RS3 Transmission Display Fault Causes Gear Chaos

I dealt with a very similar issue on my 2015 RS4, so I can share my experience with electronic display and transmission problems. I have some experience working on cars, mainly basic maintenance and troubleshooting. The symptoms were nearly identical, unreliable gear indicator on the car dashboard, problematic gear selector response, and transmission behavior issues. The gear shift display would show unusual positions while driving, and the transmission would occasionally slip or grind. After diagnostic testing, the workshop found that the main control unit managing both the gear indicator and transmission communications was defective. This explained why both the electronic display and mechanical shifting were affected simultaneously. The repair involved replacing the control unit and recalibrating the transmission system, which ended up costing 1000 Euro. The fix resolved both the display issues and the transmission problems completely. However, before suggesting this might be your exact issue, it would help to know: 1. Are there any specific error codes showing up? 2. Have you noticed if the problems get worse when the engine is warm? 3. When did you last have transmission fluid changed? 4. Does the gear selector feel physically loose or just electronically unresponsive? With these details, I might be able to confirm if your issue matches what I experienced with my car.

Thanks for the input. Just had my car serviced at 188982 KM and the digital display started acting up shortly after. The error codes point to faulty shift solenoids, but the erratic gear indicator behavior and transmission problems seem more complex. The transmission fluid was changed during the recent service, yet the electronic display issues persist. In my case, the shift knob feels mechanically solid but the gear position readings are completely unreliable. The automotive electronics seem to be the core issue rather than mechanical transmission components. Will schedule a diagnostic check focusing on the control unit you mentioned, as the symptoms match exactly. Hoping the repair costs stay under 1000 Euro like in your case.

Thanks for the additional info. Based on your description, this sounds even more similar to my situation. The timing after service and mileage is remarkably close to when my issues started. The fact that your gear shift feels mechanically sound but the gear indicator is malfunctioning strongly points to the control unit problem I experienced. When my electronic display started showing incorrect gear positions after a service, it was initially misdiagnosed as faulty shift solenoids too. In my case, the digital display problems were the first sign something was wrong with the control unit. The gear selector would register inputs incorrectly, causing both display and transmission behavior issues. The electronic gear indicator is directly linked to the transmission control module, which explains the combined symptoms. The repair cost for my control unit replacement came to 950 Euro, including programming and calibration. Given your identical symptoms, especially the timing after service and solid mechanical feel of the shift knob, I strongly suspect youre dealing with the same control unit failure. Make sure the workshop checks the communication between the gear shift module and transmission control unit during diagnostics. This should help confirm if youre facing the same electronic display malfunction I encountered.

Thanks for sharing those details about the control unit issue. The timing after my recent service definitely makes me think my electronic display problems could be control-related like your case. The car dashboard continues showing incorrect gear positions, and seeing that your symptoms matched mine, especially the solid shift knob but unreliable gear indicator readings, gives me more confidence about the likely cause. I understand better now how the transmission control module could affect both the digital display and shifting behavior simultaneously. Given the sensor problem appears similar to what you experienced, I will specifically request they check the control unit communication when running diagnostics. The instrument panel issues combined with transmission behavior really does point to an electronic rather than mechanical fault. Will book it in next week and ask them to inspect the control module first. If it ends up being the same issue, the 950 Euro repair cost seems reasonable to resolve both the gear indicator and transmission problems. Will update once I have the diagnosis confirmed.