2001 Volvo V70XC: harsh or hard shifting

8 of the 144 complaints about the 2001 Volvo V70XC describe harsh or hard shifting.

owner complaints: 8
of this car's complaints: 6%
typical mileage: 95,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 12 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Harsh or hard shifting by model year

2002
1
2001
8
1998
1

What owners say

Filed Mar 22, 2015 · Transmission · 101,050 miles · KY

Transmission harsh shifting and going on limp mode.

Filed Nov 2, 2011 · Transmission · 51,309 miles · VA

Transmission slams into gear when shifting at low gears. Shifting is violent. Car does not accelerate smoothly or predictably . Took it to the dealer , completed road test, and indicated on service write up " no slippage, operated to specs " , they didn't check for codes. I recall the service manage telling me " the car retains a history of how it is driven as the reason the car is jerking into gears 1 to 3." car continued to have flare ups, I was told by independent svc station not to drive it out of the our city. Va beach dealership continued to not be able to duplicate complaint they found other issues with the driving of the car, fixed them, but none addressed this issue. Requested they contact the mfg , they wouldn't. Finally , when the car was significantly beyond the warranty, I was told the car needed a new transmission. The signs were there which they ignored. I've subsequently read on volvo forums such as brickboard, and swedespeed "that the xc70's are notorious for having transmission problems. The software feature called stop neutral , puts the trans in neutral when the car is stopped. While this may sound green and good, it kills the transmission over time for harsh shifting when accelerating. ", I have researched this on safecar as well and the problems is pervasive in this model as it was in xc90 early years. Numerous too count on ; on http://rusmackedvolvo.com/about/ - faulty transmission blog: dealership and volvo north americas' involvement in resolving the situation.

Filed Dec 8, 2010 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · TX

Transmission slams into gear when shifting at low gears. Shifting is violent. Car does not accelerate smoothly or predictably, making it unsafe to operate. Happens almost every time the car is driven. Took it to volvo dealer, they recommended rebuilding the transmission (replacement transmissions not available). Took it to aamco and had the transmission rebuilt. Problem continued for 7 months. Continued taking it back and they continued to work on it until they were finally able to correct the problem.

Filed Mar 1, 2009 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · CA

I purchased this 2001 volvo v70 xc new from sweden, factory delivery.the transmission had to be replaced @ 19,000mi I have since then have taken it in for various transmission problems. Sudden surges, harsh up shifting and down shifting. The dealership always does everything except replacing it again, I.e. Software issues only. But the problem still exists. They only difference is that the transmission no longer goes to neutral with the brake on. That feature was originally engineered for these transmissions, for fuel economy. Volvo decided that this feature was more trouble than it is worth. I still have the same transmission problems with the surges, and harsh shifting, and soon I should have another complete transmission failure. With all of these similar transmission complaints from 100's of volvo customers shouldn't volvo of north america admit that there transmission is just no good pay for the costs.

Filed Dec 29, 2008 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · IL

Recurring transmission problem. Car jerks and stalls repeatedly at low speeds. Loud clunk followed by sudden acceleration or deceleration. Dealer has been ineffective at solving the problem.

Filed Oct 16, 2008 · Transmission · 100,054 miles · AZ

Transmission disengages at low RPM (at about 20mph) with slight pressure on the accelerator pedal - feels like the car wants to upshift to the next higher gear (possibly 2nd gear), transmission then disengages...the engine rpms surge to 3,000-4,000 and then the transmission engages with a huge clunk and surges forward. When coming to a stop without any gas pedal pressure, transmission does not disengage, but seems to shift into the lowest gear and surges forward while trying to stop the car at a traffic light or stop sign. Again, there is no pressure on the gas, the car automatically downshift making a loud clunk and then the engine surges and pulls the car forward. After a few seconds of the car trying to pull forward with the brakes applied, the transmission disengages the gear and returns to a "neutral" setting while the car is stopped. Transmission disengagement and engine surging are consistent whether the car is hot or cold and the pattern is consistent - always at low rpms when the car's automatic transmission either wants to shift up or down in gears. It seems like the issue is always between 1st and 2nd gears. At highway speeds the car seems fine.

Filed Sep 19, 2008 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · NY

Filed Aug 12, 2006 · Electrical, Transmission · 67,000 miles · GA

Etm/ECM replaced 1/2006. Subsequent software upgrade 05/08/2006, 08/09/2006. Rough cranking idle. Subsequent shifting problem with transmission. Follow up with software upgrade TCM on aug. 9, 2006. Problem still present. Transmission shifting jerks between 2 and 3rd gear upon acceleration/deceleration. Rough shifting with kick down shifting at speeds +60 MPH.