2025 Volvo EX90

The One Pedal Drive function (regenerative braking) intermittently deactivates without warning after startup. This issue has occurred multiple times under normal driving conditions. When the accelerator is released, expected deceleration does not occur, resulting in reduced braking response. No warning indicates that the system has disengaged, and it appears to deactivate without any driver input. This unexpected change in braking behavior creates a safety risk by increasing stopping distance and requiring immediate corrective driver action to maintain control of the vehicle.

On [XXX] around [XXX], while driving on [XXX] fro Santa Paula to Ojai, my car displayed a message on the dash that said "critical brake fault, pull over safely." When I applied the brakes they did not respond. I came to a stop only when the car lost momentum. When I exited the car to investigate, I shut the driver's door and was locked out. Neither my key card, nor phone key worked and the Volvo app indicated the reason was that the car was still driving it was not). I was just a mile away from descending a steep and winding road on the [XXX]. Had I been on that stretch of the road, the consequences I am certain there would have been a serious crash, as one side of the road has no shoulder and the other side is a steep cliff into a ravine. I had it towed that night to the dealership and it has been there at the dealership for almost three weeks. Both the dealership (Rusnak Volvo) and Volvo Customer Care have been uncommunicative, though on 12/7/22 Volvo Customer Care informed me I have a case number ([XXX]). When I called for an update today 12/12/25, I was told only that it had been assigned. No additional information has been provided. A simple internet search indicated that this brake issue has affected many Volvo cars in the past few years. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On three occasions my car has initiated automatic emergency braking while I was driving across the same grated bridge deck (Montlake Bridge in Seattle). In each instance there was no potential for collision and my car slammed on brakes and jammed on my seatbelt with varying levels of discomfort and terror. This also created a safety risk because I could have been rear ended as there was so reason to suddenly stop and certainly was shocked to have my car brake urgently and restrain me suddenly with seatbelt. My best guess is that this related to boats traveling under the bridge as this happened three times during higher boat traffic. I reported incident to Volvo and was told a case would be opened and that I would be contacted. I was not contacted. I scheduled a service appointment to address this and other issues with the EX90 that are unrelated but for the third time my appointment was cancelled as the Volvo dealership is refusing to service the ex90s they have been selling.

1. The passenger side daytime fog light occasionally fails to operate, which could be a safety concern in certain driving conditions. 2. The one-pedal drive feature automatically switches off, even though it is saved in my profile. This may present a hazard if I accelerate as if one-pedal drive is still active. 3. The blind spot warning system does not provide an audible alert, and it sometimes activates even when no vehicle is nearby. 4. The reverse warning system occasionally alerts when there are no obstacles behind, making it difficult to trust the warnings. This could be dangerous if a real obstacle is present and the alert is ignored. 5. The door handles can sometimes auto-lock while being held, which poses a risk of finger injury, especially to children. 6. The lane-keeping assist feature occasionally stops functioning unexpectedly, which could be dangerous if the driver is relying on this assistance. 7. The infotainment system’s microphone or speaker intermittently stops working, which is particularly risky if a phone call is ongoing through the system. I have had to manually change the mode while driving. 8. The car can sometimes be unlocked or driven simply by having a paired phone present, with no additional verification checks. This could be a security risk if someone gains access to my phone.

The vehicle has exhibited unexpected braking without any apparent external trigger, posing a safety risk. Most troubling, we have now had a third incident of the seatbelt pre-tensioning unexpectedly and forcefully, which caused my wife several days of lower abdominal discomfort. The most recent episode happened while parking at low speed. These experiences have undermined our trust in the vehicle’s safety systems.

I have documented 42 issues with this vehicle over the past 9 months of ownership, supported by multiple videos. These issues range from minor annoyances to serious safety concerns. The most alarming incidents include: a) Sudden disengagement of the powertrain b) Stability control system disabling unexpectedly c) Malfunctioning airbags d) Faulty or inoperative lighting systems e) Malfunctioning wipers in rain f) Inability to unlock or start the vehicle To date, I’ve documented and categorized 42 distinct issues. The vehicle has been in service four times, totaling over 48 days, yet the problems remain unresolved.