We're considering trading in our '06 XC70--which has been the best of the 3 Volvos I've owned--for an '08 XC90 V8 simply because we could use the extra seats. Is anyone aware of transmission, tire or other problems with this particular model (V8)? We need AWD and are, therefore, not considering the 6-cylinder.

I really appreciate the help!

Very good trade up for space with kids. I have an 04 and only problem seem to be the wear of tires. Be prepared to get about 40K or less on them.

Thanx
Eon

why only considering the v-8? my brother has the twin turbo 6 and he really enjoys it. okay, it's not AWD, but it saves on gas that way. less stress on the driveltrain and all.

Thanks for the responses. Two reasons for considering only the V8 AWD: #1. Snow, #2. concerns about the transmission in 6-cylinder models.

both of the families xc-90's, only one had the tranny problem and that was my brother-in-laws fault. the other one, after repeated beatings and the way my brother drives, the tranny is still going strong, 85K. his is a 2001. the other one was a 2002 and was traded in with 110K when the tranny broke. and it was "repaired" under warrantied. and i write "repaired" since he(bro-in-law) paid for the damage done, but there was a service recall that wasn't addressed and might have been a factor, so it was a 70-30 split between himelf and the dealership. and he traded up for an '08 v-8. and the two of them have been racing each other to see whose is faster. and the snow factor is just that, i drive my impala in the snow, check out the garage under non-volvos to see mine. and the camaro and my R. all through ny snow. which becomes slush and ice and covered in salt. so, sorry, but your arguements are not convincing to me. if you have such snow, get a jeep with dedicated transfer cases. or a land rover. just my opinion.

Dear TheGreekMason,

I am not interested in "arguing" the merits of a V8 engine with you. My husband wants AWD so that's what we're looking at. I merely posted my original question in hopes someone knows whether the multiple transmission and tire problems cited in the XC90 T6 models also affected the V8 models. If you visit the Forums area of edmunds.com, you will see a link on the XC90 page entitled, "VOLVO XC90 V6 Transmission." There are THREE pages of posts from numerous people who have had their transmissions fail as early as 28,000 miles and others who've replaced their tires numerous times on cars with low mileage. Most of the posters are asking where they can sign up to join a "class action lawsuit" and many say they'll never buy Volvo again. Yikes!!!

Needless to say, after reading those posts, I'm scared to death of the T6 and-- unless I can get clarification on whether the V8 had similar problems--will just hold on to our XC70 wagon.

Hi Regina:

As you know from doing your research, the V8 and its tranny are built by Yamaha. Although nothing mechanical will ever be perfect in every single case, prior to purchasing my V8 Sport I called the service managers at every Volvo dealer in my region feeling that I'd get a reasonable statistical sampling this way. To a man, they all told me that they had seen zero issues of any significant nature with the V8 and tranny with one exception (see below). Not so with the old GM built T6 transmissions...

The exception was one manager told me that one of his V8 customers was towing a large, heavy trailer that was significantly over the weight ratings for the vehicle and developed transmission problems on this trip.

Off topic but I'll throw this in as well for fun: My brother also has an XC90 but has the 6 cylinder engine in his (his is an '07, mine an '08). Our families took an extended vacation trip together this summer. With both vehicles loaded similarly over two weeks of freeway driving, my V8 consistently got a mile or two better MPG than his 6 cylinder did at every fill up. It gave me a little something to razz him about each day over dinner!

mrs rose, i apologize if you thought i was trying to argue with you, far from it. these days of over $4 a gallon for gas, i was just trying to put in my two cents on this topic. as to ristretto and his v-8 to the 6, i am sure that was as much as a surprise to yourself as to your brother, i am also going from family experience in how my family drives their 90's and the twin turbo 6 just edges out the 8 on highway running, on local roads both are pigs.

Thank you ALL for your insight and information. Between this site and edmunds.com I am much better informed now! In case it helps anyone else out there, I have learned through further research that Volvo stopped using the problematic GM-built transmission in their 6-cyl XC90 with the 2007 model year. The 6-cylinder engine in the 2007 and later Volvo XC 90 3.2 is a non-turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine.

I also learned that you can, indeed, get AWD in the 6-cylinder XC90. In fact, here in Ohio, it is pretty much all you can find on the lots. Hope this helps someone else.