PURCHASED 2005 VOLVO AND NOW HAVE 75,000 MILES AND BEGAN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I TOOK TO DEALER AND SPENT OVER $3000 TO FIX SOFTWARE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THEN JUMPS INTO GEAR. I ALMOST CRASHED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I SUSPECT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS AND HOPEFULLY NO GETS HURT. *TR
2005 Volvo XC70 powertrain problems
moderate 7 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
THE AWD SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TO SPIN THE FRONT WHEELS CONSTANTLY. ALSO TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WANTS TO DRIFT INTO THE OTHER LANES ON ITS OWN. DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE ANGLE GEAR SLEEVE ON THE TRANSFER CASE OR THE TRANSFER CASE GEAR. TO ME ITS OBVIOUS THAT VOLVO DESIGNED THE PART TO FAIL. HOW CAN GEAR THAT IS SEALED FAIL WITH NORMAL USE? SO THE REPAIR WILL COULD CO…
TRANSMISSION HAD A JERK TO IT WHEN YOU CAME OUT OF A STOP. WHEN YOU ACCELERATED FROM A STOP THE ENGINE THEN WOULD STOP. WE HAVE THE DEALER SHIP VOLVO ( BARRIER LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THERE IS STILL HOWEVER A SMALL JERK IN THE TRANSMISSION AND A SLIGHT HESITATION IN THE ENGINE TO ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. *NM
TRANSMISSION WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON DOWNSHIFT FROM 3,2 TO 1 CLUCKS AND CLUCKS AGAIN WHEN RESTARTING. IT MAKES A HARD STOP AND YOU SCARES YOU THINKING YOU GOT HIT WITH SOMEONE. *TR
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Volvo XC70?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 7 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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