2004 Volvo XC90: transmission slipping

Filed Aug 4, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 155,000 miles · WA · crash

3 hours into a 3-1/2 hour weekend road trip there was a clunk in the engine compartment. Thinking I hit a pothole, I continued on cautiously. While continuing on these unfamiliar 2 lane windy roads going 43mph (the speed limit was 55) about 2 miles from where the clunk happened my entire dash cluster stopped working. All my dome lights and leg lights came on. The car clunked harder this time. I lost power to the engine, steering was like trying to turn a tank, and the brakes were very spongy. Still traveling on windy roads with large semi trucks behind me and cars passing by in the opposite lane I veered to the right to avoid being rear ended by a semi. Not being able to steer or stop as efficiently as before I coasted into a residents 2-3 man rock landscape traveling at about 5mph. I dented my front license plate and scratched the bumper. With my heart pounding, I turned the car off and got out to see the damage. I went to the residents home and told them my story. They were thankful my fianc and I were okay. Since I hit rock there was no damage done to their landscape. After 20 minutes I started the car. It was hesitant to start. The brake failure light was on for a few seconds then the SRS service warning light came on and stayed on. For the remainder of the weekend trip the car would lurch like the tranny was slipping. Especially after taking off from a stop light. It still clunks once in awhile but we only drive it around town. It's currently at a certified volvo specialist being serviced. This morning all lights stopped working and I couldn't get it out of the garage. The key stuck in the ignition. In conclusion, this mishap could have resulted in a serious injury or fatality. If every car of this make and model is doing this, they need to be recalled and repaired!

Filed Aug 17, 2012 · Transmission · 86,000 miles · NY

The transmission is slipping. Engine revs and the transmission won't upshift...eventual gear change cause the vehicle to lurch forward a bit, with a loud thud heard. The vehicle also fails to move off from a stop on occasion...with the engine revving for a while before moving forward. Display message in the cluster: "transmission service urgent"...goes off and on for days at a time.

Filed Mar 15, 2012 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · WI

Add to the very long list one more xc90 t6 owner with an automatic transmission failure. Transmission began slipping while driving. Repair estimate was $5800. This is the gm-sourced transmission issue that volvo appears to be ignoring. Rest assured I will be participating in any class action suits that I can find until volvo issues a recall or monetary compensation.

Filed Feb 7, 2012 · Transmission · 116,000 miles · CO

We are owners of a 2004 volvo xc90 t6 awd and have experienced a transmission failure that will cost $6500 to replace. Upon further investigation, we have found that there are literally thousands of complaints regarding these transmissions failing yet volvo has failed to step up and address the problem. In our case, my wife was driving the car, in traffic, when the car slipped out of gear and started slowing down! Luckily she was able to get off on the shoulder before trailing traffic caught up to her, but imagine what may have happened if she wasn't able to get out of the way! Volvo knows this is a problem and should do something so that 1) no serious injuries come from this failure, and 2) to compensate the volvo owners out there that have had to shell out thousands of dollars in repair costs for this problem. Please investigate this issue!!

Filed Dec 19, 2010 · Transmission · 35,000 miles · CA

2004 volvo xc 90 t6 transmission. Purchased this vehicle new from dealer. @ 35,000 the transmission failed. Prior to the failure transmission began to slip and the vehicle was non responsive. Due to the delay of the transmission catching and propelling the vehicle forward we were in a near collision with another vehicle. Unit was replaced with a refurbished one from the dealer. @ 85,000 the vehicle began to show symptoms of transmission failure again. This time it was corrected with a software update. Now vehicle has 125,000 miles and transmission failure again. Vehicle showed no signs of transmission wear and tear. Just all of the sudden vehicle came non responsive to drivers gas inputs. This could be a huge hazard in high traffic conditions and potentially resulting in serious injuries and even death. Volvo refuses to recall this units. They only offered to cover 50% of the cost to repair. Volvo knows that these vehicles are prone to premature transmission failure and should recall and replace this units at no cost to the consumer. A quick inter net search and you will find thousands of people like me experiencing transmission problems on these vehicles. Http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f18a651/ http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/2009/03/transmission-problems/ http://volvoforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7573&page=2 something needs to be done before someone gets hurt.

Filed May 25, 2010 · Transmission · 47,000 miles · CA

Transmission slips, 47,000 easy miles on volvo xc 90 t6.

Filed Apr 14, 2010 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · VA

At 65,000 the transmission on my volvo xc90 began slipping and causing stuttering after doing research online found that there is an abundance of people with the same problem. This defect is known to volvo and they still over charge to replace the transmission.

Filed Jan 12, 2010 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · PR

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 volvo xc90. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact noticed that the vehicle would not shift into third gear. A local mechanic informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact previously noticed that the transmission would slip when she was shifting from one gear to another. The current and failure mileages were 100000.

Filed Aug 4, 2009 · Transmission · 68,306 miles · NC

Nov. 23, 2004 - purchased a volvo xc90 t6 from lehman volvo in york, pa - the vehicle had 10.042 miles on it at the time of purchase june 26, 2007 - automatic transmission needed to be replaced - volvo of cary in nc paid for the transmission and we paid for the labor - $1425 - mileage 68,306 feb. 2008 - the transmission service required lights/message came on periodically while we were traveling in the ne- we called volvo of cary and they said that if we continued to see the light to bring it to a dealer where we were march 2008-july 2009 - a variety of messages would appear periodically saying that transmission service was required or urgent july 7, 2009 - I took the vehicle to volvo of cary while the light was on stating that transmission service was needed as they installed an updated version of transmission software - $123.38 mid-july 2009 - the transmission began to slip noticeably july 22, 2009 - cottman transmission rebuilt the existing transmission - $3643.04 - mileage 116,030.

Filed Apr 2, 2009 · Transmission · 91,891 miles · SC

After months of gear slippage in the transmission, the "transmission service urgent" light came on. Took the car to the dealer and they said I need a new transmission. There seems to be a large number of these same complaints for this same car from volvo.

Filed Jan 21, 2009 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · WA

After 60000 mile service transmission appeared to be slipping when cold. "transmission service urgent" message appeared. Transmission would not shift from third gear. Shop indicated there is no adjustable part. Transmission replacement would likely be needed, when contacted volvo indicated the warranty was off at 55k miles. Upon researching through the internet there are an extremely large number of transmission replacements for this vehicle and yet no recall has been issued. I contacted volvo of north america and it appears they are dealing with this on a squeaky wheel case by case basis and some individuals are paying full replacement cost while others are being covered by volvo. This does not seem equitable to the individuals who are unable to do the research or have time and resources to convince volvo to replace the defective transmissions gratis.

Filed Jan 14, 2009 · Suspension, Transmission · 15,000 miles · GA

Transmission replaced two times, at approx. 38,000 and at about 48,000 miles. Units start slipping when shifting to second gear and leave you right where you are until they decide to rengage. Ball joints and all four hubs replaced by 50,000 miles. Axles (front) need replacing now at 70,000 miles. Sway bar ends replaced at 55,000 miles. This is the neediest vehicle I have ever owned. Front bearings on drive shaft replaced last month, worn since abut fifteen thousand miles, finally got so loud that we could shake the drive shaft and get a quarter of play at the bearing set.