "Collision Detection Failure". Polestar is saying this is normal after the update and it should fix itself in time. Unacceptable, the car has has issues for a year without any updates. Then this is released and makes it work.
Polestar release version 3.6.4 update that when applied did not inform us that the one pedal drive was set. The vehicle prior to the update was set to 2 pedal meaning when the gas pedal was let go it would coast and slowly come to a stop. The one pedal immediately was enabled which is a safety as I was not aware and the software did not mention it being activated. It nearly caused me to have a safety issue driving home. The backup camera which has been recalled and polestar sent a notice to update the vehicle is still having failures. Polestar has been creating safety hazards with these software pushes without fully testing it.
A recent update was meant to correct a recall regarding an unavailable backup camera. I received the update, 3.6.4 but I still get camera not available issues frequently.
This is regarding the backup camera recall. I have updated to software P3.6.4 (the recall notice says P3.6.3 and above aren’t affected). However, the backup camera is still stuttering with extremely low frame rates and second-long lags, then switching to a black screen saying “camera unavailable”. This occurred two of the three times i have driven the car since the software update.
The backup camera frequently fails to come on. Screen displays "Camera is temporarily unavailable" on a black background. This can last for minutes. The car has SW version 3.2.8.
There have been two recalls to address the backup camera failing to initialize when the vehicle is put into reverse. After the most recent update, my camera fails to initialize even more than before.
Backup camera is temporarily unavailable
backup camera says camera temporarily unavailable when put in reverse. Took the car to Dyer and Dyer Volvo to get latest software update but the issue happened multiple times after getting it fixed from dealership.