Polestar has issued a recall for a portion of its 2025 model year Polestar 3 electric crossovers, specifically those manufactured at its Charleston plant between October 2024 and September 2025. The campaign affects 213 vehicles, following the discovery that the rear seat back attachments may have been improperly secured. Workers reportedly used only one nut per bracket instead of the required two. This oversight violates FMVSS 207 standards and, in a collision, could allow the seat back to fold forward unintentionally, potentially allowing cargo to enter the passenger compartment.

Dealers received notifications in late January and are required to inspect the fasteners. If necessary, they must re-torque the nuts and reposition the bracket to meet specifications. Owners will be notified by mail no later than March 22. All affected VINs have been logged in both Polestar's and the NHTSA's databases.

In practice, this matters because Polestar 3 sales in the U.S. have been softer than anticipated, accounting for less than 20% of the brand's global deliveries in 2025. The model faces several headwinds, including a high interest rate environment, the lack of a federal tax credit, supply chain complexities, and the continued use of a 400-volt architecture in the 2025 version, which some consider outdated.

To clear inventory ahead of the updated 2026 models, Polestar has introduced a factory incentive program called the Polestar Clean Vehicle Incentive, offering an $18,000 discount. This effectively reduces the starting price of the Polestar 3 to $49,500, down from $67,500. The vehicle boasts a driving range of up to 350 miles (563 km) and a power output of up to 517 horsepower, enabling a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 4.5 seconds.