Volvo's first bespoke zero-emission vehicle has been hit with its first recall. As it happens, one or more attaching bolts for the second row's free-standing seat may not have been tightened from the factory. The assembly plant in question is located in South Carolina.
Volvo Cars broke ground in Ridgeville back in September 2015, The factory became operational in late 2017, with the first model to be produced there being the SPA-based S60 sedan. At the beginning of June 2024, the Charleston-based facility started making the XC90's all-electric sibling, with the Volvo EX90 featuring the new SPA2 platform.
Twinned with the 3 from the ailing Polestar brand, the EX90 was recalled due to human error. Volvo Car USA highlights that vehicles with improperly fastened seat bolts were assembled between June 25, 2024 and September 26, 2024. The automaker became aware of the recall condition back in September 2024 when a CoDev driver reported a rattle coming from the free-standing seat. Following said report, three more newly produced vehicles were found to feature improperly tightened seat bolts.
Ultimately, the safety boffins at Volvo Car USA could not rule out an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash. Dealers have already been instructed to inspect all subject bolts and – if necessary – retorque them to the required 40 Newton-meters (30 pound-feet).
Volvo has since corrected the problem in production by means of improved processes and inspection, along with improved education for the operator in regard to the back-up process. Owner notification letters will have to wait until January 13 next year.
Photo: Volvo Cars
In the meantime, concerned owners can simply run the 17-character VINs of their vehicles on the automaker's website. Affected vehicles feature VINs beginning with 7JD. Also produced in China, the EX90 ships with plenty of radars, cameras, and lidar sensors.
Volvo says the EX90 is the safest production vehicle from the Swedish marque to date. Pilot Assist lane-keeping assistance needs to be mentioned as well, along with a system that brings the EX90 to a stop and flashes the hazard lights if the driver falls asleep at the wheel. Furthermore, the complex suite of safety aids will get better over time as Volvo leans from real-time data points and rolls out over-the-air software updates for the EX90.
It's not exactly affordable, though. Prices in the US market kick off at $79,995 before fees and optional extras. Two grades and two powertrain choices are offered: Plus and Ultra, along with the self-explanatory Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance. The latter dual-motor setup is good for 510 horsepower and 671 pound-feet (circa 910 Newton-meters) of twist, with 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) doable in a meager 4.7 seconds.
Available with either six or seven seats, the EX90 relies on a 111-kWh battery pack. Models equipped with 21-inch wheels are much obliged to be driven up to 310 miles (499 kilometers) between charging stops, while 22s will get you 300 (483) at most.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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