Audi S4 harsh shifting problems

Filed Oct 11, 2020 · Transmission · 36,000 miles · IA

Dsg issues. Clunking when downshifting into 1st / 2nd when stopping. Shift hesitation on upshift as well .

Filed Nov 15, 2019 · Transmission · 33,000 miles · IA

Transmission shifts strange when cold. Acts like it loosed power every shift. Strange clunking as well on slow speeds or number to number traffic. Sometimes it scared me that it will jump forward and hit the car on front of me.

Filed Sep 11, 2018 · Transmission · 125,000 miles · MN

Vehicle was at a stop at a traffic light with brake engaged and vehicle suddenly engaged into gear and tried to surge forward. Had to put the transmission into neutral to disengage gear. In other instances, vehicle will slam into gear abruptly when accelerating from a full stop, and also lunges forward unpredictably. These incidents are all related to a failing automatic dsg transmission.

Filed Feb 8, 2018 · Transmission · 40,612 miles · CA

My 2011 s4 started getting the "transmission malfunction continue driving" light at about 40,612 miles. At the same time my vehicle would jerk when stopping and acceleration. When shifting down the gears make a clunking noise specially from 3rd and 2nd gear. I was able to use my extended warranty that I bought because audi didn't want to cover my vehicle. Audi service advisors recommend changing the mechatronic and circuit board but my warranty only authorized the circuit board. My vehicle still jerks when stopping as it downshifts and when I accelerate from a stop.

Filed Oct 24, 2017 · Transmission · 98,000 miles · IL

Audi 7sp dl501 's-tronic' transmission for: 2010-2015 audi s4 and s5, 2013-2015 audi rs5, s6 and s7. Vehicles experience mechatronic unit failure and clutch faults. Resulting in: sudden shaking and violent 'juddering,' hesitation from the car when pressing the gas pedal, a 'surge' forward that feels like the car has been rear-ended, and hard downshifting or clunking when slowing down or driving at slow speeds. Also clunking and trouble shifting gears, difficulty engaging into drive or reverse. Vehicle showing "gearbox malfunction, you can continue driving" "gearbox malfunction, do not continue driving" vehicle going into "limp mode" in any driving situation. Clutches not engaging properly, slipping between gears. Issues can occur while trying to accelerate, merging into traffic, driving up a hill, shifting gears at a low speed. My experience: while switching vehicles in driveway, vehicle when into reverse and I backed up, then stopped, put transmission into drive and after a jolt forward, vehicle felt like it stalled, however engine was still running, but no forward gear, (epc light illuminated) vehicle then rolled backwards into parked vehicle, but could have been catastrophic had it jumped back into drive as 3rd car, father, and garage were in front path. 2nd time: vehicle could not reverse,(epc light illuminated) ran into parking curb while expecting to go backwards. 3rd time: after finally getting out of the parking spot (restarting car for the 4th time and epc lights) put into drive, vehicle surged forward, then transmission disengaged,(epc light illuminated) leaving me and vehicle vulnerable for rear collision,with leg out of the door I was able to push and coast my vehicle out of the way, just to miss being rear ended, as car would not engage in drive after 3 attempts of cycling ignition.

Filed Jul 6, 2017 · Transmission · 76,000 miles · CA

Premature transmission mechatronic failure. Car unable to reverse during a 3 point turn in a roadway across train tracks. Since new the car had a clunky transmission. It progressively got worse but when brought to the dealer it was always, "operating within manufacturer's specifications" this is the 2nd audi in a row that has been brought in multiple times for a problem that the dealer claims isn't a problem and is "operating in specs of the manufacturer".

Filed May 13, 2017 · Transmission · 83,380 miles · MI

My s4 threw the "gearbox malfunction, reverse disabled" as well as a TPMS error code while in traffic, and went into limp mode and would not allow me to accelerate. Very dangerous, and inconvenient. Limped home at very slow speed while transmission clunked and struggled to change gears. The code has gone away since I restarted the vehicle, and now it lunges forward when you're coming to a stop, which makes you feel like you've been hit from behind. Taking off from a stop is bouncy and super jerky. If I hesitate before accelerating from a stop, it will sometimes go smoothly. The engine RPM's surge while coasting to a stop, or going down, hill especially with foot off the pedal.

Filed Jun 1, 2016 · Transmission · 61,700 miles · NJ

Hard clunk when selecting gears from p to r to d. When coming to a stop in traffic the car lurches forward like being rear ended. Sometimes after a complete stop has been made the car will surge forward a considerable amount which may possibly cause me to hit the car in front of me.

Filed Mar 17, 2016 · Transmission · 65,600 miles · CA

Hard clunk when selecting gears from p to r to d. When coming to a stop the car lurches forward almost like being rear ended. Sometimes after a complete stop has been made the car will buck forward slightly

Filed Sep 30, 2015 · Transmission · 74,500 miles · OH

At approx 55k miles, mechatronics unit failed. Extremely rough shifts from 1-2 and 2-1, lurching forward after coming to complete stop. Dealership replaced mecharonics unit. At 74k miles entire dsg gearbox failed, while on highway with virtually no power or ability to accelerate. Luckily traffic was at near stop due to rush hour, was able to make it to next offramp in what they call 'limp mode'. Dealership is replacing entire transmission.