NHTSA Complaint #10210659 — 2001 VOLVO V70

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 VOLVO V70 STATION WAGON WITH 88,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS RECEIVED ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICING. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, ONCE WHILE UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND NOW WHILE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE. THE REASON WAS TO HAVE THEM CHECK AND REPAIR THE SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. THE SLIP OCCURS BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND, AND 2ND & 3RD. THIS IS ABOUT THE 20-40MPH RANGE. WHEN IT SLIPS, THE TRAN SOMETIMES REVS UP TO 4,000 AND THE ENGINE JUST REVS UP FOR A FEW SECONDS, (IN A STALLING-LIKE FASHION) THEN THE TRANSMISSION GRABS WITH A HARD SLAM/AUDIBLE CLUNKING NOISE. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALER THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT LEAVES YOU IN AN "OUT-OF-CONTROL" STATE. THEY DEALER CAN FIND NO CODES ON THE TRANSMISSION TO DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM, BUT DOES AGREE THAT THE SLIPPAGE OCCURS. THEY HAVE DONE S/W UPDATES TO MAKE IT SHIFT BETTER. WE JUST SPENT $1500.00 ON MAKING THE PROBLEM GO AWAY, BUT YET IT IS STILL THERE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING SINCE BEFORE THE LAST EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICING, BUT HAS RECENTLY BECOME VERY MUCH ESCALATED SINCE EVEN COMING OUT OF SERVICE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY COULD EVEN HAVE SENT US HOME IN THIS CAR WITH MY FAMILY IN IT. IT IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK FOR REPAIR THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE $1500 SERVICING. NO ACCIDENTS YET, BUT I FEAR DRIVING IT AT ALL, SINCE THE SLIP COULD RESULT IN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS WHILE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. I HAVE TOLD THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS AT VOLVO OF THIS CONCERN, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. THEIR ADVICE IS TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR ON TRADE-IN OR SPEND $5,000 ON A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A CAR DRIVING ONLY ON CITY STREETS FOR LESS THAN 45 MINUTES AT A TIME AND AT ONLY 88,000 MILES. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ONE IN THAT IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE AT ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. *TR