My Volvo EX90 says charging fault and won't charge at home. Is it the GHCA?

Short answer: If your EX90 suddenly won't take a charge on Level 1 or Level 2 and shows a charging fault, owners say the GHCA, the on-board AC charger, has almost certainly failed. A reboot or software update won't fix it. The dealer replaces the part under warranty, and owners say to make sure you get the newer version (part number ending 36000418 or higher). DC fast charging usually still works while you wait.

Symptom: You plug in at home or at a Level 2 station and nothing happens, or charging starts and stops. The car shows a charging fault, but DC fast charging may still work.

What to check first

1. Try a second Level 2 charger, or your portable charger on a different outlet, to rule out the charger itself.
2. Try a DC fast charger. If that works but AC doesn't, it points at the GHCA.
3. Try the hard reset owners use (hold the brake and press the steering-wheel buttons together), then try again.
4. Book the dealer and ask which GHCA part number they install.
5. Run your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Likely causes

1. Failed GHCA (the on-board AC charger). The GHCA is the box inside the car that turns household AC power into DC power for the big battery. When it fails, home and public Level 2 charging stop working, but owners say DC fast charging usually still works because fast chargers bypass it.
2. Older version of the GHCA part. Owners say the early part was overly sensitive to normal swings in grid power. They report a newer supplier part, with a part number ending 36000418 or higher, as the one that seems to hold up.
3. Software or a related module. Some owners also had the vehicle control unit (VCU) replaced along with the GHCA, and a few saw failures right after a software update.

What it usually costs

Owners say this is replaced under the new-car warranty. Repair took about 3 days for one owner, and others waited up to a month for parts.

Is it safe to keep driving?

The car still drives normally on the charge it has, so it's safe to drive. Plan trips around DC fast chargers until it's fixed.

DIY or shop?

Not a DIY job. The GHCA is part of the high-voltage system. An EV's high-voltage system can stay live with the car off. Leave the orange cables, the big battery and the charging hardware to a trained EV technician.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA lists 3 recall(s) for the Volvo EX90 in these years, and none match this problem. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 45 keyword-matched complaints for Volvo EX90 2025–2026 (of 81 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-11-01; keywords: charg, ghca, battery, 12 v, won t (start, charge), software, screen) (NHTSA returned no data for 1 model-year queries). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In How bad is the GHCA charging fault? on Reddit r/VolvoEX90, an owner asked how bad the GHCA charging fault really is. Replies said it's very common, that a software update doesn't fix it because it's a hardware failure, and that the newer supplier part (number 36000418 or higher) seems to solve it for most. One owner said the swap took about 3 days at the dealer, and another linked a Volvo question-and-answer service document hosted on NHTSA's site.
• In GHCA issues - resolved or unresolved? on Reddit r/VolvoEX90, owners compared notes on whether the GHCA problem is solved. One had repeat failures at about 1,000 and 5,000 miles even after a new GHCA and VCU, and others reported waits of up to a month for parts.
• In 5th GHCA failure last month on Reddit r/VolvoEX90, an owner reported a fifth GHCA failure. Volvo offered about half a month's lease payment as goodwill, and one reply wondered if regularly charging to 100% plays a part, though nobody had proof.

Quick tip

Save every repair order. If the newer part fails again, a written history of repeat failures is what gets you a buyback or real goodwill, not a phone call.

Vehicle focus: Volvo EX90 electric SUV, 2025-2026 model years.

Safety / mechanic note

The GHCA is high-voltage equipment. Don't open it or the charge port wiring. Verify with a mechanic.