RS4 Transmission Woes: Rough Shifts & Transfer Case Issues

Having worked on several Audi models, I experienced a very similar issue with my S4 from 2019. The symptoms you describe match almost exactly what I encountered, rough shifting, gear wear and inconsistent power transfer. After noticing increased mechanical wear and grinding sounds, I had the transfer case inspected. The diagnosis revealed defective gears in the transfer case, likely accelerated by oil leakage causing inadequate lubrication. The repair involved replacing several worn components and a complete oil change in the transfer case. The total repair came to 330 Euro and resolved all the symptoms. The transmission now shifts smoothly again with no grinding or slipping. To help diagnose your specific case more accurately, could you share: Build year of your RS4, Current mileage, When the symptoms first appeared, Whether you notice any oil spots under the car, If there are any warning lights on the dashboard This information would help determine if your issue is similar and whether the same repair approach would be suitable. With some experience maintaining these transmissions, I strongly recommend getting this checked soon, as continued gear wear can lead to more extensive damage and higher repair costs.

Latest service was at 119000 KM. Thank you for your insights. This matches what I am experiencing with my transmission right now. I have noticed dark spots under the car, likely transfer fluid leakage, which seems to confirm your diagnosis about the transfer case oil issues. The symptoms started about 2 weeks ago and have gotten progressively worse. No warning lights yet, but the gear wear is definitely noticeable during acceleration. Will schedule a repair appointment to prevent further mechanical wear.

Thanks for the additional details about your RS4. The dark spots you mentioned definitely point toward transfer case oil leakage, which matches my previous experience. In my case, letting it go too long led to accelerated gear wear in the transfer case. The progressive worsening of symptoms over 2 weeks is concerning but still caught early enough. When I faced this, waiting longer resulted in more extensive gear grinding and eventually damaged multiple components in the transfer case. The repair for my S4 included: Complete transfer case oil change, Replacement of worn seals, Inspection of related components for mechanical wear Good call on scheduling repairs quickly. The oil leakage will only worsen and could lead to complete transmission failure if left unchecked. The 330 Euro I spent was worth avoiding more extensive damage. The lack of warning lights is typical, mine also showed no dashboard warnings until the gear wear became severe. Your mileage at 119000 KM is right in the range where these transfer case issues commonly develop. Would be interested to hear what the shop finds during inspection. Keep an eye on those oil spots in the meantime and try to minimize heavy acceleration to reduce stress on the gears.

Thanks for sharing those repair details. Yes, the symptoms and dark spots match my transmission issues perfectly. Based on the oil wear pattern you described and similar mileage, it seems my RS4 is experiencing the same transfer case problems. The transfer fluid leakage and gear grinding during acceleration are identical to what you encountered. Since my symptoms started getting worse over these 2 weeks, I better get it fixed before the mechanical wear causes more damage. Already scheduled an appointment for next week. The 330 Euro repair cost seems reasonable to prevent a complete transmission failure. Good thing I noticed those oil spots early. Will definitely have them check the seals and do a full transfer case oil change. Really helpful to know about your experience with similar gear wear issues. Will update once I get the inspection results and confirm if it needs the same repair approach.