Audi S4 transmission failure problems

Filed Feb 21, 2019 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · IL

Transmission blew up on the highway at cruising speed. Has to get a tow and pay 12000 for a new transmission

Filed Feb 15, 2019 · Transmission · 109,000 miles · CA

Transmission failure. Lurching from a stop and lurching during shift changes.

Filed Dec 29, 2016 · Transmission · 71,000 miles · NC

Dec 5 2016, while pulling out of my driveway in route to a scheduled service appointment at audi of asheville, my 2011 audi s4 lurched and several warnings came up including "dsg failure, no reverse, TPMS warning", followed by "you may continue to drive". Within 5 miles and at a speed of approx 35 MPH the vehicle suffered a catastrophic loss of drive and came to a stop in a two lane road, the engine was still running, but no connection with the rest of the drive-train was evident. I believe the "mechatronics" control unit failed causing total loss of drive and uncontrolled, unsynced gear changes. I was approx 5 miles from being on an interstate with a 6% grade. Vehicle is one owner, ordered and serviced exclusively by audi, 70000 miles, not abused. Requires complete transmission replacement, with the noted exception of the transmission there was nothing mechanically wrong with the rest of the vehicle.

Filed Nov 8, 2016 · Transmission · 38,500 miles · PA

The problems started by a warning on my display saying to pull over gear box or transmission failure. You have seconds to pull over before the car no longer functions. Even though you are in gear all that happens is the engine revs and you go no where. My car has only 38,500 miles on it and is out of warranty by a couple of months. I had the car tuned adding somewhere around 100 hp 6,000 miles before this happened and audi says this is what caused the issue. To fix the sensor error code p179e00 was around $5,000. 00 even though there has been a service bulletin out for this problem for more than a year. After looking around decided to have audi do the repair but within an hour of letting them know to go ahead with repairs they called me back and told me that it could be the whole transmission when they tested the fluid it came back with some metal shaving in it. This would be a $12,000.00 repair. The safety of this transmission is in question for the fact that there has been a service bulletin out for this transmission even though audi of america denies that my VIN is part of the service recall. It is pretty scary when you driving and the transmission just shuts down and you and you car are just stuck in traffic as cars dodge you and fly by you and you dead car.

Filed Sep 3, 2016 · Transmission · 44,500 miles · NY

Possible dsg transmission failure gearbox malfunction error message on dash.

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 Jan 6, 2015 · Transmission · 61,794 miles · MD

I was cruising at approx. 55mph on my way to work. I had no symptoms of anything prior to the transmission failure. Suddenly the car started vibrating and decelerating as if I had a flat tire. I made an emergency merge into the center median and was luckily nobody rear ended me. After inspection of my tires which were ok I got back in car. D or r would not work. The car would not move.

Filed Dec 17, 2013 · Transmission · 38,000 miles · MA

Mechatronics unit failed in the vehicle automatic transmission. Transmission failure message listed on car dashboard. Car would not shift out of 1st gear and there was no reverse gear. Car had to be towed to the dealership for repair. Multiple web forum posts stated the audi b8 models suffered this failure frequently.

Filed Apr 17, 2000 · Transmission · NY

Experienced a grinding noise and vibration in the transmission while accelerating onto highway from a stop, shifting from 1st to 2nd gear at approx. 4500 RPM. After this incident, the transmisison grinded when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear all the time above 3500 RPM. I contacted the dealer and had to wait a week for them to see my car. They kept the car for a day to "diagnose the problem." they told me that 2nd gear was "shot" due to "shifting at high rpms" or from "hard shifting" and that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. I said that this was ridiculous and that I wanted a new transmission. They said that audi would only authorize them to rebuild my unit. They also informed me that if this happened again, I would have to pay for the repairs myself and that I would no longer be covered under warranty. It disturbs me how a car manufacturer's transmission could not hold up to the power output of the engine and that the car should not be shifted "high" or "hard". When the repairs are completed, must I then baby this performance automobile and fear shifting above 3500 RPM (half of the engine's redline RPM)? Also, I cannot understand how my warranty will not cover a component if it breaks twice. To me, that sounds like a defect. I am now waiting for the dealer to contact me when the necessary parts arrive.

Filed Dec 5, 1997 · Transmission · MD

Transmission failure.