20-Year Toyota Driver Regrets Upgrading To Glitchy Volvo EX90 EV originally appeared on Autoblog.
EX90 riddled with charging and infotainment gremlins
The Volvo EX90 debuted at the start of the year to much acclaim. It impressed with sharp looks, clever tech, and more performance than the gas-powered XC90 ever had. In our limited first drive of the electric SUV, these are the qualities that left us with a positive impression. But it seems like Volvo’s software-defined EV is proving to be problematic for those who have spent more time with it, with a long list of glitches. One owner, in particular, took to Reddit to share her experience, and it doesn’t make for pretty reading.
New EX90 Has Been Back To The Shop 4 Times
Volvo EX90
VolvoView the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
The owner is a mom who purchased a new EX90 on June 9. Since then, she says the EX90 has been back to the shop four times to fix numerous issues. She decided that after over two decades of driving Toyotas (including a RAV4), it was time for something larger as her family grew, and she also wanted an EV with a trusted name, hence the decision to go for the EX90.
So far, this EX90 has had the following problems:
Inability to charge at home
Car does not recall previously inputted settings
Trunk close/lock button only works sometimes
Key is only detected sometimes when approaching
“I own a car that feels more like a chore than a pleasure to own,” said the mom on Reddit, who wishes she had gone with the Rivian R1S instead.
To make matters worse, a text to the dealership fell on deaf ears, and she eventually had to show up in person for assistance."Do not, under any circumstances, buy this car," said the mom in another post on the social media platform.
Several other commenters revealed similar issues, but it’s not only EX90 customers who have been left disappointed by the glitchy EV.
Related: Volvo's European EX30 launch plagued by software issues, refunds
Consumer Reports Brands EX90 As “Unfinished”
VolvoConsumer Reports, which purchases new cars anonymously for testing purposes, was left dismayed by a series of issues with its new EX90. An airbag warning light, third-row seats that couldn’t fold, an audio system that shuts down, climate controls that are inoperable, and having to wait before the car could drive were just some of the issues. Like the mom on Reddit, CR was unable to charge the EX90 on one occasion.
Installing version 1.3.18 of a software update resolved several, but not all, of the issues, but a software update should not be needed to resolve so many glitches.
“These problems aren’t acceptable on a new car, especially a luxury EV that starts at $80,000,” said CR.
EX90’s Issues Began Before Launch
James RiswickThe EX90’s launch was initially delayed, but even when it started arriving, Volvo admitted that it wouldn’t be available with all features. The list included 10 features like cross-traffic alert front automatic braking, curve speed assist, smart charging, and a few LiDAR-related functions.
Volvo assured customers that these features would be added later via a simple software update, but months later, it appears that the car was sold before it was fully ready. On the earlier EX90s, LiDAR is still only operating as a data-collection system, but it’s not actually contributing to the current ownership experience in any meaningful way.
Last year, Volkswagen announced the delay of its new SSP platform due to a series of software issues, demonstrating that this isn’t a problem unique to Volvo. As software-heavy vehicles become more commonplace, consumers are at a higher risk of facing the sort of glitches the EX90 is coughing up.
We hope Volvo rights the EX90 ship sooner rather than later, because beneath all that testy tech lies a brilliant EV.
20-Year Toyota Driver Regrets Upgrading To Glitchy Volvo EX90 EV first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 18, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
