How many Saab or Volvo owners have had to replace the automatic transmission on their Saab?

Question

I've been told by two reliable mechanics that Saabs and 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 either a used Saab (a 2000 model year) or Volvo (1999) both with over 65,000 miles. Both cars are being sold by the original owners who have all the maintenance records, and mechanically everything else checks out, including clean Carfax reports. I drove cars with manual transmssion for 15 years and strongly prefer an automatic.

Answer 1

Hi.......i dont know about a Volvo, but i know a Saab seems to need more transmission repair than most cars, either auto or stick. They are neat cars and i enjoy driving them too, especially on a twisty road, the car's handle great!!! When i lived in NJ a few years ago, i drove a tow truck for a while. I towed more Saabs with bad transmissions than any other car..... and, the owners all said the same thing, ......they had no warning it was going to fail. The average repair price for a Saab transmission is $3,000 or more. And, some of these cars i towed only had 60,000 miles on them. Also, there is a small transmission shop in Bergen County NJ, somewhere in the Allendale area, all they do is Saab transmissions. The average wait is one month to get it done.........they have that many customers........i wish i knew how to fix them........Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

Well there is what you have automatics are more complex clutches are much harder to change. With a standard you would think replacing the disk pressure plate even the flywheel every 50,000 for up to 1,500 dollars not strange? But replace an automatic transmission once in 100,000 for $3,500 really bad? Volvo used to buy Borg and Warner gear boxes and BMW too I don't know what trans they use now Saab is owned by GM so I expect some new SAAB's to be GM Hydromatic now.

Answer 3

Not yet in mine. (96 900 SE w/ 63,000 mi.)

I did replace the transmission in my old truck. (00 S10 @ 80,000 mi.)