2003 Xc90 6T w/69000 miles ...Run away or Buy?

twncty · Post by **twncty** » 28 Dec 2016, 19:49

Guys:

I have an opportunity to buy a 2003 XC90 6T with 69,000 miles on it for $6,000.00 I don't have the service history. Drives fine. What problems could I be getting myself into? Any advice? Run away? Thanks for your help. I know very little of this model.

Post by **cuhfs** » 28 Dec 2016, 20:42

You will need to search the forums for all the problems but Transmission comes to mind a a weak spot. Not sure if the low miles means much since these cars can go 200'K+. In other words I'd rather have a car with 140K miles and full service history versus 70'K and no records. You at least want to know oil was changed regularly. Sometimes a volvo dealer can give you the
Service history based off the vin.

Post by **precopster** » 29 Dec 2016, 05:41

In general stay away from the early T6 engine as more complexity will cost more servicing (twin turbos, and a very poor thermostat design)

Transmissions have regularly failed on them at less miles than 69K. They were a GM designed mess designed for a 2.5 litre non turbo so have little chance of handling the T6s prodigious torque. Also they only have 4 speeds.

Stick with the T5 (2.5T 5 cylinder) with the same miles and while not quite so quick off the mark as the T6 it will reward you with a better (5 speed) transmission & lower servicing costs.

Post by **June** » 29 Dec 2016, 10:45

Have Volvo do a inspection first due to age. I am still driving my second T6 2.9 twin charged engine and 13 years 130k later the transmission and engine and turbo are all still factory. I would hazard to guess most on here who love to bash the GM transmission have never owned a T6 or GM transmission. I did however have endless trouble with the transmission in my 5 cylinder V70 GT high pressure engine. These engines accumulate heat under the hood in traffic so I do use synthetic oil and change the oil every 3k as I live in a big city with horrible traffic and hot climate. Good luck!

Post by **precopster** » 29 Dec 2016, 13:33

For more of a balanced view from real owners check http://www.carsurvey.org

June out of interest did you also replace the transmission fluid often on your T6?

If you have a heavy right foot and/or don't know of the driving habits of the previous owner I suggest a wayward path regardless of a Volvo check which can't show wear inside the transmission.

Post by **June** » 29 Dec 2016, 18:42

precopster wrote:For more of a balanced view from real owners check http://www.carsurvey.org

June out of interest did you also replace the transmission fluid often on your T6?

If you have a heavy right foot and/or don't know of the driving habits of the previous owner I suggest a wayward path regardless of a Volvo check which can't show wear inside the transmission.

This year at around 115k the factory fluid came out. It still was red and no bad smells. I love to use the standard feature and don't think twice about cursing in traffic at 4000 rpm steady. My car likes to fly and I must admit I love the power. I have held on to this car because Volvo quit making them in 2006 for a lousy V8 which did not impress me, than brought the T6 back only to force AWD only and one turbo charger. Also I prefer a real car key. So still I keep driving my 2004 T6. This year I have spent quite a bit servicing like axles, suspension parts, first timing belt, etc. This year as I hit 110k in march 2016 I took her in for tbelt service one boot on each side axle had cracked and bushings on the arms were dry rotten I am driving a lot starting this year. Previously to march only oil changes one battery one set of brakes and 3 sets of tires (I replace tires once 30% of tread is used) filters and one set of plugs at 60k. In all of that the engine and transmission have been flawless. I really can't complain at all, I just wish Volvo would put something comparable out. The new XC90 and S90 have my attention, but the engine is noisy and does not have that feeling of power.

Post by **precopster** » 29 Dec 2016, 19:05

Well there's always that "lucky guy"

Post by **June** » 29 Dec 2016, 20:12

precopster wrote:Well there's always that "lucky guy"

Well than lucky X2 as I have owned two! The first car saved my life in a rollover and was totalled the second is still with me. Before saying that a product is bad you should own one first, I noticed your profile does not list a T6 as current or past. Not to sound rude but Volvo makes great cars in my opinion and if the T6 equipment was just faulty by design it would never have been used for 7 years. The 2.9 L6 I also owned in a 1995 960 and a 1998 S90 so that has been a total of four 2.9 L6 engines I have owned and all have been great. I have owned two of the five cylinder engines as well. I have never had a (bad) Volvo. I do buy them new and properly maintained them. I hope the original person asking about the XC90 T6 gives the car a chance and does have his dealer look it over, or any used Volvo he considers before buying it first.

Post by **precopster** » 29 Dec 2016, 21:36

I also owned a 960 but profile doesn't show in signature(no room). Great engine with a standard thermostat design straight from the 850. Transmission was an Aisin 4 speed auto straight from the Toyota stable and modified for Volvo and others. It was a bullet-proof car and I loved it. I replaced both the cylinder head and transmission myself when they failed. Transmission failed because I towed a very large weight in traffic (started slipping) Engine failed because of a massive casting crack beneath the exhaust manifold. This was a known problem in early cars and is reportedly solved in later years.

No offence taken you are entitled to your opinion. I know of and have known people who would never own a T6 again. My local indie Volvo repairer who I am good friends with tells me there are hardly any left on the road (as well as T6 S80s which share the same drive-train) He hates telling every 2nd customer that drives in with one that they need a new transmission. The other indie repairers will only sell T6s if a transmission rebuild has been done in the last 60,000 kms and by a reputable re-builder.

The failure rate of the T6 and 4 speed GM transmission is well documented here and other forums as well as on car reliability surveys worldwide. Have you read them? I didn't make up the link I provided. Did you see how many of the car surveys commented on the T6 transmission failure rate or did that small detail elude you? Or perhaps I paid them to write the surveys to support this thread??

I don't own a XC90T6? Well neither do you my friend. The extra burden of the AWD system AND the extra weight carried on the XC90T6 made mince meat of the transmissions.

This conversation is really going nowhere in a hurry because I want to stick out my neck to prevent someone from potentially making an expensive mistake. Sure I understand that you are proud of your ride and by all means be proud. Take it into the driveway every weekend and polish it up and make it gleam. They look great and if it serves you well by all means continue to tell all your friends and acquaintances that you love it and that your Volvo is as dear to you as your dog Rover. The point I'm trying to make here is that statistically they have a high failure rate. Now let's not let egos get in the way of telling the truth; after all the truth is what the OP wants to hear, correct?

Post by **matthew1** » 30 Dec 2016, 10:25

XC90 T6 transmission problems are well documented. It's a fact based on numbers.

While I'm not privy to those numbers (probably a guarded Volvo secret), look at the comments in this XC90 T6 transmission post.

This page claims an average failure mileage of 109k for XC90 T6s afflicted.

Also, note that we can look at this as a "transmission failure" or a "SUV weight" problem. Of course the result is the same. There is nothing innately problematic with the SUV or the transmission, only that the SUV was too heavy for the transmission.