Macan's Transmission Nightmare: Oil Sensor or Something Worse?

Hey there! I have some experience with cars , and I dealt with similar symptoms on my 2016 Porsche Cayenne last year. The symptoms you're describing sound very familiar! Turned out my transmission oil was critically low, which was causing those exact issues, rough shifting and warning lights. Took it to my trusted workshop, and they did a complete transmission oil level check and refill. The whole thing, including labor, set me back about 365 Euro, but it fixed the problem completely. Before I share more specific details, could you tell me what engine variant your Macan has and how many miles/kilometers are on it? Also, when was the last time you had any transmission maintenance done? Hope this helps! Let me know those details, and I can give you more targeted advice based on my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My Macan has 75742 KM on the clock, and just had its regular service about two months ago. The grinding noise started just last week, and it's getting worse during cold starts in the morning. Your Cayenne situation sounds quite similar, I'll definitely get the transmission oil level checked first. Did you notice if the problem was more pronounced when the car was cold?

Hey again! Yes, definitely, my Cayenne had the exact same behavior, especially during cold starts! The grinding was actually much worse in the mornings, just like you're describing. After my experience, I can tell you that with that mileage on your Macan (mine had around 82,000 km when it happened), it's quite common to have these issues. While I initially thought it was the transmission oil pressure sensor in my case, it really was just the transmission fluid level that had dropped over time. The cold start symptoms are a classic sign, when the fluid is low, it takes longer to properly circulate when cold. Since you mentioned you had service two months ago, you might want to check if they actually included a transmission fluid check in that service. Sometimes it's not part of the regular maintenance schedule. In my case, they hadn't checked it for quite a while. Quick tip from my experience, don't wait too long to get it checked. I drove around with the issue for about two weeks before getting it fixed, and my mechanic later told me I was lucky not to cause any permanent damage to the transmission. Let me know how it goes after you get it checked! I'm curious if your situation turns out similar to what I experienced with my Cayenne.

I'll complete the conversation from's perspective: Thanks so much for the detailed response! You've definitely put my mind at ease a bit. I just called my service center and you're right, they didn't include a transmission fluid check in my last service. I've booked it in for tomorrow morning, not taking any chances after what you've said about potential transmission damage. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, especially about the cold start symptoms matching mine. Will update you once I get the results from the workshop. Fingers crossed it's just low fluid like in your case, sounds a lot better than having to replace sensors or worse! Thanks again for your help!

Bye Theo, I have had the same problem with my Macan 2.0 since three weeks ago. 2017 90,000km Especially on a cold start the rattling noise looks like a bearing malfunctioning, after about 2-3 min the noise is gone again. So I think I will go to the garage to have the transmission arrow checked. Have driven Audi for years but since driving the `Macan I have had nothing but problems with the car. The garage where I bought the car 5 months ago said it is a product feature of Porsche.

(Translated from Dutch)

It's good that you're planning to have the transmission checked. The rattling noise you're experiencing, especially during cold starts, could indeed be related to low transmission fluid or other transmission issues. It's important to address this promptly to avoid potential damage. If the garage suggests it's a "product feature," it might be worth seeking a second opinion from another mechanic or a Porsche specialist. Let me know how it goes and if you have any further questions!