How many Volvo owners with automatic transmission have had to replace the transmission on their car?

I've been told by two reliable mechanics that Volvos with automatic transmission are much more likely to need major repairs or replacement than the same make with manual transmission. I'm seriously considering a used 1999 Volvo S70 with over 65,000 miles. The car is being sold by the original owner who has all the maintenance records, and mechanically everything else checks out, including the 60,000 mile service (new brakes plus other things) and a clean Carfax report. I drove cars with manual transmssion for 15 years and strongly prefer an automatic.|||Don't be fooled the Volvo trans is the same in the Toyota it's a t50 trans on the inside and vary reliable if you keep the maintenance up. On the drive shaft is a bushing witch is the leading cause of failure to the Volvo transmission. Easy fix If it wears out replace it|||Alot of bad answers on this. Even tho Ford owned Volvo as of 2000, ford has NOTHING to do with Volvo products. Ford instead has used Volvo designs in their own cars. Get your facts straight people.

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|||I replaced a transmission in only one of my volvos. It was beloved 1985 740 gle that had just reached 350,000. We ended up putting a turbo transmission from a 240 in there, which also meant we had to change the drive shaft out for something shorter as well. 350k on 1 transmission isn't bad.

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|||Chris is correct. Ford uses Volvo stuff, not the other way around.





Also, 740's and 940's (rear wheel drive) are nothing like the newer front wheel drive systems. The older rear wheel drive transmissions were more reliable because they did not have the electronics in them.

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|||That would be a dumb statement. In ANY car, manual transmission is more reliable than automatic. There are reasons why we still make manual transmissions today.|||If it checks out and the transmission fluid has also been changed every 30k miles than go for it. The trannys are good. Stay away from Volvo 2000 or newer, it's a Ford dressed in Swedish clothing.|||Well tell you what I'm a has been Volvo test Driver. You might say Autos are a bit more trouble then Manuals. But with the Manuals we had to replace the Clutch systems on a regular basis too.|||haha....I'llleave it at that.......|||The only problem with the trans on that model Volvo is the lack of a replaceable fluid filter. Knowing that , it becomes clear that regular maint must be preformed on it. That is why Volvo now recommends flushing the old fluid out regularly. If properly maintained the trans on that car should preform to the standards we have come to expect of Volvo power trains. I personally still like a stick, but in the five years I spent in Berkeley Ca. maintaining Volvo's , our shop never had a trans failure on a frt. wheel drive Volvo. David Walsh was adamant on regular service,not repair.|||I own 2 Volvo's a 93 940 turbo wagon with 215,000 miles on it. Transmission has not been replaced and works like new, and a 96 850 Turbo with 165,000 transmission is original and works fine.