XC90 Computer/Electrical Issues

[johnboyuk]

Am I correct in saying computer/electrical issues in the XC90 are common?

I vaguely remember reading this somewhere before we picked up our brand new XC90 in March of this year.

The computer doesn't always read the road signs. Volvo tested it and said there wasn't an issue but it keeps happening, a proper PITA when you're on the M25 with variable speed limits.

The sunroof had a life of its own. Sometimes opens, sometimes doesnt. Volvo tested it, agreed there was a problem and done a software update. It still plays up.

Now, yesterday, wife goes to take the car out. The dashboard looks like the lights have been turned down. We're aware of the dial switch to switch it up and down but no one has touched it and it keeps going low while she was driving it. So clearly something isn't right.

She's just phoned to tell me that as she left to take our baby daughter to her swimming lesson this morning, there was a massive ticking noise coming from the loudspeakers when she selected reverse. This has happened three times now.

Wife has been on the phone to our local dealer Volvo Parkside at Chelsfield, near Orpington and finally got a call back from their pathetic customer service departments, telling her its a software problem? Really? They've said car is safe to drive but I can just imagine my wife taking it out again somewhere and getting stranded with the baby!

FFS, how many more issues for a £65k car can there be? I'm living right now. This was supposed to be a luxury car yet I've had better reliability from a 14 year old Vauxhall bloody Corsa in the past.

So, are the electrics screwed? By my limited knowledge of cars, I wouldn't be surprised if they are.

And as for Volvo Parkside, the worst customer service I have ever had the mispleasure to experience, anywhere. If you live in South London / North West Kent, do yourself a favour and go to Doves at Croydon.

[Quacker]

No serious issues with mine since early 2017 when the battery went bad, a few weeks after purchase, and the maps went haywire. Had a new battery and software update and no issue since.

Well there has been the occasion lately when it has been a bit reluctant to unlock the doors from the outside. Changed the fob batteries and it happened once or twice since, but it's been fine lately.

Oh! I forgot. Once or twice when I fiddled with the map a lot, its map went haywire until the car was restarted. I had exactly the same thing happen to Google maps once as well, completely unrelated to the car. I wasn't near it at the time.

So no, I don't think Volvo electronics are worse than anyone else's. If you want examples of 'really bad', then some early releases of JLR software has been dreadful with many functions only working intermittently, partly, or not at all. Mostly sorted by new updates, just like early Volvo systems.

[Milliner]

I can echo that. I had a software issue at the very beginning that caused me to go into limp-home mode shortly after leaving my office, but it was very quickly fixed by Volvo roadside assist and a trip to the dealer.

Mines a T8 so I think that's pretty good for such a complicated car after 3 years.

It's gone into that 'dark' mode you mentioned once and the Sensus system has rebooted itself on-the-go a couple of times, but all the other issues are app/Volvo server based, which to be fair affects most technology these days. Nothing has really affect the car, just niggles.

That said there are a number of people on here who've had different experiences....

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by johnboyuk

Am I correct in saying computer/electrical issues in the XC90 are common?
I vaguely remember reading this somewhere before we picked up our brand new XC90 in March of this year.

What model is your XC90 as many problems are specific to the T8 only?

[nu11eaf]

The car uses a sensor to detect light level and reduces the brightness at night, has anything covered or shaded the sensor, there is also a setting in sensus to prevent or adjust this.
This also interacts with the lights and interior lights, interior lights dont come on in daylight.

[Boatie]

Originally Posted by johnboyuk

Am I correct in saying computer/electrical issues in the XC90 are common?

I vaguely remember reading this somewhere before we picked up our brand new XC90 in March of this year.

The computer doesn't always read the road signs. Volvo tested it and said there wasn't an issue but it keeps happening, a proper PITA when you're on the M25 with variable speed limits.

The sunroof had a life of its own. Sometimes opens, sometimes doesnt. Volvo tested it, agreed there was a problem and done a software update. It still plays up.

Now, yesterday, wife goes to take the car out. The dashboard looks like the lights have been turned down. We're aware of the dial switch to switch it up and down but no one has touched it and it keeps going low while she was driving it. So clearly something isn't right.

She's just phoned to tell me that as she left to take our baby daughter to her swimming lesson this morning, there was a massive ticking noise coming from the loudspeakers when she selected reverse. This has happened three times now.

Wife has been on the phone to our local dealer Volvo Parkside at Chelsfield, near Orpington and finally got a call back from their pathetic customer service departments, telling her its a software problem? Really? They've said car is safe to drive but I can just imagine my wife taking it out again somewhere and getting stranded with the baby!

FFS, how many more issues for a £65k car can there be? I'm living right now. This was supposed to be a luxury car yet I've had better reliability from a 14 year old Vauxhall bloody Corsa in the past.

So, are the electrics screwed? By my limited knowledge of cars, I wouldn't be surprised if they are.

And as for Volvo Parkside, the worst customer service I have ever had the mispleasure to experience, anywhere. If you live in South London / North West Kent, do yourself a favour and go to Doves at Croydon.

My dashboard lights went into night mode last week. turned out to be my Blue Badge covering the sensor on the dash. Problem identified by Volvo Watford over the phone after I had booked it in to be looked at.

[jonnyu]

Software errors does not mean that the whole car is damaged and wont work properly.
There are a few functions that can be buggy but those functions (like the sun roof, problems in the driver display etc) are not directly linked with safety features. In the same way that if your iPhone goes crazy in apps due to the latest OS update, it does not mean that the phone function is compromised.
You do have issues either due to faulty sensors or due to faulty software but that shouldn't be an issue to solve.
What I suggest is that you find a better Volvo dealership or garage to help you fix your problems.
Don't expect that all dealers have the ability to handle Volvo's tech, it really depends on the size of the dealer.
In the same way that you won't go to a health clinic to treat a serious health problem, you probably go to the hospital. And even if you see that the hospital you've picked is crappy, you will eventually go to another hospital. The same applies here.