Polestar has announced a recall of 27,816 Model 2 electric vehicles due to a malfunction of the rearview camera.
Some owners reported the appearance of a “Camera temporarily unavailable” message on the display.
Although the Polestar 2 has a conventional rear window, its crossover sibling, the Polestar 4, lacks this element.
The Polestar 4 attracts buyers with its modern coupe-like design, high-quality interior, and rich equipment. But the most memorable feature of this model is the absence of a traditional rear window – the manufacturer believes that the camera handles this task better.
However, the repeated recall due to camera malfunctions is a reminder of why most cars have been equipped with a rear window for centuries, and why this tradition will remain relevant for a long time to come.
It is important to note that the current recall concerns the Polestar 2 model, which does have a rear window. This model recently ceased sales in the US due to President Trump’s tariffs. However, given the numerous camera problems across various automakers (Ford, Hyundai, Kia, JLR, and others), it can be assumed that similar difficulties may arise with the Polestar 4, where the driver is deprived of the traditional rear view.
Polestar is calling in 27,816 Model 2 owners for a software update, which, unfortunately, cannot be performed remotely. The problem affects vehicles from model years 2021-2025 – some owners reported a complete failure of the camera, when instead of an image, a message about temporary unavailability appeared on the screen.
The manufacturer explains the malfunction as a synchronization error between the parking camera and the multimedia system. This is already the second such recall – in June 2024, Polestar already fixed a similar problem in 26,000 vehicles; that update could be performed remotely.
The future Polestar 5 model, like the controversial Jaguar electric sedan, is also being developed without a rear window. Do you think manufacturers should keep the traditional glass for safety reasons, or are these cases too isolated to restrict designers?