Automatic Transmission Control Module Problems of Audi A3

On February 19, 2022, I drove from my home in san francisco to the home depot in colma/daly city. This is a 7 mile drive one way on the freeway. When I was leaving the parking lot at the home depot, I put the car in reverse and all of a sudden it would not move. The car stopped. I turned the ignition off. Then on. There were no warning lights. I put the car in reverse again, and now it was bucking and stopped. It would not move. I had the car towed to my house on Saturday February 19, and again on Monday February 21 to the Audi of san francisco service department. The dealer told me that the problem was with the tcm (transmission control module). It needed a software upgrade. Wow. This is really dangerous. Imagine if I was on the highway going 65 mph and the tcm decided it needed a software upgrade. I am so happy I was in a parking lot. So, I always bring my car into the Audi service department. And they never upgraded the tcm software. They said it is not part of "maintenance". This is clearly wrong! and very dangerous. I am suprised that no on has been killed in an accident because of this. So, I paid: $250. Deductible plus $275. Diagnostic. Plus $570. For tcm software update ($1095. Total) invoice/order #944256. Chris, the service advisor reported to me that Audi of America does not require or recommend software updates to the tcm. And software updates are not part of the extended warranty. And also told me software is not covered under any warranty at Audi.

See all problems of the 2018 Audi A3 🔎.

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 (NHTSA 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.

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The contact owns a 2003 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle independently shifted into neutral with the illumination of the check engine warning light. Additionally, the gear shifter lights illuminated displaying erroneous readings. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who stated that the transmission would need replacing. The vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer, who diagnosed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

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