If you’re hunting for a three-row luxury EV SUV, the 2025 Volvo EX90 probably sits high on your list. Safety credentials are impressive, the cabin is gorgeous, and on paper it looks like peak Scandinavian calm. But the big question shoppers are asking right now is simple: what is the 2025 Volvo EX90 reliability rating really like, and should you trust this first model year?
Big picture on EX90 reliability
Overview: Where the 2025 Volvo EX90 Reliability Rating Stands Today
Here’s the honest state of play: formal reliability scores for the 2025 EX90 are still evolving. Agencies and rating organizations need a few years of owner data before they’ll plant a firm flag. What we do know right now is that Volvo has already issued software‑related recalls and is replacing core computers in 2025 EX90s to cure early glitches. At the same time, some owners report trouble‑free miles and love the way the EX90 drives and rides.
2025 Volvo EX90 Reliability Snapshot
So if you’re looking for a simple green checkmark or red X, you won’t find it yet. Instead, you need to understand where the EX90 has stumbled, what Volvo has done to fix those issues, and how that should shape your buying decision, especially if you’re considering a used 2025 EX90 in a few years.
How Reliability Ratings Work For a Brand-New EV
Reliability ratings lag reality. Organizations like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power lean on owner surveys, warranty data, and repair histories. That means a brand‑new vehicle like the 2025 EX90 usually starts with a predicted reliability score based on the brand’s track record and what’s happening in the first year of ownership. The real verdict only arrives after a few model years.
- Early reliability impressions are driven mostly by recalls, technical service bulletins, and vocal early adopters.
- Software‑heavy EVs often look worse than they are because bugs can be showy (screens freezing, driver aids dropping out) but fixable over‑the‑air.
- Hardware failures, battery, motors, suspension, take longer to show up in statistically meaningful numbers.
With the EX90, it’s those first two bullets doing most of the talking. Volvo aimed high with a new software platform, advanced driver‑assistance, and lidar‑based safety tech. The car shipped before all of it was fully baked, and that’s exactly where the reliability story gets complicated.
Early Problems and Recalls on the 2025 Volvo EX90
By now, anyone researching the EX90 has seen the headlines and forum threads: recalls, software bugs, and owners trading horror stories. Let’s separate the noise from the patterns that actually matter for reliability.
Key 2025 EX90 Problem Areas So Far
Most reliability complaints trace back to software and electronics, not the battery or motors.
Software-Driven Recalls
Some early recalls on the 2025 EX90 involved lighting and safety‑system software, where bugs could temporarily knock out headlights or driver‑assist features until updated.
Incomplete Features at Launch
Volvo delivered early EX90s with some promised tech not yet active, from wireless Apple CarPlay to parts of the safety stack, relying on later updates to switch them on.
Central Computer Replacement
After ongoing glitches, Volvo opted to replace the main computer hardware in all 2025 EX90s with a more powerful Nvidia‑based unit similar to what’s used in newer models.
Why recalls aren’t always bad news
From a reliability‑rating perspective, multiple recalls and a mid‑cycle computer swap will absolutely drag down predicted scores. But those same actions can make a late‑build or fully updated EX90 meaningfully better than an early, uncorrected one. That’s why build date and update history matter so much if you’re shopping this SUV.
Software Bugs: The Real Story Behind EX90 Issues
When owners call the EX90 a problem child, they’re usually talking about software. This is Volvo’s first fully “software‑defined” flagship, and the launch exposed how hard that shift really is. Think of all the things now controlled by code: lighting, climate, driver‑assist, the Google‑based infotainment, even how quickly the car wakes up when you walk up with the key.
Common EX90 Software Symptoms
- Center screen freezing or rebooting while driving.
- Infotainment lag, slow wake‑up, or long delay before you can shift into gear.
- Driver‑assist features temporarily unavailable until the next drive cycle.
- Key fobs or phone keys intermittently not recognized.
- Random warning messages that clear on restart.
Why They Matter for Reliability
- They undermine owner confidence, even if no parts have failed.
- They cause repeat dealer visits for reprogramming and diagnostics.
- Some owners have had their EX90s sidelined for weeks while Volvo engineers dig into logs.
- In a safety‑branded SUV, anything that touches lights or driver aids feels more serious.
Don’t underestimate update history
Hardware, Battery, and Safety: Is the Core EX90 Solid?
Here’s where the EX90 starts to look more reassuring. Underneath the drama about software, there’s been no wave of catastrophic battery or motor failures. The big‑ticket EV hardware, battery pack, dual motors, high‑voltage architecture, has been relatively quiet in complaint channels compared with the headlines about screens and sensors.
Where the 2025 EX90 Looks Strong So Far
The fundamentals matter for long‑term reliability, especially if you’re considering a used one.
High-Voltage System
No widespread reports of high‑voltage battery failures or chronic range problems beyond typical EV variance.
Drivetrain & Suspension
Motors, steering, and suspension haven’t generated the kind of systemic complaints you’d expect from a flawed platform.
Safety Engineering
Volvo’s structural safety chops show through; the main questions are about software controlling advanced sensors and driver aids.
The wildcard is the EX90’s advanced safety suite, including lidar and high‑resolution cameras. Those features live at the intersection of hardware and software. As Volvo replaces the central computer and pushes new code, long‑term reliability will depend on how well those systems age together, something we won’t fully know until the EX90 has a few more birthdays.
Owner Experiences: A Mixed Reliability Picture
Scroll the EX90 forums and you’ll see two very different storylines. On one side, owners chronicle weeks‑long stays at the dealer, repeated resets, and in rare cases full vehicle buybacks when safety‑critical systems misbehaved. On the other, there are plenty of owners who say their EX90 has been essentially drama‑free aside from a few early bugs that were patched over‑the‑air.
When It Goes Wrong
- Multiple trips back to the dealer for software diagnosis.
- Safety systems or headlights temporarily unavailable until patched.
- Dealers waiting on Volvo engineers or new hardware modules.
- In a few cases, vehicles repurchased under lemon laws after extended downtime.
When It Goes Right
- Owners reporting thousands of miles with no major issues after initial updates.
- Praise for ride comfort, cabin quality, and real‑world range.
- Some saying it feels more polished than early Teslas or Rivians did.
- Dealers proactively scheduling updates and hardware swaps to stay ahead of problems.
Why the owner split matters
Projected Reliability: First-Model-Year Reality Check
There’s an old rule of thumb in the car business: skip the first model year, especially when it’s an all‑new platform packed with new tech. The 2025 EX90 is Exhibit A for why that rule exists. Even with Volvo’s safety pedigree, first‑year software has been the Achilles’ heel.
How First-Year EX90s Compare to Later Builds (Big-Picture View)
As software and hardware mature, you can generally expect reliability to improve, assuming the early issues were fixable.
| Model Year | Software Maturity | Hardware Changes | Expected Reliability Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 EX90 | Early software with multiple major updates and recalls | Original hardware, later retrofitted with upgraded central computer | Most variable; highly dependent on update and repair history |
| 2026+ EX90 | Later software generations with lessons from 2025 baked in | Revised electronics, higher‑voltage architecture on newer builds | Generally expected to be more stable, with fewer dramatic bugs |
This is a directional guide, not a guarantee. Always check the specific vehicle’s history.
Put bluntly, predicted reliability for the 2025 EX90 is below average for a luxury SUV, largely because of software and recall history. But that doesn’t automatically make every 2025 EX90 a risky choice. A late‑build, fully updated, and well‑documented example can be a different animal from a very early production truck that lived through the roughest software months.
Shopping for a 2025 EX90: New vs. Used Considerations
If you’re reading this in 2026 or later, you’re likely cross‑shopping a leftover new 2025 EX90, a used one coming off its first owner, or you’re wondering if you should just wait for a later model year. Here’s how to think about reliability in each scenario.
Reliability Checklist: New vs. Used 2025 Volvo EX90
1. Confirm Recall & Update Completion
Ask the dealer for a printout of all <strong>completed recalls and software campaigns</strong>. On a used EX90, match that against the vehicle’s VIN history. An uncorrected recall is a red flag.
2. Ask About the Central Computer Swap
Volvo has been replacing the 2025 EX90’s main compute module with a newer unit. Verify whether your specific vehicle <strong>already received that hardware</strong>, and when.
3. Test Drive Like You Own It
On your test drive, pay attention to wake‑up time, screen responsiveness, random warnings, and driver‑assist behavior. If it feels glitchy in 30 minutes, it won’t improve when you add kids and luggage.
4. Look for Long Downtime in Service Records
Repeated week‑long visits for vague electrical or software issues suggest a particularly troublesome example. That’s where lemon‑law stories usually start.
5. Check Charging and App Behavior
Try public DC fast charging, the Volvo app, and phone key features if you can. These are all software‑heavy touchpoints that expose reliability weak spots quickly.
6. Compare With Later Model Years
If pricing is close, a later model year with more mature software may deliver <strong>better long‑term reliability</strong>, even if the window sticker looks similar.
When a 2025 EX90 can be a smart buy
How Recharged Evaluates a Used Volvo EX90
Because the EX90’s story is so dominated by software and electronics, a basic “does it drive ok?” test just isn’t enough. At Recharged, every used EV we list, including a 2025 EX90, comes with a Recharged Score Report that digs into the stuff that really affects your day‑to‑day confidence.
What We Look For in a Used 2025 EX90
Beyond a quick scan with a code reader.
Update & Recall Verification
We verify that critical software updates, recalls, and the central computer retrofit have been completed, or we get them done before listing the vehicle.
Battery & Charging Health
Our diagnostics measure real battery health and charging behavior, not just what the dash says, so you know if range and fast‑charging are performing as they should.
On-Road System Check
We road‑test driver‑assist features, wake‑up behavior, infotainment responsiveness, and app connectivity to catch intermittent issues that don’t always throw a code.
If something doesn’t pass muster, chronic glitches, unexplained warning lights, or a service history that reads like a soap opera, we simply don’t retail that EX90. Our goal is that when you see a Volvo EX90 on Recharged, you aren’t rolling the dice on whether you got one of the “good ones.”
FAQ: 2025 Volvo EX90 Reliability and Ratings
Common Questions About 2025 Volvo EX90 Reliability
Bottom Line: Should You Worry About EX90 Reliability?
You should respect it. The 2025 Volvo EX90 is exactly what it looks like: an ambitious first‑year electric flagship from a safety‑obsessed brand that bit off a lot on the software side. Predicted reliability is below average because of those bugs and recalls, and some early owners have absolutely earned their war stories. But the underlying EV hardware and Volvo’s safety engineering look strong, and the company is spending real money on computers, code, and campaigns to steady the ship.
If you’re shopping new, the smartest play is to target later‑build EX90s with all campaigns completed, and drive them with a critical eye before you sign. If you’re shopping used, make sure you get more than a handshake and a Carfax, insist on a thorough EV‑specific inspection, update verification, and battery‑health report. On Recharged, that’s exactly what the Recharged Score Report is built to deliver, so you can enjoy the EX90’s space, comfort, and safety tech without wondering which side of the owner‑experience split you’re about to land on.
