- Some Volvo EX30 owners in the UK are seeking full refunds on defective cars.
- Issues included bricked screens, malfunctioning emergency brakes, and failing driver aids.
- Problems surface as Volvo pushes back the US EX30 launch date to 2025.
Volvo’s small crossover EV was due to launch later this year, but its release was pushed back until 2025 due to new tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars. The move, following President Biden’s imposition of 100 percent levies on Chinese-made EVs, was in order for the company to shift production of the EX30 to Belgium.
However, it seems that the delays may have come at just the right time — at least for owners who like to enjoy their cars in unbricked form. The issues highlighted by Autocar, which are reported to range from inoperable infotainment systems to vehicles not charging and — perhaps most worryingly — emergency braking systems randomly activating, have all been identified by owners, some of whom are being granted full refunds.
Read: Volvo EX30’s US Debut Pushed Back To 2025 Over China Tariffs
Volvo UK claims that only a small number of EX30 customers had returned their cars for a refund and that the model continued to prove popular, with 4,500 examples already delivered.
The multitude of issues, including steering wheel buttons becoming unresponsive, driver aids failing, and cars getting reset to factory defaults, all stem from the EX30’s extensive dependence on software. Everything from its headlights, mirrors, and climate control settings are accessed through the car’s central touchscreen.
The only physical controls that remain are the door locks, window switches, hazard warning lights, and stalks, which, in addition to controlling wipers and indicators, also take care of drive selection.
It’s not the first time the EX30 has been in the news for buggy software, either. The Chinese-owned carmaker withheld some examples of the EV before it was launched in February to carry out software updates to “debug” the car’s systems.
While most reviews have been positive of the EX30, Volvo will hope that these software glitches can be ironed out, especially if it’s going to have any chance of success when it eventually launches in the US next year.
