The Fritzbox 7590, one of Germany’s best-selling DSL routers from AVM, is facing growing scrutiny as users report sudden Wi-Fi failures—often occurring around five years after purchase. Industry experts now believe a hardware defect could be the root cause, raising concerns for customers whose devices are already out of warranty.
According to sources within the tech industry, a faulty circuit in affected units may be channeling excessive voltage through sensitive components. Instead of the standard 3.3 volts, up to 6 volts are being delivered, potentially causing long-term damage to the mainboard. Hardware expert Thomas Pfister attributes the issue to a small component that is underpowered and unable to reliably regulate voltage.
There appears to be a fix, but it requires technical know-how. Replacing the faulty capacitor with a 100-nanofarad model has reportedly restored functionality to many affected routers. Pfister has successfully repaired several units this way. The cost of the repair is minimal—just a few euros—but it is only suitable for users with soldering experience.
AVM has yet to officially comment on what could be a widespread manufacturing flaw. There is no official recall or dedicated repair service. Free replacement is currently only offered if the device is still under the five-year warranty. Fortunately, routers produced after mid-2019 seem to be unaffected, as AVM reportedly redesigned the circuit board.
Customers dealing with this issue have several options. If the router is still under warranty, AVM will replace it at no charge. For those outside the warranty period, the alternatives include seeking help from specialized repair services or attempting the fix independently—provided they have the necessary skills and tools.
Experts say the risk of fire is low since the devices are CE-certified and meet required safety standards. However, users who suspect their Fritzbox is affected and are considering a DIY fix should measure the capacitor’s value and replace it if necessary.