Audi A3 won't shift problems

Filed Jun 18, 2026 · Engine · FL

Coolant Water Pump and Thermostat -- Coolant temperature indicator gauge runs from normal to high after about 10-15 miles drive. Coolant levels are good and no signs of leak. Engine light is activated along with warning messages. Engine Warning: Drive System Malfunction. Please call for service. The vehicle goes into "Limp Mode" and warns to not exceed 4,000 rpm. I am in the process of having this repaired by a mechanic. FYI--- There was a previous RECALL for this in 2017. Clearly the problem still occurs.

Filed Mar 16, 2026 · Engine · 128,000 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2013 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly went into LIMP Mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the glow plugs failed to function and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to several dealers, where it was diagnosed with exhaust system failure. The contact was informed that the exhaust system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.

Filed Dec 9, 2025 · Transmission · 34,500 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2019 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH for a 50-mile trip, the message "Transmission Failure" displayed, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The transmission then inadvertently switched from automatic to manual transmission mode and became stuck in second gear. Additionally, the vehicle jerked and decelerated to 35 MPH while driving. The contact activated the hazard lights before pulling over to the right shoulder to turn off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel very quickly. The contact was able to drive to the destination. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who retrieved DTC: P173500 (Electrical Malfunction with the Position Sensor for Clutch 1 in the Transmission). The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, but no cause for the failure was found. The contact then drove the vehicle for a long distance at high speeds and was able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who determined that the mechatronic hardware, DSG transmission cover, gasket, and fluid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 2058504/1 (Transmission malfunction, DTC P173500 and/or P173600 stored in the TCM). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the Technical Service Bulletin. The failure mileage was approximately 34,500.

Filed Aug 13, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · FL

My 2015 Audi A3 1.8T is experiencing the exact same failure symptoms and operational hazards as those described in Audi’s own Warranty Extension U49, which covers certain 2017 and 2018 Audi A3 and A3 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI models. According to Audi’s bulletin, vehicles with faulty mechatronic units are eligible for replacement under an extended warranty due to safety concerns — sudden loss of drive, vehicle being stuck in neutral, and PRNDS flashing while in traffic. My vehicle is now exhibiting these identical symptoms: (1) Sudden disengagement of all gears while driving when it tries to go to fourth gear. At this point, there is a (2) flashing PRNDS indicator and “Reverse Gear Not Available” message. (3) Loss of ability to accelerate in moving traffic, requiring emergency maneuvers, and halting traffic. (4) Temporary restoration of function after shutting off and restarting the engine, only for the problem to happen again. (5) Check Engine Light. This is a serious safety hazard that puts both the driver and other road users at risk. The only reason my vehicle is excluded from the coverage appears to be its model year (2015), despite the fact that the mechatronic unit and failure mode are identical to the covered 2017–2018 vehicles. I believe Audi overlooked this issue in other year models and, as such, I respectfully request that the federal safety agency investigate why Audi is limiting this safety-related repair to only certain VIN ranges and model years, when vehicles just a couple of years older are exhibiting the exact same dangerous defect. A sudden loss of propulsion at highway speeds is a serious risk that warrants broader manufacturer accountability. The company should fix this issue as soon as possible.

Filed Apr 12, 2025 · Transmission · WA

Car has 50,000 miles and vehicle has a bulletin on the vehicle from Audi, where the vehicle goes into limp mode and only shift through certain gears, rendering the vehicle, unable to drive and creating a safety hazard due to the fact that it can’t drive at Highway speed and or jolt and skips gears. Code for the P173600 known issue by Audi, went into mode while merging onto freeway and a lost control of vehicle.

Filed Feb 19, 2025 · Transmission · GA

The **mechatronic unit** (integrated into the S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission) is the primary component that fails. This unit controls gear shifts, clutch engagement, and hydraulic pressure within the transmission. Common failure points include: - Internal electronic control module (ECU) faults. - Malfunctioning solenoids or pressure valves. - Software glitches or calibration errors. **2. Safety Risks** Mechatronic failure poses significant safety risks: - **Erratic Gear Shifts**: Sudden jerks, delayed engagement, or refusal to shift gears could lead to loss of vehicle control, especially in traffic or during overtaking . - **Limp Mode**: The transmission may default to a single gear (e.g., 3rd gear), severely limiting acceleration and braking responsiveness . - **Complete Gear Loss**: Loss of reverse or multiple forward gears increases collision risks during parking or low-speed maneuvers . --- **3. Confirmation by Dealers/Service Centers** Dealers and independent specialists can reproduce and confirm the issue through: - **Diagnostic Scans**: Fault codes like "implausible gear ratio," "valve electrical faults," or "clutch adaptation limits" often indicate mechatronic failure . - **Physical Testing**: Symptoms such as harsh shifting, RPM fluctuations, or transmission warnings (e.g., flashing PRNDS lights) are observable during test drives . - Audi has issued **Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)** for related transmission issues, though the 2016 A3 e-tron’s mechatronic unit isn’t part of a formal recall.

Filed Aug 10, 2022 · Engine · MS

Car has constant pedal sensor issue. Audi is refusing to look at the car because the car keeps stating it has fixed the issue. This has become quite a problem for my family the car will abruptly stopped while driving and stay stuck in 2nd gear. Once the car sits it will resets, it will then drive normal but after a certain amount of miles it will do the same thing again.

Filed Jul 24, 2022 · Acceleration, Electrical · UT

Fault codes: P072C00, P072B00, P174A00, P072600, P179D00, P173400. Name of codes in order above, Stuck in Gear 1, Stuck in Reverse, Valve 3 in partial transmission 1, Engine Speed Inp.Circ., Cooling oil valve, Starter release from the selector level sensor system.

Filed Apr 12, 2021 · Engine, Fuel system · 90,605 miles · FL

Check engine light came on in october 2020 car was slow to take off for several weeks and seemed to take time to shift gears. Took to audi mechanic and had to replace water pump -w/thermostat housing & intake manifold. Now I'm april 2021 car is back in shop because it wouldn't shift out of 1st gear suddenly when I was driving with my daughter in the car, I pulled over in a parking lot to turn car off and then got an error message stating transmission malfunction cannot reverse and had to have the car towed to mechanic again. I'm told it needs mechatronic unit replaced, replace timing cover due to oil leak, evap leak and wiper fluid is leaking.

Filed Feb 8, 2020 · Transmission · FL

This 2010 audi a3 tdi equipped with an s tronic direct-shift gearbox will randomly shift into neutral or limp mode and it is not possible to proceed with normal vehicle operation after this occurs without first placing the vehicle in park, turning off the ignition and then restarting the vehicle. These symptoms are indicative of a known defect for this models power train and there are numerous testimonies on the web from audi and vw owners whose 2009/2010 vehicles are exhibiting the same symptoms, yet who are being told that the audi recall #'s 37e3/s7 & 37e5/j7 (the federal safety agency campaign #09v333000) do not apply to their vehicles due to their having been built outside the build date parameters of the recall. It is obvious from the numerous complaints from audi and vw owners that the defective transmission temperature sensor harnesses were installed in vehicles outside of the recall parameters and audi and vw are not willing to authorize dealers to reprogram the transmission control module of these vehicles with updated software to correct the problem. I even inquired as to what my cost would be to have this updated software installed (even though it is provided free for audi and vw vehicles within the build date parameters) because it is a safety issue and was told that the reprogramming does not apply to my vehicle, though it exhibits exactly the symptoms described in the recall.