33 of the
128 complaints filed about the Volvo EX90
are about the electrical system —
26% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2025.
While driving the car on a state road (45 mph) the car suddenly notified me of an "electrical fault", a light that looks like a turtle came on, and the vehicle lost power and couldn't go any faster than 5 mph. Another vehicle almost rear-ended me around a blind curve because I was moving significantly slower than normal traffic. I pulled into a parking lot, shutdown and restarted the car and everything seemed fine. It happened again a few minutes later so we started to head back home. But the real issue happened a minute or so after the second fault - the fault cleared itself and all of a sudden the vehicle's speed shot up to over 60 mph with very little throttle response or control from me. I slowed the car down using the brakes and continued home. The fault happened again, and cleared itself again in the same manner but this time while I was turning causing me to almost hit a curb while trying to turn. The car is dangerous. These should be taken off the road permanently.
NHTSA complaint #11758132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was parked in a parking lot and when I released my foot from the break, the car accelerated on its own and crashed into the car in front of me. The automatic emergency braking did not deploy. It was most recently a safety risk and put others in the parking lot, particularly the driver in front me, in danger. I have reported this issue to Volvo and they instructed me to get the body of the car repaired and then the dealer will inspect it. I filed an insurance claim with my insurance company and the car is going to be repaired. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure.
NHTSA complaint #11756276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am submitting this complaint because I believe my Volvo electric vehicle has a serious and recurring safety-related defect that has not been permanently repaired despite multiple repair attempts. Since purchasing the vehicle new, it has repeatedly failed to operate as intended, left me stranded multiple times, and continues to display warning messages while driving. I purchased the vehicle new on November 20, 2025, for approximately $85,000 with zero miles. The first failure occurred on December 4, 2025, at approximately 578 miles when the vehicle stopped charging. Volvo attempted repairs, but the same charging defect returned. The vehicle required additional repairs on January 21, 2026 (1,304 miles), early March 2026 (2,846 miles), and April 27, 2026 (3,810 miles). Despite multiple repairs and component replacements, the same issue continued. By the fourth repair, the vehicle had been out of service approximately 80 days. Volvo later approved a manufacturer repurchase; however, while waiting for the repurchase process, the vehicle developed additional failures where it would completely lose power and become inoperable. The vehicle required towing on multiple occasions, leaving me stranded and without transportation. During a later repair visit, Volvo kept the vehicle for approximately 39 days and stated they could not duplicate the problem and that the vehicle was operating as designed. The day after receiving the vehicle back, the same failure occurred again. The vehicle has now required seven repair attempts. Even after the latest repair, I continue to receive dashboard warnings while driving instructing me to stop the vehicle. Due to the repeated failures, loss of vehicle operation, and unresolved warnings, I have lost confidence in the safety and reliability of this vehicle and have changed my driving habits to avoid being stranded. I believe these recurring failures represent a potential safety defect that warrants investigation by NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #11753723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle locks itself even with a fully charged key tag inside it. The driver is not able to open the car by lifting any of the door handles. It has occurred 3 separate times. It will only open with a key card. Should the driver not have a key card outside of the vehicle, it must be towed to the dealership for service. The dealer has been advised of the problem, although the service department is unable to identify why or how this occurs. This has happened at various times of the day, including late at night, and we reside in a rural area with very limited alternate transportation. No warning messages appear prior to the problem.
NHTSA complaint #11752711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Overall, we've been very happy with the EX90, but it's clear the vehicle is in desperate need of a comprehensive software update from Volvo. The issues we're experiencing don't appear to be hardware failures so much as recurring software-related problems. We've received intermittent propulsion system warnings, headlight system warnings, delayed accelerator response at times, and general electrical system sluggishness. The infotainment system can be slow to respond, and various vehicle functions occasionally lag or behave inconsistently before returning to normal. While none of these issues have left the vehicle undrivable, the frequency of the warnings and the overall lack of responsiveness make it feel like the software isn't fully matured. We also brought the vehicle to our local Volvo dealership in hopes of resolving these concerns. The dealership kept the vehicle for approximately four days but was unable to identify a hardware issue or implement a solution. Throughout that time, we were informed they were waiting on guidance from Volvo before proceeding. That experience reinforced our impression that these concerns are software-related and will ultimately require an update from Volvo rather than a repair performed by the dealership. We're hoping Volvo has a comprehensive software update in development that addresses these recurring warnings, improves system responsiveness, and enhances the overall stability of the vehicle's electronic systems.
NHTSA complaint #11751807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Our Volvo 2025 EX90 was a lemon. We experienced two recalls (one for headlight failure) and repetitive charging unit failures. The dealer traded us a 2026 EX90. They said the failures of the 2025 model had been corrected. While driving home from the dealer at 70 mph on the interstate, I received a warning of steering fault. Just after getting it back, the car charging unit failed. Even the Volvo dealer cannot charge the car. It’s either dangerous to drive or it can’t be driven. corporate Volvo knows this and should be stopped from selling until they fix it.
NHTSA complaint #11744793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle has experienced repeated intermittent electrical-system-related failures since the start of the lease, which have remained unresolved despite eight months of formal engagement with Volvo and multiple service and software-related repair attempts by Volvo. Most recently, on May 15, 2026, while operating the vehicle in approximately 90°F Arizona temperatures, the vehicle displayed a “Limited Performance / Electrical System Temporarily Limited” warning message. Shortly afterward, the driver was temporarily unable to re-enter the vehicle, despite the exterior door handles deploying normally. Vehicle access was restored only after several minutes. The side view mirrors would not open. Driving for two minutes did not resolve this. After ten minutes of remaining parked the mirrors reconnected. This latest incident follows prior issues including: •Loss of charging capability during a long distance trip (which forced us to drive 50MPH on a 75MPH highway, putting our car and other drivers at risk.) •Multiple incidents involving loss of instrument displays while driving •Intermittent vehicle access and lock-related issues •Unexpected seatbelt tensioning while the vehicle was in motion Volvo previously indicated that software updates and related service efforts should address the issues. However, after the updates the vehicle continues to exhibit intermittent electrical-system-related problems affecting reliability and normal operation.
NHTSA complaint #11738406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2025 Volvo EX90. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, an over-the-air software update was attempted but failed. The vehicle locked during the update process and remained inoperable for approximately one hour after the update was completed. On a separate occasion, the vehicle failed to shift into gear while driving on the interstate. The message that the vehicle was not in gear was displayed. The download process took an extended period and after the update was completed the vehicle operated as intended. Additionally, the infotainment system turned black and was inoperable, while the instrument panel was dark, and caused the turn signal indicator and speedometer to become inoperable. The instrument panel was flashing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the battery was in low power mode. The vehicle was not repaired but was manually updated by the dealer, bypassing the over-the-air process. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 1,115.
NHTSA complaint #11731480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On November 28, 2025, my 2025 Volvo EX90 displayed a headlight warning message on the dashboard and the headlights failed to function properly while parked and after starting the engine. The defect temporarily resolved but recurred on December 5, 2025. A headlight defect that is not immediately apparent to the driver poses a serious safety risk before or during nighttime driving. The symptoms are consistent with NHTSA Safety Recall No. 25V-071 (Volvo internal reference R10298), which covers 2025 EX90 vehicles and involves unexpected headlight malfunction. I request that NHTSA investigate whether my vehicle's defect is related to Recall No. 25V-071 and whether the recall remedy has been properly implemented. If unrelated to Recall No. 25V-071, I request that NHTSA investigate this as a separate unreported safety defect. Other 2025 EX90 owners may be experiencing the same issue without reporting it. Volvo has contacted me directly on multiple occasions to schedule a central computer replacement on my vehicle. I understand this replacement is being offered to all 2025 EX90 owners. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this widespread hardware replacement is related to the safety defect I experienced and whether it should have been conducted as a formal safety recall. When brought in for repair on December 13, 2025, the service department advised parts were on indefinite backorder with no estimated delivery date. The vehicle remained at the service center for 47 days while Volvo was unable to supply the necessary parts. I request that NHTSA evaluate whether this represents an adequate response to a safety-critical defect.
NHTSA complaint #11727840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the car the car will suddenly stop working, it will be unable to accelerate. When this happens a multitude of alerts display on the screen. The car is very dangerous to drive and I’m concerned someone may die if this car is not recalled for safety.
NHTSA complaint #11725544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2025 Volvo EX90. The contact stated that while using the house charger, the breaker tripped. The check connection message was displayed. The vehicle failed to charge at the residence. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer, who was unable to charge the vehicle. The contact eventually used a standalone charging system to charge the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Subaru of Melbourne Service Center (4340 W New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32904); where it was diagnosed and determined that an unknown part needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 80.
NHTSA complaint #11724715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car will not charge at my home power charger or any L1 or L2 AC based power system. It will only charge at higher price fast DC chargers which are limited and not at my house. This is apparently a commonly known flaw with this vehicle that has not been addressed and I am now waiting more than 20 days for a replacement part to be ready.
NHTSA complaint #11723637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Was given a 'critical brake fault' warning on the dashboard. Car defaulted into neutral and I was not able to put it park, drive, reverse or even turn off the car (had to keep my foot on the brake until someone could help me push it onto a flat surface). Could not open the car doors from the outside, no resets would work, had to be towed to dealership. Car was left "running" at the dealership for over 24 hours.
NHTSA complaint #11723450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ongoing Software Issues From shortly after delivery through now, the vehicle experiences frequent and recurring warning messages and system failures, including but not limited to: Suspension system warnings Driver assistance and self-driving feature failures One-pedal driving malfunctions Parking camera and sensor errors Other system warnings that appear to be software-related While the vehicle was often still technically drivable, these issues regularly caused the car to operate at reduced functionality, with key safety and convenience features disabled. Although software updates have reduced the frequency of these issues, they still occur intermittently and often require a vehicle reset or time to resolve. Because of these persistent and unpredictable warnings, my family and I have avoided taking this vehicle on long trips out of concern that the car may become unsafe or inoperable while traveling. The vehicle was brought in for service in December 2024 in an attempt to address these software-related issues; however, the service did not resolve the problem at that time. Hardware Failure #1 – GHCA In January 2025, the vehicle experienced a failure of the GHCA component, rendering the all-electric vehicle unable to charge. This occurred shortly after purchase. Service appointment booked: January 27, 2025 Vehicle in shop: aprox 30 days The vehicle was out of service for approximately one full month. During this time, I shared my experience on Reddit due to the severity of the issue and the vehicle’s newness. That post received over 350,000 views, and numerous Volvo EX90 owners reported experiencing the same GHCA failure—many stating they had required multiple replacements of the same component. This strongly suggests a widespread defect rather than an isolated incident. Hardware Failure #2 – GHCA (Repeat Failure) On February 3, 2026, the GHCA failed again, and the vehicle was returned to the dealership for service with no ETA on a fix.
NHTSA complaint #11715573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The Grid to High Voltage Converter A (GHCA) is a critical, often failing, component in 2025+ Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 electric vehicles that converts AC grid power to high-voltage DC for the battery has failed 5 times in my car with no fix from Volvo in the foreseeable future. There are some reports on reddit/ex90 and other owner forums that these failures can cause unsafe voltages and have blown up home chargers. It seems like it is getting to the point where they need to be forced to issue a recall for this part and compensate owners.
NHTSA complaint #11715615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The onboard charger (ghca) failed, destroying my evse and tripping the circut breaker in my electrical panel. It took 3.5 weeks for the replacement part to come in and be installed. On another occasion, the pilot assist adas presented an error and was unavailable until the computer was rebooted.
NHTSA complaint #11715687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While Level 2 charging at home from a NEMA 14-50 receptacle using the Volvo-supplied cable/adapter, charging stopped unexpectedly accompanied by a loud thunk. The central computer restarted and presented a profile setup routine as if the car was new. Stored settings were not retained. Repeated attempts to re-initiate charging resulted in ‘Charging fault’ notifications on the instrument panel and a solid red light on the charging port indicator. The car can no longer charge with AC power, but still charges with Level 3 DC equipment. Also, the car software doesn’t seem to recognize that there is a problem with the vehicle. It shows the status as ‘everything is OK’.
NHTSA complaint #11715700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.