2018 Polaris Slingshot Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Slingshot years
- Not enough data 5th of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Polaris Slingshot. That ranks 5th out of 9 Slingshot model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 50%). Complaints mention 1 crash, 2 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

- 4owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Polaris Slingshot problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 50% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 25% | 900 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 25% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Polaris Slingshot recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers
Problem: Polaris Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Slingshot motorcycles. Excessive electrical current may damage the battery fuse holder terminals.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Seats; seat belts
Problem: Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2018-2019 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 April 11, 2019. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Polaris' number for this recall is T-18-01. Note: this recall is an expansion of recall 18V-195.
Seat belts:front:retractor
Problem: Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Polaris Slingshot S, Slingshot SL, Slingshot GT LE, and Slingshot SLR motorcycles. In the event of a crash, the seatbelt retractor on the side opposite of the impact may separate, preventing the seatbelt from locking.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat belt does not lock, the occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will install a kit that prevents the retractor from separating in the event of a crash, free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2018. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Polaris' number for this recall is T-18-03.
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Problem: Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Polaris Slingshot, Slingshot SL, Slingshot SLR, Slingshot SL Icon, and Slingshot GT LE motorcycles. The brake pedals may have been incorrectly installed, allowing the brake pedal to separate from the brake master cylinder.
Risk: If the brake pedal separates from the brake master cylinder, it would cause a loss of braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engagement of the brake pedal retaining clip and reassemble it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 5, 2018. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-855-863-2284. Polaris' number for this recall is T-18-02.
Seats; seat belts
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Seatbelt Retractor Failure (PE17005) — opened Sep 18, 2017, closed Mar 25, 2019, led to recall 18V531000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 POLARIS SLINGSHOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V750000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED FREEDOM POWERSPORTS WEATHERFORD (3202 EAST INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 20, HUDSON OAKS, TX…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 POLARIS SLINGSHOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V750000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED RIDENOW POWERSPORTS PEORIA & INDIAN…
Tl* the contact called on behalf of her friend who was in the passenger seat of a 2018 polaris slingshot equipped with lexani 101wxl tires, size: 515/25dr22 (na). While driving 60-70 mph, the rear tire blew out. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the guardrail. The air bags did not deploy. The…
The vehicle was being personally inspected while stationary. I have noticed a significant wear difference in the right front brake rotor while it is being bedded. Upon closer inspection, i have determined that there are 2 different front rotor types on this vehicle. The right rotor is a single…
Other Polaris Slingshot years
← 2017 Slingshot · 2019 Slingshot →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Slingshot | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 Slingshot | 7 | 0 |
| 2021 Slingshot | 2 | 1 |
| 2020 Slingshot | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 Slingshot | 4 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 | 5 |
| 2017 Slingshot | 10 | 9 |
| 2016 Slingshot | 25 | 8 |
| 2015 Slingshot | 36 | 9 |
See all Polaris Slingshot problems by year, every Polaris model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Polaris models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Polaris Slingshot?
Owners most often report electrical system, air bags, service brakes problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Polaris Slingshot?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Polaris Slingshot a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Slingshot model years, the 2018 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.