AI Damage2016 Polaris Sportsman: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Polaris Sportsman filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel/propulsion system. The maker issued 2 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 2
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 50% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 50% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 50% of all complaints
- Engine: 1 complaints (50% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (50% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (50% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 2 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was driving down trail, when all of a sudden I lost my power steering, causing me to go off trail an hit a big rock throwing me over handle bars, good thing I had helmet on, but I did break my finger on my left hand,
Then also while on the ride, my check engine light kept coming on and the wheeler would go into limp mode so I couldn't do above 15 mph. It would also backfire and not start up without holding both the break and giving it gas at the same time.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 19,885 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 46% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Sportsman has 2 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 2, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This Team Tip is being released to dealers to provide information regarding the required transition to…
This Team Tip is being released to dealers to provide information regarding the required transition to online PCDX and PCDX training.
- A STOP RIDE MEANS THE CONSUMER MUST NOT OPERATE THEIR VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE
We have been made aware that some dealers are incorrectly communicating the importance of STOP RIDE communications.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Polaris Sportsman?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, fuel/propulsion system, steering. Total complaints: 2. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: loss of power / limp mode (50%), stalls while driving (50%), steering or power steering problems (50%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Polaris Sportsman?
NHTSA lists 2 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Polaris Sportsman from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.