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AW55-50SNAW55-51SNAF33-5SU1FA57

Aisin AW55-50SN gearbox: faults and reliability

Aisin AW55-50SN / AW55-51SN (AF33-5), automática de 5 marchas para motor transversal · Volvo, Saab, Opel, Chevrolet, Renault, Ford and Lancia

The Aisin AW55-50SN/51SN is the five-speed automatic in the Volvo S60, V70, S80 and XC90, and also in Saab, Opel, Renault, Chevrolet, Ford and Lancia models. Its documented weak point is in the Volvo units: jerky shifts and valve body failure, plus judder if the oil is not changed.[1][2]

Risk index
41
Moderate risk · what it is
Documented faults
3
1 of high or critical severity
Type
Automatic with torque converter and planetary gear sets, 5 speeds, for transverse engines with front-wheel or four-wheel drive.
Technical data[1]
Production
2000–2013
21 models on this site

21 sourcesHow we work

Which Aisin AW55-50SN versions should you buy?

Our verdict for each version, based on the documented faults.

  • Aisin AW55-50SN / AW55-51SN (5-speed automatic)

    2000–2013 · AW55-50SN, AW55-51SN, AF33-5, SU1, FA57

    With caution

    Wikipedia notes that Volvo gearboxes failed in some cars before 80,000 km and that Volvo launched an improvement package, and a German guide lists it among the major weak points of the five-cylinder XC90. Check the oil history and test the gear changes.[1][2]

Buy: No known serious faults, or they have already been corrected, in this version. With caution: Worth buying if something specific is verified: history, a replaced part or a completed campaign. Avoid: High risk of a serious fault that is hard to check for or prevent.

Known faults of the Aisin AW55-50SN

Sorted from most to least important (severity × frequency).

  1. 1High severityFrequency: CommonTransmissionJerky gear changes and valve body failureIn Volvo versions this gearbox has produced sudden jerks on gear changes and valve body failure from around 100,000 km; Wikipedia even records failures before 80,000 km and an improvement package from Volvo. A German guide warns that the repair can be expensive.Appears at around 80,000 km
  2. 2Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalTransmissionJudder and engine braking from degraded gearbox oilWith the oil left unchanged, the five-speed automatic judders and engine-brakes: Volvo did not include the ATF change in its plan, and a car leasing website recommends it every 60,000 km. Wikipedia asks for a change every 80,000 km under demanding use.Repair (garage): €120–€350
  3. 3Medium severityFrequency: RareTransmissionHarsh 2nd to 3rd shift from the B4 servo coverA jolt when going from 2nd to 3rd can come from the B4 servo: a German guide reports that, on the XC90, replacing the B4 servo cover and flushing the gearbox largely eliminated the harsh shifts, and Sonnax explains how excessive B4 pressure produces that jolt.

Severity colours: low, medium, high, critical. How we rate them

By part

Compare each fault with the same part on other engines: symptoms, cost and affected models.

Symptoms of these faults

What the Aisin AW55-50SN is

The AW55-50SN and its revision AW55-51SN are transverse five-speed automatic gearboxes that Aisin AW manufactures in Anjo (Japan) for cars with front-wheel or four-wheel drive. Each manufacturer gave it its own name: Volvo calls it AW55-50 LE, Opel AW55-51 LE, Saab FA57, Renault SU1 and General Motors AF33-5.[1]

It was used in the Volvo S60, V70, XC70, S80, XC90, S40, V40, V50, C30 and C70, the Saab 9-3, the Opel Vectra C and Signum, the Renault Laguna II and Vel Satis, the Chevrolet Captiva and Opel Antara, the Ford Kuga and the Lancia Thesis. In Volvos it shared the range with the six-speed Aisin TF-80SC, which replaced the five-speed in part of the range with the 2005 facelift, and in the XC90 and S80 the T6 models use a GM 4T65 instead of this gearbox.[1][3][4][5]

Not everything with an Aisin badge is this gearbox: the Alfa Romeo 156 with Q-System has a four-speed Aisin automatic, the Alfa Romeo 159 Q-Tronic a six-speed one (AWTF-80 SC), and the Saab 9-3 also had a six-speed Aisin AF40-6. Those gearboxes are not covered here. The Laguna II was offered with four- or five-speed automatics, and the four-speed (AL4/DP0) has its own entry.[6][7][8][9]

Wikipedia says several manufacturers declare this gearbox ‘for life’, while specialists recommend changing the oil every 80,000 km under demanding use, with a fluid meeting standard JWS 3309; Aisin warns that a badly done oil change can destroy the gearbox.[1]

Manufacturer
Aisin AW
Family
Cajas automáticas transversales de cinco marchas de Aisin AW (AF23, AF33, AW55-50SN, AW55-51SN)
Type
Automatic with torque converter and planetary gear sets, 5 speeds, for transverse engines with front-wheel or four-wheel drive.
Production
2000–2013
Makes
Volvo, Saab, Opel, Chevrolet, Renault, Ford and Lancia

Technical data[1]

What changed between versions

  1. 2000–2013

    Aisin AW55-50SN / AW55-51SN (5-speed automatic)

    Five-speed transverse automatic from Aisin AW for front-wheel and four-wheel drive. Each manufacturer gave it its own name (Volvo AW55-50 LE, Opel AW55-51 LE, Saab FA57, Renault SU1, General Motors AF33-5), and in Volvos the six-speed Aisin TF-80SC replaced it from 2005 in part of the range.[1][3]

Cars fitted with the Aisin AW55-50SN

21 models sold in Europe. Open each one to see all their faults and the buying checklist.

Chevrolet

Ford

Lancia

Opel

Renault

Saab

Volvo

Compare the Aisin AW55-50SN

Are you buying a car with the Aisin AW55-50SN?

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Do you have a car with this gearbox? Tell us which faults you have had, at how many kilometres and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Aisin AF33 transmissionWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  2. Volvo XC90 Typ C (2002-2014): ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  3. Volvo V70 (segunda generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  4. Volvo S80 (primera generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  5. Volvo XC90 (primera generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  6. Alfa Romeo 156Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  7. Alfa Romeo 159Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  8. Saab 9-3 (segunda generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  9. Renault Laguna IIWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  10. Volvo S60: problemas habitualesTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Volvo S40 y V50Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  12. Volvo C30Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  13. Volvo C70 (segunda generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  14. Opel Vectra C: ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  15. Fiabilité Renault Laguna 2 (2001-2007) : pannes recensées par les propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  16. Renault Vel SatisWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  17. Chevrolet CaptivaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  18. Opel AntaraWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  19. Ford Kuga Mk1: ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  20. Lancia ThesisWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  21. Volvo V70Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German