Hey,

So my parents just bought a 2023 xc90 t8 recharge and its been less than two months and the thing has been in and out of the shop so many times, mainly for software issues & TCAM replacment. Now we are dealing with 12v battery issue that seems to discharge even though its plugged in to the charge, and can happen in as little as 11 hours. The dealer suggested we should be driving the car more often.... but having to drive it every 11 hours seems ridiculous. They just 'finished' with it and told us to come pick it up even though they did no software updates and just recharged the battery. How does this make sense?

Is anyone else have these issues?

Why doesn't the charger for the drive train also one way charge (through some sort of true one way diode mechanism) the 12v battery?

What do we do if we go on a trip and have to park the car at the airport parking lot? Even if we leave the car at home in the garage plugged in, do we come home to a dead car.

Maybe I am venting (I am definitely venting) but why pay 80k for a car like this. Full EV cars don't act like this and I haven't seen another PHEV car do this? Do we invoke the lemon law? Has anyone else done so?

Everything else in the car is great - but if we have to get it towed every week, whats the point?

Sorry for the long venting post. I am just so frustrated and the dealership feels like they are gaslighting us that this is normal car behavior for their cars (or any other electric car).

If anyone has any insight or guidance, it would be much appreciated.

 

Not normal, but it is a known problem with some of these T8 PHEV vehicles from Volvo.

My own experience (S60 T8 Recharge) has been pretty bad too, but my 12V does not discharge, even when left for a few days.

Is there another dealer near you who might be able to better diagnose? There must be some electrical component draining the 12V. It can happen in almost any car. Anything from faulty electric door lock sensors to faulty alarm units, etc. Anything that would normally have power while the vehicle is parked.

If they've had the car 3 times, depending on the state you're in you could initiate lemon law proceedings. In GA that means giving them a notice of a "final repair attempt" and then, if they don't fix it, you file for a buy back. I think you'd have good cause for that action and it's what I would do in your situation.

Good luck!

Edit: if they do fix it, they also need to replace your battery. Repeated deep discharge on a car battery can reduce longevity and capacity.