2001 Volvo V70XC: complete transmission failure

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 May 5, 2011 · Transmission · 122,500 miles · CA

Transmission failed to upshift when accelerated and failed to downshift when decelerated. Vehicle jerked severely when shifted from park into drive, or from drive to reverse, or from reverse to park. Automatic transmission failed.

Filed Sep 4, 2010 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · AZ

Transmission failure in 2001 volvo v70xc cross country wagon causes car to intermittently hesitate when accelerating and not shift properly. I understand this to be a widespread issue that may warrant taking action against volvo to issue a recall or cover the cost associated with the repair. I believe the "geartronic" technology associated with the adaptive system in the transmission to be at fault. I have replaced the transmission recently only to have similar issues with hesitation leading me to believe this is a bigger issue inherent in this particular make/model.

Filed Mar 15, 2010 · Steering, Transmission · 140,000 miles · MA

My 2001 volvo xc v70 transmission is also slipping and lurching. Lately this has been occurring on a daily basis. I have had no accidents, but when it slips and hesitates while pulling onto a main road my heart skips a beat hoping I won't lose transmission power with no way to get out of another vehicles path. My mechanic, who works strictly on volvo and saabs, has told me he cannot guarantee that repairs or adjustments would correct the problem and that changes could possibly make matters worse (I.e., complete transmission failure). I will be trading this car in to a dealer in next week or two. From what I've seen on this forum, volvo is not owning up to this problem. I have also had power steering issues since shortly after purchasing used. Lots of noise in front and at parking speeds, total loss of steering power.

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 Nov 4, 2008 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · WA

I purchased my car new. At 95,000 miles, the transmission failed. Because my extended warranty refused to replace the failed transmission with a new one, I took it to aamco to install a used transmission. The car now has 120,000 miles and the transmission has failed again. I hear consistently from owners, the local dealer parts department, and my repair shop that this failure is common in this model and year. My wife was driving the car and the transmission appeared to be dysfunctional.

Filed Feb 21, 2008 · Transmission · 67,397 miles · MN

2001 volvo v70xc with serious transmission problems. Consumer states that the transmission will lose power while shifting. Consumer states that it could be very dangerous when it happens while making a left hand turn. *kb the consumer stated the transmission failed momentarily between second and third gear.

Filed Sep 26, 2007 · Transmission · 71,000 miles · CO

I have a 2001 volvo v70 awd station wagon. The transmission failed while I was driving with my 2 small children in the car. As I was lurching along cars were passing me at 55+ miles per hour, my family and I were placed in a dangerous situation and our safety was jeopardized. Luckily I was able to pull off to the side of the road before I was rear ended or hit by another vehicle. I took my volvo to the local volvo dealer 2 previous times regarding my transmission slipping and the car lurching, both times I was told that a transmission problem could not be detected. ?? This last time they had to acknowledge a problem exists because the transmission went out. I only have 71,000 miles on the car and I now have to pay $4,000 dollars for a new transmission. My service writer said he contacted volvo north america and they would do nothing to help with the repair costs. My car is undriveable and has been in the service shop while we wait for the transmission repair to be completed. I have done some research and this problem seems to be pervasive in this model vehicle. Volvo north america needs to acknowledge this problem exists and help to repair these vehicles, that jeopardize their customers safety.

Filed Nov 17, 2006 · Transmission · 59,500 miles · PA

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the transmission kept slipping out of gear. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who determined the transmission need replacement. The manufacturer was notified.

Filed Mar 7, 2006 · Acceleration, Engine · 68,000 miles · CA

I have a 2001 volvo v70 xc wagon. The car was revving high for a while when shifting gears, I took it to the dealership, and they told me there wasn't a problem. About a month or so later the etm failed. I was being left stranded at freeway off ramps, and green lights when the car would suddenly die. It's a miracle I wasn't rear-ended! After a terrible experience trying to get the dealership to honor the etm warranty, (they only cleaned the etm they did not replace it-saying it wasn't bad enough!), a month has passed and now my transmission has failed! The dealership gave me a $5300 estimate for replacement as it is unrepairable! I took it to our regular mechanic, and he told me the transmission failure @ 70,000 miles happened because the etm wouldn't allow the torque converter do whatever it is a torque converter does, and that caused the oil to heat up and then the resulting transmission failure. He said there is no one around who will touch my transmission. I have to use a dealer to replace it. I am completely devastated and cannot afford to replace the transmission. The car is a lemon. It has almost caused me to be involved in accidents, and I'd really appreciate it if someone could contact me about what resources I have. You are welcome to test my car! I have read on the internet about others who are experiencing the same problems with their etms and then subsequent transmission failures. Please help!

Filed Aug 2, 2005 · Engine · 69,900 miles · CT

On several incidents over the past 9 months the car has stalled on the highway. It looses power and everything shuts down. Once I stop it restarts. Also, there are times when the car will not "shut off" completely but the engine will loose its power and then the RPM will rev back up suddenly. Volvo has attached a "black box" to the engine and as a result replaced the transmission. The problem went away for about a month and it is back. The last incident was july 20th.

Filed Apr 4, 2005 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · OH

Transmission failed. I blocked traffic on sc 278 for ~ 30 sec. The check transmission light came on and the car did not move. I could run the engine but no power made it to the wheels. It finally limped to a parking lot. The transmission had to be replaced. Carolina volvo replaced the transmission with a remanufactured one from volvo.