Audi S4 won't shift problems

Filed Mar 5, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 100,000 miles · UT

My 2014 audi s4 has a epc light that keeps turning on while driving that car. The epc light will put the car into limp mode and will have a rough idle and can barley drive. When that light turns on you have to pull over immediately and restart the car to continue driving and is a complete safety hazard because it will happen when you are on the freeway. The light mainly turns on when you are trying to get up to speeds of the flow of traffic. I have taken it to the dealer many times to get this issue resolved and they keep saying there is no issue with the car what's so ever. I decided to try to figure out what was wrong with the car myself because the dealer was no help. When I look it up hundreds of forums show up talking about it and no one can figure out what is going on with the car and everyone is having the same issue and how the dealer is no help at all. One person said they took it to the dealer and there was a faulty wire on the ecu. I think its the ecu failing and doesn't know what to do.

Filed Jun 14, 2020 · Fuel system · 62,600 miles · AZ

I have encountered the problem of air bubble formation in my fuel system (code 16903) when reading codes in my car. I thought it was just a fuel pump issue so I replaced it. I then realized it wasn't just a pump issue as the car kept reading those codes and kept stopping. I talked to a local audi dealership and said I would have to get the fuel pump vapor extension. When asked they said that it's only a tsb not a recall due to it not being a safety issue. Now you tell me, my car went into limp mode and stopped once in the middle of the highway, and 3 times in the middle of traffic 2 weeks later. I believe it's a safety problem as anyone could've ran into me and caused bigger problems. I don't think I should pay 800 dollars for my safety. That piece should've been included in the fuel pump assembly from the beginning. From my perspective and the events that unfolded, this is a safety problem and my car needs to be fixed accordingly.

Filed Feb 6, 2018 · 110,000 miles · IL

Driving on the highway at 25 MPH, car randomly shows 'gearbox malfunction' and 'TPMS' simultaneously. Car drove in limp mode for a few minutes until I was able to come to a standstill and put it in park and turn it back on to drive. 'tmps' sign is still showing. Possibility of being a mechatronic issue, which is very well known as an issue with the 2010+ audi s4s.

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 Oct 9, 2017 · Transmission · 38,000 miles · NJ

Transmission error, at first says you can continue driving in limp mode but shortly after says put car into park. Got stuck on the road several times in a single 10 mile trip.

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 Apr 17, 2017 · Transmission · 78,000 miles · CA

A gearbox malfunction (with codes p179e and p179f) may cause the car enter one of the "limp mode" states, which can cut engine power from the transmission. A message on the dash may say "gearbox malfunction" with a message if the car is driveable or must be brought to the repair shop. In some cases, this loss of power can make things difficult to pull over safely, as the stall can happen in an intersection, or in stop and go traffic on the freeway. Audi has recognized this problem in the form of a tsb (2032211), however, all cars with this particular transmission may experience a similar issue, at any time, despite following manufacturer service intervals. The issue may appear to be intermittent and may not enter full limp mode until many miles later. My initial encounter with questionable transmission behavior was about 10-15k miles prior. This particular case documented was the worst scenario, but similar scenarios (coming off the freeway and stalling shortly after stopping, or not being able to engine brake properly due to transmission refusing to shift) have also been experienced.

Filed Apr 10, 2017 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 10 miles · MA

Gearbox malfunction warning and the TPMS malfunction came on at same time. Continued to drive in limp mode for about 1 mile and the car shut completely off. Start the car back up and still showing warnings. Get it home and attempt to put into reverse and the car won't engage. I just happened to start the car again and all lights were gone. Car went into all gears, drove fine, and got it to the dealer. Two hours later I get in to go to the store and as soon as I shift into d, the TPMS and gearbox malfunction light flash up telling me I have no reverse and I'm still good to drive. So I decide to drive down the street and see what the issue is. As soon as the car went to shift from 1st to 2nd it skipped, revved in neutral for about 2 seconds then dropped hard into 3rd gear. The next morning I went to drive the car and drove around the neighborhood with no problem - no error message, no faulty shifting, no jerking or anything. So I decided to run to the store about 4 miles away and see how it help up. I made it to the store and halfway back before boom - it happened again. Car will start in 1st gear fine, went shifting into 2nd it slips into neutral for about 2-3sec then drops abruptly into 3rd, when you have enough speed it does the same thing trying to shift into 4th - skips and drops into 5th, same thing into 6th - slips out of 5th and drops hard into 7th. Slowing down was not a huge problem as long as you have plenty of room to take it easy. If you slowed to fast the gears wouldn't keep up and it would jerk very hard. This is a serious matter since it is a system factory failure with the dsg unit simple as that. Reason why I am contacting this agency as the car shut off on me while you were driving it in the middle of the highway and I could have been hit/killed the first time it happened.

Filed Aug 22, 2016 · Transmission · 69,000 miles · CO

At about 49k miles the car would sometimes lurch backwards when in reverse or going from reverse to park. Took into mechanic. No diagnostic codes showed up. Around 60k miles the car overheated. Audi stated it needed a new thermostat which was around $1000. Drove the car across country from ca to co. Around 62k miles car went into limp mode and would not get out of 1st or 2nd gear. "gearbox malfunction" warning came on. Stated not to go into reverse. Drove home slowly. Next morning all warning lights were off. Took to mechanic. No problems could be found. May 2016 at 69k miles car went into limp mode again. Couldn't get rpms up. Reset codes using diagnostic tool. Drove from utah to co. Car went into limp mode probably 40 times on I-70. Car would lurch forward. Made it to dealer (prestige in lakewood, co). Mechatronics found to be faulty and car in need of entirely new transmission. Cost $12,000. Dealership 'paid' $8000. I paid $4000. This seems to be a common problem with this make/model/year.

Filed Jun 19, 2016 · 92,000 miles · DC

Gearbox malfunction light, limited function, car drops to 10 MPH with no warning. Car removes drivers ability to control car in situation on highway limp mode is not safe and can not be disabled. Car performs normal except for limp mode sensor known fault