We bought a 2004 XC90 /T6 about 2 years ago.... soon after it was purchased we changed the transmission filter/ fluid and it was fairly clean. Everything we smoothly for over a year then the other morning when backing out I heard a pop then I could hear a weird noise at only around 30mph. I though it was a wheel bearing and changed out both front wheel bearing. Drives fine, shifts fine only makes an bad wheel bearing type noise from 30-35mph. We took the pan off and obviously something broke anyone seen this before where everything seems to shift / drive/ reverse works fine?

 

The General Motors transmission that Volvo used in the T6 is known to fail like that. I leased one of those when they were new - the transmission lasted 22000 miles before it needed to be replaced. It is a common GM transmission - so parts are available - but was not designed for the power the twin turbo engine has.

Unfortunately those metal shaving have been circulating through the two oil coolers also. - When I was replacing those transmissions Volvo would not warranty the replacement unit unless you put a new radiator, a new trans cooler and new flexible hoses on at the same time. - To make sure all the metal shaving were gone. That made for an expensive transmission replacement.

 

Welcome to 4T65 hell. In those first years I replace sometimes 3 transmissions in the same vehicle by 80k km.. Biggest failure was the planetary gears which is most likely why you hear a bearing whine.... it won't be long till it doesn't move anymore and it usually ends with a loud bang noise and no gears. And as hoonk says you have to replace all those other parts at the same time $$$$$. The good news is right about the time they stopped using that trans GM had finally fixed all the issues