2017 Gem E2: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 3 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 100.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 100.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
Electrical System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 3 |
2017: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10959793 · 2017-03-09 (March 9, 2017)
THE GEM E2 HAS 2 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. 48 VOLTS FOR THE DRIVE SYSTEM, AND 12 VOLTS FOR HEADLIGHTS ETC. WHEN DRIVING ON A CITY STREET DOWN A HILL OF APPROXIMATELY 1 DEGREE OR MORE AND YOU APPLY THE BRAKES, ALL HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, AND THE SPEEDOMETER AND DOME LIGHTS WILL ALL SHUT DOWN. AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKES, THE 12 VOLTS SYSTEM WILL RESET ITSELF. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT SURFACE OR UPHILL. THE GEM E2 HAS REGENERATIVE BRAKING. IF I USE THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, THIS DOE…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10959793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10959796 · 2017-03-09 (March 9, 2017)
THE GEM E2 HAS 2 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. 48 VOLTS FOR THE DRIVE SYSTEM, AND 12 VOLTS FOR HEADLIGHTS ETC. WHEN DRIVING ON A CITY STREET DOWN A HILL OF APPROXIMATELY 1 DEGREE OR MORE AND YOU APPLY THE BRAKES, ALL HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, AND THE SPEEDOMETER AND DOME LIGHTS WILL ALL SHUT DOWN. AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKES, THE 12 VOLTS SYSTEM WILL RESET ITSELF. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT SURFACE OR UPHILL. THE GEM E2 HAS REGENERATIVE BRAKING. IF I USE THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, THIS DOE…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10959796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10959798 · 2017-03-09 (March 9, 2017)
THE GEM E2 HAS 2 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. 48 VOLTS FOR THE DRIVE SYSTEM, AND 12 VOLTS FOR HEADLIGHTS ETC. WHEN DRIVING ON A CITY STREET DOWN A HILL OF APPROXIMATELY 1 DEGREE OR MORE AND YOU APPLY THE BRAKES, ALL HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, AND THE SPEEDOMETER AND DOME LIGHTS WILL ALL SHUT DOWN. AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKES, THE 12 VOLTS SYSTEM WILL RESET ITSELF. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT SURFACE OR UPHILL. THE GEM E2 HAS REGENERATIVE BRAKING. IF I USE THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, THIS DOE…
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10959798 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V884000 · Electrical System
Reported: 2016-12-08 (December 8, 2016)
Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2016-2017 GEM E2, E4, E6, and ELXD electric vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to November 18, 2016. The drive mode switch can send an incorrect signal, causing the vehicle to go in the opposite direction than intended.
Consequence: If the operator intends to go forward, but the vehicle reverses instead, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 28, 2016. Owners may contact GEM Consumer Service Department at 1-855-743-3436. Polaris' number for this recall is L-16-01.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V279000 · Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Reported: 2017-04-26 (April 26, 2017)
Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2016-2017 GEM E2, E4, E6, and ELXD electric vehicles, equipped with steel wheels. The lug nuts on the front wheels may loosen, potentially resulting in a front wheel detaching from the vehicle.
Consequence: If a wheel separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GEM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lug nuts, and inspect the wheels. The recall began June 8, 2017. Owners may contact GEM Consumer Service Department at 1-855-743-3436. Polaris' number for this recall is L-17-01.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V484000 · Electrical System
Reported: 2018-07-19 (July 19, 2018)
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.
Consequence: If the operator intends to go forward, but the vehicle reverses instead, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
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 campaign record ↗