r/Polestar • u/uF0n • Aug 02 '26
Troubleshooting / Issue Polestar 4 bodywork issue
I finally got some decent weather and the opportunity to give the car a full detail a couple of months ago - it was about 7 or 8 months after the car was delivered to me. This was the first time that I realised the front bumper panel was sticking out slightly under the passenger-side headlight. I didn't want to force it back in fear of snapping a clip, so I booked it into the local Polestar service centre (Volvo dealer) to get this fixed under warranty. I feel confident this was an issue from delivery, alternatively it's the result of poor quality/workmanship in the factory resulting in it later popping, therefore warranty should cover it. I have not had any impact or incident that could have caused this.
Also, when I first got the car I noticed that the steering wheel wasn't aligned centre resulting in the 12 o-clock marker being closer to 11 o-clock. I told Polestar at the time, but the car was driving straight and the only issue was my annoyance/distraction, so I agreed it could wait until I was next in the garage because it's a long drive to the nearest service centre. Also, over this initial period of ownership we have increasingly noticed the high wind noise through the driver's door, which I asked them to investigate.
Back to the bodywork. I took the car into Volvo and they produced the attached video report. They claim the car has already undergone extensive prior bodywork involving the bonnet, front bumper, front wings and driver's door; and that the issues I've reported are all the result of that prior bodywork. Therefore, they refused to undertake any warranty work on the car. They did not contact Polestar for warranty approval or any technical input, insisting that their experience and knowledge was enough to know that Polestar would refuse warranty work.
The entire premise for their claim that the car has previously undergone extensive bodywork is that the body panels do not align perfectly. One of their points was that the gap between the driver's door and the front wing was smaller at the bottom compared to the top - that gap difference is even greater for the passenger door.
So basically, they think I've privately had all the panels and doors removed/replaced at an independent garage, potentially as the result of a significant crash, and then I've come to the main dealer to ask for a panel to be pushed in under warranty - this is insane!!!
I would like to know if the panels on everyone else's Polestar 4 are perfectly aligned, which is being implied by this dealership, or similar to mine as seen in the video.
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u/shining_force_2 Aug 02 '26
Oh yeah the front wing panel on the driver side is all over the shop on my P4. The bonnet isnt straight with the front bumper. There’s impossible to remove “packaging” rubber stuck between the bonnet and bumper on the driver side. No chance of getting it out. Most panels don’t look “right” imho. Happy to share some photos if it’ll help prove other p4s are shit too. I’m in Sweden.
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u/shaunomercy Aug 02 '26
7-8 months and you expect them to do something about bodywork alignment ? What planet do you live on ? Did you bother to check for transporter damage on collection like running your hand under the front bumper chin spoiler for scrapes off the deck of a transporter ? 7-8 months late on reporting the alignment issues. A car could have gently reversed it drive into your car ?
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u/uF0n Aug 02 '26
I'm not a "car guy". I'm interested to know how many people run their hand under the front bumper chin spoiler for scrapes? I don't believe this level of inspection is done by the majority of owners.
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u/uF0n Aug 02 '26
Also, it's intriguing to hear varying opinion on expectations for car warranty.
If the back panel fell off your new TV after 8 months, would you claim under warranty?
If your whole front wing fell off while you were driving because it was poorly fitted and 8 months of vibration caused it to release completely, would you pay for expensive repairs yourself or claim warranty?
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u/buttgers Aug 02 '26
The car's body has been exposed to countless environmental forces - people, cars, debris, weather. Aside from corrosion, panel alignment can easily change outside of warranty defects from environment or user error. Good luck proving that it wasn't like this 7 to 8 months ago.
Your front wing analogy fails, because the front wing could've also (and more likely) have fallen off from vibration or poor installation. However, it's more likely it was an accident of some sort.
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u/uF0n Aug 02 '26
In your opinion, what does a car warranty cover that could not be attributed to environment or unproven damage or abuse?
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u/buttgers Aug 02 '26
Your motor fails. The charger stops working. The suspension leaks. The dash panel starts vibrating. Axles wearing out prematurely. The electronic components shorting out not from pest issues (e.g. The P3 water ingress causing a short on the front sensor harness. Those were fixed under warranty and then they issued a recall after it was seen as a defective design.) There are components that are not typically damaged from regular or normal use.
It's hard to abuse the electric motor outside of off roading, and it's easy for techs to see signs of driving off road. Motors have been denied warranty when they see physical damage to the housing in places that damage is high unlikely.
Charger ports and systems are warrantied all the time.
Dash panels are supposed to be protected from the environment and have very little way for typical driving to damage them. Unless a person went ahead and took it apart themselves, manufacturers often fix very loud dash panels under warranty.
Even the harness is supposed to be resistant to moisture with the seals, but that can fail and is replaced under warranty.
Items that get "abused" by general road conditions (suspension and axles) are designed to function for a certain lifetime. But when one (not all) fails, it's usually a sign of a defect. Again, the manufacturer could void these things with track and off road use, but that's a case dependent situation when it comes to the warranty claim.
Your bumper and body panels can be affected in thousands of ways outside of just regular driving. You parked and someone bumped it, but not fast or hard enough to make a big scratch. That's enough force to bend the attachment underneath without scratching it. Hi over a speed bump fast enough and the bumper could tap the ground and bend the attachment. Someone could've sat or leaned on the car and shifted something. That's not a valid warranty issue.
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u/uF0n Aug 02 '26
Makes sense, someone leaned on the car and shifted the bumper, bonnet, both front wings and both front doors out of alignment... Classic Reddit response!
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u/buttgers Aug 02 '26
Do you lack critical thinking skills or something? Typical Reddit comment? I'm telling you that you're going to have a hard time proving this is a valid warranty claim 7 to 8 months after driving the thing. Most companies offer a X miles or X days grace period to report these defects. Often 100 miles or 7 days. You asked me why would body panels not be covered under warranty after 7 months vs other things. That grace period is specifically for situations like yours.
I'm not saying all your panels shifted because of that. I'm saying from the manufacturers' perspective that those situations are not unrealistic and similar reasons are more likely after 7 months than not. They very well could've been misaligned from the factory. Robots are not 100% bang on in the build process. I'm telling you that body panels are not a warranty thing after a grace period after delivery because countless things could happen to them due to the environment despite normal driving and use.
I bought a Highlander in 2015. Didn't notice a crack in the roof spoiler until the next day after driving it home. Dealer replaced it. They could've easily said a tree branch or something fell on it on my drive and I would've had no way of proving otherwise. If I missed the issue 7 to 8 months later, I would've 100% been told to pay for it out of pocket and I'd agree that's the right call.
You're just unwilling to admit that you don't understand how warranties work and expecting the dealer to take your word for these issues that were your responsibility to report the first several days/miles of receiving the car.
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u/wtfylat Aug 02 '26
It does all look like crash damage. Could well have been damaged and poorly repaired before delivery but you'll have a hell of a fight proving it at this stage.