Automatic gearbox Volvo: problems by model and engine

Documented faults, from most to least important

Severity × frequency. Below each one, the Volvo models it appears in.

- High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S60 IIJerking of the Geartronic automatic gearbox and clutch faults on the Volvo S60According to fiches-auto.fr, there are around 11 gearbox and clutch cases: Geartronic with jerks and vibrations at low speed, and manual gearbox clutches failing at 64,000 and 158,000 km.Appears at around 64,000 km
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S60 IJerking and hesitation from the Geartronic automatic gearbox when the oil is not changedTotal Renting cites jerking and hesitation from the Geartronic automatic gearbox as a known fault of the S60 when the oil change is neglected, something that, according to that website, many owners skip. A German guide to the V70 II, which presents the S60 as its saloon version, also speaks of a Geartronic that gives trouble from time to time.Repair (garage): €200–€350
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V70 IIOccasional faults in the six-speed Geartronic automatic gearboxGebrauchtwagenberater states that the six-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox of the V70 II occasionally causes trouble and recommends a gearbox oil flush every 50,000 to 60,000 km. According to Wikipedia, the six-speed gearbox arrived with the 2005 facelift.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC60 IINoise and limp mode in the automatic gearbox from wear of the all-wheel-drive driveshaftsWith wear, the all-wheel-drive driveshafts (propshaft joints) on the XC60 II can produce clicking and vibration when accelerating. fiches-auto.fr also describes episodes in which the automatic gearbox goes into a limp mode or abruptly reduces speed when it detects an anomaly.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC70 IIOccasional faults in the Volvo XC70's Geartronic automatic gearboxGebrauchtwagenberater states that the Geartronic automatic gearbox of the second-generation V70, of which the XC70 is the crossover version, gives trouble from time to time; on the test drive you need to check that the gears change cleanly and do not stick. It recommends a gearbox flush every 50,000-60,000 km.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC90 IHarsh shifts from the Aisin (Geartronic) automatic gearbox at around 100,000 kmA German buying guide ranks the Aisin automatic gearbox among the biggest weak points of the XC90 I: harsh gear changes appear at around 100,000 km. Total Renting blames ATF fluid that Volvo did not schedule for replacement and which degrades between 60,000 and 80,000 km; changing it costs €120-200 in Spain.Repair (garage): €120–€200Appears at around 60,000 km

By Volvo model

Open yours to see only the faults that affect it, by engine and by year.

Frequently asked questions

What faults with the automatic gearbox do Volvo cars have?

In 6 models from Volvo there are 6 documented faults with the automatic gearbox. The most important: jerking of the Geartronic automatic gearbox and clutch faults on the Volvo S60, jerking and hesitation from the Geartronic automatic gearbox when the oil is not changed and occasional faults in the six-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox. Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

Which Volvo models have the most problems with the automatic gearbox?

Volvo S60 I (1 fault), Volvo V70 II (1 fault), Volvo XC70 II (1 fault) and Volvo XC90 I (1 fault).