NHTSA — Power Train: Automatic Transmission Problems

2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,850 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Volvo S60 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2001 Volvo S60 Owner Comments

problem #16

Oct 162010

S60 4-cyl

  • 94,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission failure at 94K miles. Car lost power barely making it through an intersection. Internet research indicates this is a common failure among Volvo S60.

- Horsham, PA, USA

problem #15

Feb 112008

S60

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Volvo S60. The contact stated that automatic transmission would not go in to gear, lock up and surge forward, and not shift properly at any time.. she noticed the issue happened approx after driving 10 miles after the vehicle heated up. She had been having transmission failures since February 2008. She noticed the failure every time she drove the vehicle if she drove more than 10 miles. She took the vehicle to the dealership and a software upgrade was performed at her expense. However, the issue reoccurred shortly after. She called the manufacturer and was told that she did indeed have a faulty transmission but would not offer anything other than a 10% cost reduction on the software upgrade repair. There had been no further repairs made to the vehicle at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was approximately 137,000. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #14

Dec 292008

S60

  • 127,000 miles
2001 Volvo S60 T5 after about 30 miles of highway driving, I came to a stop due to traffic. When traffic started moving, I noticed jerking and hard shifting. The transmission service light came on and the car went into limp mode. I eventually had to have the car towed to the dealership where I was told that it needed a new transmission for $4000. The 2001 S60 transmission issue is very common and should be replaced free of charge by Volvo.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #13

Sep 202008

S60

  • 78,387 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In Volvo 2001 S60 T5. The car sometimes stop accelerating for seconds, and then suddenly it clicks with a jolt after about a second and the car lurches forward. The problem seems to be happening with a lot of people due to a problem with the valve body as the dealer and another mechanic suggested (transmission part). This require replacement of trans. Valve body, sealing kit and tcm upgrade. Then trans oil flush. A total cost of $2488 quoted from galpin Volvo van nuys California. Below is a page showing different customers are having the same problem. www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?P=20617.

- Northridge, CA, USA

problem #12

Oct 082008

S60

  • miles
I drive a 2001 Volvo S60. I purchased it new in 2002. It has a total of 35,000 miles. I drive the car short distances and in town only. It started giving me problems a couple of weeks ago with jerking forward. The "transmission required" "check engine" messages came on today. I immediately brought it to a Volvo dealer who could not explain to me what the problem is until after they perform a diagnostic test at a cost $122. I felt that I had no other recourse but to leave it with them. I don't feel that my car should experience transmission problems since the car is only 7 years old and is not driven for long distances. Thank you for your consideration.

- Derwood, MD, USA

problem #11

Aug 182008

S60

  • 60,045 miles
I had slight jerking and slipping during recent two years. But since this month (Aug. 2008), my 2001 S60 T5 becomes worse with frequent jerking and slipping during traffic and accelerating from a stop. Driving with those symptoms is very dangerous. Visited dealer shop for several times, the suggestions were always new transmission replacement which cost over $4,000. I was also told many S60 2001 and later have the similar problems. I think the Volvo builder must be responsible for this safety related bad part manufacturer issue.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #10

Feb 022008

S60

  • 95,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Faulty Volvo S60 transmission the car has no gas/power then suddenly jerks into 1st and 2nd gear. There was trouble early on while it was under warranty but the dealership downplayed the problem and didn't tell me it had anything to do with the transmission.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #9

May 162008

S60 4-cyl

  • 69,170 miles
2001 Volvo S60 2.4T bought as Volvo certified pre-owned from dealer with 47,000 miles. Now has 69,170 and need new transmission, right axle, right cv joint, rear seal, motor mounts. Had complained about poor acceleration, rough shifting, rolling in park before extended warranty ran out and dealer did not fix, now out of warranty, they acknowledge the problems exists and I will have to pay to fix.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #8

Jan 122007

S60

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
2001volvo S60 turbo - transmission slipping; having problems changing gears; either it is straining to change gears or I hear and feel a loud (clunck). Problem happens a lot in stop and go traffic. Dealer says I need to replace the transmission at a cost of $4000. Read other forums and other Volvo owners are having the same problems.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #7

Apr 112005

S60 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
Intermittent problem. 2001 Volvo S60 T5. Vehicle will fail to shift gears when accelerating. Usually occurs when proceeding from a stop, usually when turning. Took vehicle to the dealer, princeton Volvo, and although their mechanic experienced the problem, they indicated that they did not know what could cause the problem. Now I learn that Volvo has had numerous reported similar problems, usually involving the electronic throttle control modulator. It should also be noted that the aforesaid dealer attempted to remedy the problem by making a software change, but this only made the problem worse.

- Yardville, NJ, USA

problem #6

Jul 262006

S60 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission failure in 2001 Volvo S-60 AWD.

- Croton On Hudson, NY, USA

problem #5

Feb 152006

S60 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles
At 53,000 miles (February 2006) my check engine light, service transmission light and urgent service warning lights came on at the same time. However, I was I not experiencing any noticeable drivability issues. (with the exception of some slightly rough gear shifting - but I didn't think much of it). The dealer told me that the fault code was related to my transmission and that I need a software upgrade to my tcm (transmission control module). If the fault code returned after the upgrade, my transmission would have to be replaced. And that most likely (99.9%) the software upgrade would correct the problem. In addition, I had to pay $340 for the software upgrade because I was 6 months / 3,000 miles out of warranty and software issues where not covered by the extended warranty (3rd party - easycare -[via Ford]). a few weeks later (3/5/06), the check engine comes on again and the drivability deteriorates rapidly on my trip home from work. High RPM's - little power - abrupt shifting. Fortunately, I was close to home (within 1 mile). It felt like the transmission fell apart. I brought it to the dealer (3/8/06), after two days of 'testing', I'm told the ETM was replaced at no charge and to come pick up the car. I picked it up and could not leave the dealer driveway. They apologized profusely and said the ETM was replaced but noticed that there is still a problem. After a few days of troubleshooting by the dealer, I was informed that the car needed a new transmission (and I had to pay an additional $200 for extended warranty co-pay).

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #4

Sep 132005

S60 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles
Stopped to drop off passenger, when attempted to pull away, transmission failed to engage. Turned vehicle off to check it. On restart engaged fine. Approx 1/2 mile down the road, transmission failed again while vehicle was in motion. Coasted to the side of the road, turned vehicle off for a few minutes, on restart transmission once again engaged for me to go a few hundred feet to safety. Vehicle was towed to dealership which diagnosed the transmission with 'internal faults' which would require a complete replacement of the transmission. The vehicle in question has never had any warnings that the transmission was failing, nor had it ever hesitated to engage prior to it's complete failure. The vehicle is 4 1/2 years old with only 32K miles.

- New Milford, NJ, USA

problem #3

Jan 162004

S60 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles
Transmission failure while driving 0 this has happened at both low and high speeds. This is the forth time in two years that my Volvo S60 2.4 has had this type of failure. Three times before it has supposedly been repaired - but yet again it the transmission has failed. Three times in heavy traffic situations - three times putting myself in jeopardy. Volvo seems incapable of fixing this very dangerous problem.ak

- North Hollywood, CA, USA

problem #2

Aug 012003

S60 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles
For both our 2001 Volvo S60 2.4T and our 2003 Volvo XC90 2.5T AWD, there have been unsuccessful attempts to repair a transmission defect (essentially same transmission in both vehicles per Volvo tech support). Between 2nd and 3rd there is. Intermittent/unpredictable failure to engage 3rd in timely fashion with resultant loss of acceleration as vehicle is functionally in neutral for 0.5 to 2.5 seconds. This is extremely dangerous, especially when pulling on to a highway. We have experienced 2 near collisions (almost being struck from behind). Volvo tech support acknowledges a flaw in design causing servo fluid air lock in the 2001 model. A new transmission is scheduled to be replaced for our S60, but if the problem is still occuring in our 2003, will this correct the problem? the XC90 they say can be repaired with "upgraded software" installation (which is scheduled for that vehicle) but this remedy failed when performed on the 2001. We have let the dealer know we feel both vehicles are unsafe with this problem and we are now stuck with them trying to remedy both glaring safety defects.

- Ft. Washington, PA, USA

problem #1

Jan 032003

(reported on)

S60

  • miles
Transmission failed at 20 mph. Consumer was almost ran over consumer felt this was very dangerous. There was no warning. Ts...

- Michigan City, IN, USA

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