Complaints over time
Complaints about the 2016 Polaris Sportsman peaked in 2016, with 1 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Model year
2016 Polaris Sportsman
Motorcycle, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Nov 1, 2016 to Dec 30, 2019.
Recall campaigns covering this model year0No recall campaign lists this model year
Owner complaints2Close to the median 2016 motorcycle
Severity index50.02016 motorcycles average 9.6
First 24 months1Complaints in its first two years
Components
50% of complaints about the 2016 Polaris Sportsman name engine and cooling
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls
No recall campaign lists the 2016 Polaris Sportsman
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 2016 Polaris Sportsman
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
2 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Dec 30, 2019Failure Nov 25, 2016900 milesWakefield, NHSteeringCrash1 injured
I WAS DRIVING DOWN TRAIL, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST MY POWER STEERING, CAUSING ME TO GO OFF TRAIL AN HIT A BIG ROCK THROWING ME OVER HANDLE BARS, GOOD THING I HAD HELMET ON, BUT I DID BREAK MY FINGER ON MY LEFT HAND,
NHTSA complaint 11292151 - Filed Nov 1, 2016Failure Jun 1, 20164 milesMontgomery, NYEngine, Fuel/propulsion system
I BOUGHT A 2016 POLARIS 450 SPORTSMAN FROM A LOCAL NY DEALER IN JUNE AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE FIRST TIME I WENT OUT ON IT WITH 4 MILES, IT STOPPED WORKING SO I HAD TO BE TOWED BACK. THE DEALER PICKED IT UP AND TOLD ME THEY FIXED THE ISSUE WHICH WAS THAT THE CVT WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED SO THE BELT GOT WET. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ANY LASTING ISSUES BUT THEY ASSURED ME I WOULD HAVE NONE. THE SECOND TIME WITH NOT EVEN 20 MILES ON IT, THE WHEELER DID NOT SHIFT RIGHT AND WAS POPPING OUT OF GEAR SO THEY PICKED IT UP AGAIN AND TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. WENT AWAY THIS PAST WEEKEND AND WITH 40 MILES ON IT, IT STARTED OVER HEATING. I CALLED THEM WHILE I WAS ON THE TRAIL AND THEY SAID TO PRESSURE WASH THE RADIATOR WHICH I KNOW YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT I HAD ALREADY USED A HOSE TO TRY THAT SO OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THEN ALSO WHILE ON THE RIDE, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND THE WHEELER WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE SO I COULDN'T DO ABOVE 15 MPH. IT WOULD ALSO BACKFIRE AND NOT START UP WITHOUT HOLDING BOTH THE BREAK AND GIVING IT GAS AT THE SAME TIME. IN ADDITION THE WHEELER WOULD ALSO STALL GOING DOWN A HILL (I TRIED TO EVEN GIVE IT A LITTLE GAS WHILE MAINTAINING A SAFE SPEED BUT IT STILL WOULD STALL.
NHTSA complaint 10923710
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations
NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins
2 manufacturer communications cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- G-15-12-01 R01 Dec 10, 2015 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
This Team Tip is being released to dealers to provide information regarding the required transition to online PCDX and PCDX training. - SAF-16-01 Aug 16, 2016 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
A STOP RIDE MEANS THE CONSUMER MUST NOT OPERATE THEIR VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE. We have been made aware that some dealers are incorrectly communicating the importance of STOP RIDE communications.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.