GEM E2 (2017) Recall: Risk of Reversing Instead of Forward
Polaris is recalling certain 2016-2017 GEM E2 electric vehicles due to a drive switch that may cause the vehicle to reverse instead of moving forward, increasing crash risk.
Use caution until it’s fixed
If the operator intends to go forward, but the vehicle reverses instead, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
What happened, in plain English
Polaris is recalling certain 2016-2017 GEM E2 electric vehicles because a faulty drive switch can cause the vehicle to reverse instead of moving forward, increasing crash risk. Owners should contact Polaris for a free replacement of the drive switch. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1225954-gem-e2-2017-recall-risk-of-reversing-instead-of-forward.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1225954-gem-e2-2017-recall-risk-of-reversing-instead-of-forward · Updated October 9, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #16V884000
Cite this page
“GEM E2 (2017) Recall: Risk of Reversing Instead of Forward.” GovInfoNow, updated October 9, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1225954-gem-e2-2017-recall-risk-of-reversing-instead-of-forward. Based on NHTSA recall #16V884000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=16V884000).
Why it’s dangerous
The drive mode switch can send an incorrect signal to the vehicle's control system, causing it to move in the opposite direction than intended. This could lead to a crash if the operator intends to go forward but the vehicle reverses instead.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2016-2017 GEM E2 electric vehicles with specific model years and manufacturing dates are affected. Riders who operate these vehicles without the fix are at risk of crashing if the vehicle reverses unexpectedly.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your GEM E2 electric vehicle was manufactured between May 29, 2015, and November 18, 2016. The recall covers 2016-2017 model years.
- Brand
GEM- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Polaris
Call 1-855-743-3436 to schedule a free drive switch replacement with a Polaris dealer.
What NHTSA says to do
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.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 5 months.
- NHTSA received the defect report
- Recall began
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #16V884000 (August 12, 2016)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 9, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.