California Lemon Law · Volvo · 2025–2026

Volvo EX90 Lemon Law

Talk to a Volvo lemon law attorney — your Volvo EX90 may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement.

If your new Volvo EX90 suffers a black or frozen center display, mid-drive reboots, or safety features that still don't work as promised, you're experiencing the rocky launch of Volvo's software-defined flagship. If the dealer can't fix it after a reasonable number of attempts, your EX90 may qualify as a California lemon.

The Defect

The EX90 software and launch-defect problem

The EX90 launched with well-documented software troubles, and its most notable early defect reached the recall stage. Volvo recalled certain 2025 EX90 vehicles because a software bug could cause the "Thor's Hammer" headlight shutters to close while driving, sharply reducing forward visibility at night; the remedy was delivered as an over-the-air update. Volvo has also faced a tailgate defect in which a spindle nut could detach and cause the powered tailgate to slam shut, along with additional early safety campaigns.

The broader story of the EX90 is software. Owners report the center display going black, freezing, or responding slowly, streaming and phone apps that crash or won't load, systems that reboot themselves mid-drive, and advanced driver-assistance and parking features that arrived late or still don't function as advertised. Volvo has pushed a stream of over-the-air updates and even a central-computer hardware retrofit to try to stabilize the platform — a strong signal of how unsettled these early vehicles have been.

California's Lemon Law covers these problems even when the manufacturer is still chasing a fix. If your EX90 has a defect that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety and the dealer can't repair it within a reasonable number of attempts, or the vehicle is out of service for an extended time, you may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement — whether the issue is a recalled headlight bug or the ongoing software instability that has defined the EX90's launch.

Known Issues

Commonly Reported Volvo EX90 Problems

Center display going black, freezing, or responding slowly
Headlight shutters closing while driving (software defect)
System reboots mid-drive and apps that crash or won't load
Advertised driver-assistance and parking features late or nonfunctional
Repeat over-the-air "fixes" for the same fault that never fully clears

Not every Volvo EX90 is affected. Any substantial, warranty-covered defect that can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts — or that keeps your vehicle out of service — may support a claim.

Your Rights

Is Your Volvo EX90 a Lemon?

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it's the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) comes into play when a substantial defect can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your EX90 has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days.

If your Volvo EX90 qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement — and Volvo pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.

Estimate your EX90 buyback with our free calculator
Common Questions

Volvo EX90 Lemon Law FAQs

My EX90's screen keeps going black and rebooting — is that a lemon?

It can be. A center display that goes black, freezes, or reboots affects the car's use and value, and California's Lemon Law covers persistent defects the dealer can't fix within a reasonable number of attempts — even when the manufacturer is still issuing over-the-air updates. Keep your repair records and get a free case review.

The features I paid for still don't work on my EX90 — can I make a claim?

Possibly. Advertised driver-assistance and parking features that arrive late or never work as promised can support a claim if they substantially impair the vehicle's value and can't be delivered within a reasonable time. California's Lemon Law may entitle you to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement.

My EX90 charges at home but fails at public fast chargers. Is that a lemon law issue?

It can be. A vehicle that cannot reliably recharge away from home has a defect going to the heart of what you paid for. The difficulty is proving it, because the fault often will not reproduce on the dealer's connection. Insist every visit is written on a repair order with the date, the mileage, and specifics — which station, which network, what error appeared, and whether the session ever initiated. Photos of the error screen at the charger are genuinely useful.

Do over-the-air software updates count as repair attempts?

Often, yes — and this is where owners undercount their history most. If the manufacturer documents a software release as the remedy for a defect you reported, that is generally an attempted repair even though you never delivered the vehicle. Save the release notes and any message identifying an update as the fix for your issue.

How long do I have to file a Volvo claim in California?

Longer than on many brands, and it is worth knowing. Volvo did not opt into California's AB 1755 procedures, so you are not subject to the one-year-from-warranty-expiration and six-year-from-delivery limits that apply to Jeep, Ford, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Mercedes-Benz. A Volvo claim runs on the traditional four-year statute of limitations, measured from when you discovered the defect rather than from the delivery date.

My EX90 has had several different problems, not the same one repeatedly. Does that count?

Yes. California law does not require every complaint to be the same complaint. A collection of substantial defects that together impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle can support a claim even where no single symptom recurred four separate times. Service advisors treat each as unrelated; the statute does not.

My EX90 has been waiting on a service appointment or parts. Does that help my case?

It can matter a great deal. The law counts days your vehicle is out of service regardless of the reason. Thirty or more cumulative days during the warranty period creates a presumption in your favor. The days need not be consecutive, and being given a loaner does not stop the clock. Keep a written log of every date the vehicle was unavailable.

My EX90 is leased. Am I covered?

Yes. Civil Code section 1795.4 gives a lessee the same rights and remedies as a buyer. Restitution on a lease covers your capitalized cost reduction and down payment, the payments you have made, and taxes and fees, and the manufacturer pays off the remaining lease obligation. There is no equity component, so the figure runs lower than a purchased vehicle at the same sticker — but the claim is just as real.

What should I gather before calling about my EX90?

Every repair order, including visits closed as no problem found; correspondence identifying a software update as a fix; your purchase or lease agreement; all recall letters; written confirmation of any parts backorder; receipts for towing, rentals and loaners; and a log of days out of service.

How much does an EX90 lemon law case cost me?

Nothing out of pocket. Under California's Lemon Law, Volvo pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so you can pursue a buyback or replacement without paying upfront.

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Every case is different and the outcome depends on its own facts and circumstances. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case.

Is Your Volvo EX90 a Lemon?

Free, no-obligation case review. We don't get paid unless you win — and the manufacturer pays our fees.

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