Charging Fault Strikes at 1,830 Miles
Volvo’s three‑row EX90 electric SUV is the brand’s first “software‑defined vehicle,” built on an all‑new platform with a dual Nvidia Drive AGX Orin compute unit. The 2026 model year was supposed to be the fresh start after a launch marred by delays and disabled features. Instead, MotorTrend’s long‑term tester — a $96,000 example — has already thrown up significant trouble.
At just 1,830 miles, the EX90 refused to charge on a Level 2 AC station. No charging fault appeared until the cord was plugged in; the screen simply signaled an error. Testing director Eric Tingwall tried three other AC chargers — a public unit, a colleague’s home charger, and the Volvo’s own mobile cord — and got the same failure at each. The car could still accept DC fast charging, so the vehicle wasn’t stranded, but relying on public fast chargers is costly and inconvenient compared with overnight home charging.
Other annoyances have been accumulating. The massaging front seats have never worked. An initial diagnosis pointed to an air pump; that was replaced and didn’t solve the problem. A second component — a control module not caught in the first inspection — has arrived and awaits installation. The inductive phone charger, meanwhile, refuses to charge any phone placed on it, an issue that still needs dealer attention.
The EX90 arrives after Volvo had already promised to replace the central Nvidia‑based computing hardware on 2025 models following widespread owner complaints about frozen infotainment screens, climate‑control glitches and driver‑assist issues. The hope was that the 2026 car’s upgraded hardware, developed with in‑house software, would put those problems to rest. Early signs are mixed.
What the EX90’s Troubles Signal for Volvo’s Software‑Defined Pivot
Volvo’s Software‑Defined Gamble Meets Reality
The EX90 is Volvo’s flagship effort to become a software‑first automaker, where over‑the‑air updates can add features and fix bugs. But the issues cropping up — a charging handshake failure with standard AC power, a seat‑massage system that is physically incomplete, and a wireless charger that doesn’t function — cut across both software and hardware. The AC charging fault, in particular, points to a problem in the vehicle’s electrical architecture communication, a critical domain for any EV.
Volvo executives have acknowledged a “learning curve” with the new platform. The fact that the company is already replacing core computers on 2025 cars tells investors and buyers that the software‑defined transition is proving harder and more expensive than planned. The 2026 models were supposed to be the clean‑slate solution; that they still need parts for features like massage seats suggests the validation process may still be catching up.
Where the Three‑Row EV Segment Goes from Here
The three‑row electric SUV class is small but growing, with rivals such as the Kia EV9 and Rivian R1S already attracting families. Early reliability reports heavily influence purchase decisions in this premium segment. If Volvo cannot quickly resolve these first‑owner experience snags, it risks losing trust just as it tries to move EX90 off dealer lots. DC fast‑charging dependence, even temporarily, also undermines a key EV selling point: the convenience of charging at home.
On the other hand, the 800‑volt architecture on the 2026 EX90 delivered genuinely faster DC charging in MotorTrend’s experience — 25 minutes from 38% to 80% during the forced fast‑charge session. That capability, if paired with stable software, is a competitive strength. The challenge for Volvo is to translate hardware potential into trouble‑free daily usability before the narrative solidifies that the EX90 is another rushed EV launch.
What This Means for EX90 Shoppers
For shoppers considering a 2026 EX90, the MotorTrend experience highlights several practical steps:
- Test AC charging immediately: Plug the vehicle into a Level 2 home or public charger before delivery and verify that no communication faults appear. A dealer should be able to replicate a fault on‑site.
- Inspect comfort‑tech features: Confirm that massage seats, the wireless phone charger and similar cabin systems function before signing paperwork; incomplete parts can slip through pre‑delivery inspections.
- Confirm hardware version: Ask whether the vehicle has the latest Nvidia Drive AGX Orin‑based compute unit — the 2026 spec — and whether any pending software modules are still awaiting activation.
- Factor in fast‑charging fallback: In the short term, be prepared for the inconvenience and cost of DC fast charging if an AC charging issue arises, especially for families planning home charging as their primary refueling method.
Risk & Opportunity Assessment
| Commercial Risk | Medium | Early quality glitches in a flagship $96,000 EV could slow EX90 sales momentum and dent customer acquisition in a competitive three‑row electric segment. |
| Competitive Risk | Low | Rivals such as the Kia EV9 or Rivian R1S could capture wavering buyers if Volvo’s reliability reputation falters, but the segment is still small and Volvo’s brand loyalty provides a buffer. |
| Regulatory Risk | Low | No immediate regulatory intervention is indicated; the issues appear confined to manufacturing and software quality, not safety recalls. |
| Reputation Risk | High | Software‑defined vehicle troubles — especially on a model that was supposed to fix earlier problems — undermine Volvo’s credibility as a premium EV maker and its message of seamless over‑the‑air capability. |
| Technology Disruption | Medium | The new dual Nvidia Orin compute platform is expected to eventually enable advanced driver‑assistance features and better OTA updates, but early setbacks show that integrating in‑house software with fresh hardware remains a bottleneck. |
| Commercial Opportunity | Medium | If Volvo can resolve the charging and feature bugs rapidly and convincingly, the EX90’s 800‑volt fast‑charging speed and spacious three‑row layout could become a strong selling point, accelerating uptake among family EV buyers. |
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