2003 Volvo XC90 T6 from North America - Comments

My wonderful 2003 XC90 has been in the shop over 20 times since 2007 for issues related to a moan. Thank goodness I have a VIP warranty. The SUV has 45,000 miles and has been maintained. They have replaced, everything trying to fix the moan the SUV makes when you turn slow. Does anyone know a lawyer interested in this case?

JF in Dallas, TX.

We are a Volvo XC90 T6 family. Bought it new in 2005. Thought it would be great - safe, stylish, comfortable, last forever - everything.

We were wrong. The vehicle is currently receiving its 3rd transmission and the mileage is under 100k! We are very disappointed with the vehicle and would not recommend one to to anyone else.

Before this last diagnosis, the "service transmission" light came on. We took it to the Volvo shop - answer was "mechanically sound but needs a software upgrade". We paid for the upgrade ($110) and a week later the same light came on. Back to the shop - this time the problem is a bad transmission - $6k cost to replace! The bright side - 2nd transmission replaced under warranty and the 3rd transmission being paid for by Volvo - the Volvo shop went to bat for us. Also, car has had numerous electronic problems.

Recommendations:

1. Do not buy XC90 2) Think carefully about buying any other new Volvo 3) Work with Volvo to get the work done at their expense.

JF in Dallas, TX,

I had the same issue with mine after the drive shaft was replaced. It was a metal shield rubbing against the drive shaft. Hope it works out.

My 2004 Volvo XC90 T6 AWD had the transmission go out at 75,000 miles. The Volvo dealer replaced the unit at no expense to me. Since then I have added 10,000 miles and the car has never run better, better acceleration, smoother shifting and better gas mileage. I've had several Volvos, one of which I drive each day with 215,000 miles and I expect another 100,000 at least.

The key, I suggest, is careful attention to service. I seldom bring my car to the dealer. I use a independent Volvo specialist and when he does a job... like draining the tranny fluid... he used a magnet to remove metal shavings. There is just no doubt about what goes on in his shop. The dealers, although they were kind enough to replace the transmission, don't have that much savvy in the shop. They like me 'cause I have bought five new cars from them, but go find a good local Volvo independent for service... you know what I mean... they are usually on some side street with a few dozen old 240's and old BMWs littered around and are always busy. Get to know them and listen to what they say. They have no need to BS 'cause they don't sell cars.

Anyway... I really like my XC90 T6. It is, without doubt, the best car for the interstate. Very quick when you need it and very safe if you screw up. I was disappointed by the tranny failure, but asking around the people I know who own these cars (T6) it really is not a significant problem and the dealer fixed mine better than new. Volvos are really better cars, but they require attention and care. Bottom line? I'd buy another one .

I have a Volvo XC90 SUMMUM D5 manual transmission model 2005 Hungary. The 6th gear is not operating. There is a problem with 2 rotating elements, but Volvo dealer offered me a change of complete manual gearbox for a 4-5000 EUR. It is impossible to buy the parts, you can be still happy not to buy a complete new car. Dear Swedish and American friends, this is nice policy, but you should earn money by selling perfect and safe cars, and not by cutting customers buying a crap gearbox.

Hello everyone, I own a 2003 XC90 T6 like most of us at 74,000 miles my "Service Transmission Urgent" light came on after a few hard shifts & a bunch of slipping... I drove the car home only to pull into the driveway & find out I had no reverse. In the am I took the car to local shop who does Volvo work & diagnosed with Transmission in "Limp Mode" No forth gear, stuck in 3rd, no reverse, air bubbles in fluid & I was told I needed a new transmission. Took car to second shop (excellent reputation for Volvo repairs) same diagnosis. Burnt transmission fluid etc.... I have now contacted the local Volvo Dealer & have been told $240.00 to hook it up to computer before Volvo North America will even consider talking to me about any type of assistance. I am towing the car today. I will report back after I hear what they have to say.

Regarding the XC90. The transmission on my 2003 was replaced at 72,000 miles at a Volvo dealership. I have taken very good care of the car with great attention to all recommended service at a Volvo specialty shop. It ran great until recently when the second transmission failed at 107,000 while traveling on an interstate at 70mph. This is not a fault of whether or not I have taken proper care of the car but is rather a defect in the vehicle and its components as produced by the manufacturer. This model has for me proven to be unreliable and unsafe.

1. Since day 1, the transmission on my 2004 Volvo-XC90 has problems, it doesn't engage through gears as quickly as it should. On May 25th 2009, the transmission completely went out, leaving me in the middle of the intersection with cars behind me traveling 35 miles and almost caused an accident.

2. The transmission has never operated properly since I purchased the car in April of 2009.

3. I do not have an extended warranty, and so the car waiting now for repair.

The shop and every other one I called knew exactly what the problem was.

They said that the transmission in this model and year was a faulty GM transmission, and they have seen many in for this type of service.

I did some research on the Internet and found that many owners have experienced the same problem, the exact problem.

I bought my car with 112,000 miles on it and some of the complaints I found on the Internet reported were as low as 20,000 miles.

I ask the dealership I bought it from for help with that matter (4 times); they were evasive and refused to help, or to get to any arrangement.

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.

I have a XC90 T6 - It has about 84K miles, I purchased it with 69K and now the transmission just went out and the dealer wants 7K to replace it. Like every loyal Volvo customer, I had faith in the manufacturers of this car. I am surprised to learn that this is a major problem with this car. We should start a class action lawsuit against Volvo. This is highway robbery. How can we get their attention?

VeroT6 getting back to all XC90 T6 owners.

Dealer & Volvo N.A. now tell me they want another $560 to pull tranny pan & cut filter to see what's inside. We all know what's inside; metal shavings, clutch debris, sludge from all the defective parts that failed way up inside the transmission.

I told Volvo N.A. & the dealership that I was not paying another dollar for anything until they committed to assist in the replacement of my transmission. I am getting the serious run & around. I feel that Volvo is being very subjective as to who gets assistance or not.

For those of you who are only following the posts on this website you should all go to www.edmonds.com & look up under forums XC90 T6 transmissions. There is about 270 posts containing many stories of the problems these cars have with the defective GM transmission that was installed at the factory.

Here is my final summary on our Volvo XC-90 (SUV from h#@!)

Well the vehicle is now gone. We pretty much had to take it in the old stinker, however I am free of the headache and uncertainty of me and my family's safety due to the second transmission failure that is looming on the horizon.

A strong bit of advice to all out there that are currently stuck with this and can't get out, and those of you who are thinking of getting one.

If you hear a loud bag like you ran over something or like you kicked up a rock, well congratulations, the pin on driver side axle shaft has snapped, and at that point you are currently contaminating your transmission. In about 400-700 miles you will start to experience the joy of transmission slippage. To verify this event, just look at the trans fluid. Good trans fluid looks like cranberry juice. Contaminated fluid will look like greyish black and it will stink!! What is happening inside the transfer case, which contains a separate fluid type (Totally Different Fluid); it's now being pumped into the transmission fluid. The poorly designed GM transmission doesn't like this. Fluid is being allowed in by the missing/broken axle shaft pin.

I wish the best to all. Just one more thing; if the XC90 is under CPO warranty, you can claim lemon law. I did and got something back, which I used it to soften the blow on getting out of mine. If you are looking at an 05 with the last 2 in the V.I.N # 75. Don't walk run. Run far far away..

Volvo XC90 AWD5 2003.

Had a catastrophic engine failure - no oil. Normally you would see oil level/pressure indicator on the instrument panel to warn of imminent problems. The local dealer says not... a big engine repair bill looms.

Can anyone out there confirm that Volvo stopped giving visual indicators of catastrophic problem for those of us not technically minded.

Any response welcomed.

JAC Portugal.

I also have a Volvo with serious transmission problems. My transmission light came on and I took it in for service and was told that I needed a $6,000 transmission. After I complaining to both the dealer and the head office, they told me that it was my issue. I had no choice but to cough up the money and get it fixed. That was in October 2007 and guess what? That's right... the tranny just went again yesterday, not even two years later. I have driven 35,000 miles since then so they are telling me that the warranty is expired as the extra warranty that I purchased covered 24,000 miles only. NEVER, NEVER buying a Volvo again.

Also, the "service transmission" warning did not even come on this time.

June 21, 2009 DEAD 2005 XC90 52,000 miles. Software update done could not revive it. Going to the dealer tomorrow, ready to do battle.

Get an attorney & file lemon law!!! Go to your dealer & get ALL repair history & repair documentation. If you are the original owner, they may take it back, if you are the second you may get a settlement. Call 1-800-my-lemon, they got us a settlement being the second owner!!!