Why does my Polestar 2 screen go black or keep rebooting?

Short answer: On the Polestar 2, the center screen freezing, going black or rebooting is almost always a software problem in the infotainment unit (the computer behind the screen). The car keeps driving, but you can lose maps, music and climate controls until it comes back. Hold the Home button under the screen for 20 seconds to restart it. If it keeps happening, make sure you have the latest software, then ask service to look at the infotainment unit.

Symptom: The center screen goes black, freezes, or restarts while you drive, sometimes with the driver display or sound cutting out too.

What to check first

1. Restart the screen: hold the Home button at the bottom of the center screen for about 20 seconds until it goes black, then let go. Polestar's manual describes this.
2. If that doesn't fix it, park, lock the car, walk away with the key and leave it alone (not charging) for 20 to 30 minutes so it fully shuts down. Owners say this helps.
3. Check for software updates. One owner's every-five-minute reboots stopped after a later update.
4. Note whether it happens with phone projection. One owner said crashes stopped after changing a phone messaging setting.
5. If it keeps happening, book service. Owners report software reinstalls and, in some cases, a new infotainment unit.

Likely causes

1. Infotainment software bug. Most cases. A restart helps, and updates often fix it.
2. Problem after a software update. Owners reported new reboots after some updates and fixes in later ones.
3. Phone connection conflict. Some owners linked crashes to phone projection.
4. Failing infotainment unit. Replaced in some persistent cases.

What it usually costs

Owners reported these fixes under warranty. We don't have out-of-warranty prices.

Is it safe to keep driving?

The car still drives and brakes normally, but a black screen can hide the speed, maps, climate and defrost controls, and the rearview camera. Restart it when you can stop safely, and get it seen if it keeps happening. Verify with a dealer.

DIY or shop?

DIY for restarts and updates. Software reinstalls and hardware replacement are dealer work.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recall 24V477 (2021–2024 Polestar 2): infotainment software could stop the rearview camera image from showing. Polestar fixed it with a free over-the-air update. If your car is part of this recall, the fix is free.
• Recalls 25V280 and 25V615 (2021–2025 Polestar 2): later rearview camera software recalls. Check your VIN.
• NHTSA complaints: 95 keyword-matched complaints for Polestar 2 2021–2025 (of 594 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-21; keywords: center screen/display, infotainment, reboot, black or blank screen, screen went black/off, screen froze). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In Help? on r/Polestar, an owner's screen glitched while driving. Owners said to hold the Home button for 20 seconds, or to lock the car and walk away for 20 to 30 minutes so it fully resets. A Polestar 2 owner said a reset during the drive fixed it, and another linked crashes to phone messages being read aloud.
• In 2022 Polestar 2 infotainment system reboots every five minutes after updating software to 5.0.10 on r/Polestar, an owner said the screen, audio, driver display and climate controls kept rebooting after an update, and that a later update (5.1.17) stopped it.

My take

On any software-heavy car, ask whether all updates are installed before you buy, and try the screen restart on the test drive so you know how.

Vehicle focus: 2021–2025 Polestar 2.

Safety / mechanic note

A black screen can hide the rearview camera and climate/defrost controls. Verify with a mechanic.