NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 GEM E4 Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 GEM E4 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized GEM dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 GEM E4. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2016 GEM E4 owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2016 GEM E4, describing incidents dated December 12, 2016.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10948521 · Filed January 30, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GEM E4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES, WHICH REPORTED INCORRECT INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE, THE FAILURE…

Read the full complaint

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2016 GEM E4 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP22-005: Pedestrian alert sounds
Closed August 7, 2023
- Recall 22V-063

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Vehicle may Go in Opposite Direction than Intended

NHTSA #18V484000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported July 19, 2018 · Polaris Industries, Inc.

Potentially affected: 2,110 vehicles

Repair completion: 56.82% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign L-18-02 · Owners notified November 28, 2018 · Vehicles built May 29, 2015 – March 9, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

If the operator intends to go forward, but the vehicle reverses instead, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Front Steel Wheel Lug Nuts may Loosen

NHTSA #17V279000 · Wheels — Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs · NHTSA notice

Reported April 26, 2017 · Polaris Industries, Inc.

Potentially affected: 1,254 vehicles

Repair completion: 64.35% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign L-17-01 · Owners notified June 8, 2017 · Vehicles built May 29, 2015 – March 29, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

If a wheel separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Vehicle may Go in Opposite Direction than Intended

NHTSA #16V884000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported December 8, 2016 · Polaris Industries, Inc.

Potentially affected: 1,644 vehicles

Repair completion: 78.83% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign L-16-01 · Owners notified December 28, 2016 · Vehicles built May 29, 2015 – November 18, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

If the operator intends to go forward, but the vehicle reverses instead, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2016 GEM E4. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 GEM E4.

Electrical System

ODI #10948521

Incident: December 12, 2016 · Filed: January 30, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GEM E4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES, WHICH REPORTED INCORRECT INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE, THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE IN THE INCORRECT DIRECTION EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V884000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Other GEM E4 model years

Check your 2016 GEM E4 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your GEM E4 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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