I’m sure you are aware of faults with the batteries in some Volvo EX30s. We were notified last December that due to a major safety fault with the battery, we should reduce charging to a maximum of 70 per cent.
As a result, ever since, we have had major inconvenience and expense plus stress to endure. I was informed from Volvo HQ that they had no idea when they will receive replacement batteries in Ireland.
This to me is totally unacceptable, as we are paying for a car that’s not what we were sold in 2025.
From Noel C, email.
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Your frustration is understandable.
A Volvo spokeswoman said the replacement battery parts for the 442 cars affected in Ireland are being shipped, but there is limited availability to retailers initially, so they will be in contact with affected owners as they get the parts in stock.
Recall work began on some Irish cars at the start of this month, but it’s likely to take time to secure replacements and carry out the work on all affected cars.
In the meantime, the advice remains to only charge up to 70 per cent.
Globally, it’s estimated that 40,000 EX30s have been recalled over this issue. The fix involves the inspection and replacement of affected modules in the battery pack and addresses a potential defect in the high-voltage batteries that could, in rare cases, cause overheating when charged to high levels, leading to thermal runaway risks and potential fires.
We counted over a dozen recalls so far this year affecting Irish-registered vehicles, which warn of a potential risk of fire or thermal event. Many relate to non-EV models
We spoke to a Volvo engineer who said the problem originated with a supplier.
Volvo, long known for safety, faces a significant challenge to its reputation on the back of this recall. Yet it is far from the only car firm to face recalls over batteries and potential fire risks.
[ Volvo’s new EX60 sets latest EV range benchmark of ‘up to 810km on one charge’Opens in new window ]
According to the RSA website, in March VW recalled 100,000 EVs built between February 2022 and August 2024 due to concerns over potential fire risks, though only a handful of cars were affected in Ireland.
Hyundai also issued a recall on its Kona in March, stating “faulty battery monitoring software is unable to promptly detect thermal instability within high-voltage battery, leading to increased risk of fire” and affecting 3,483 cars here. The affected cars were produced between January 24th, 2018 and July 15th 2023. Meanwhile, Ford has had ongoing issues with the battery pack in some of its Kuga plug-in hybrids.
And recalls are certainly not unique to EVs, even ones that reference potential fire risks. We counted over a dozen recalls so far this year affecting Irish-registered vehicles, which warn of a potential risk of fire or thermal event. Many relate to non-EV models. Fuel line issues, for example, have long been a source of potential fire risks on recall notices issued by car-makers.
That’s cold comfort to you, and the charging limit means your range is not what was promised. A 70 per cent charging limit plainly reduces usability, especially on longer journeys.
However, from a compensation perspective, the fact that the car remains usable and that a remedial fix is already being rolled out would probably weaken any potential claim, unless you can show specific loss.
