VW Touareg Transmission & Start-up Problems Explained

Had a similar problem with my 2013 VW Tiguan. Being somewhat experienced with transmission issues, I can tell you this sounds very familiar. The main symptoms were identical, rough shifting, transmission getting stuck in park, and check engine light. After multiple attempts at diagnosis, it turned out the transmission sensor and control unit were failing, causing the gear shifter to malfunction. The workshop ran a complete diagnostic and found the control unit was completely defective, affecting both the transmission sensor readings and gear linkage system. The repair involved: 1. Replacing the faulty control unit 2. Recalibrating the transmission sensor 3. Testing the park brake mechanism 4. Full system reset and coding Total repair cost was around 1000€, including parts and labor. The whole process took about 2 days. Before suggesting specific solutions, could you share: Does the gear shifter move at all when pressing the brake? Are there any unusual sounds when attempting to shift? Have you noticed any transmission fluid leaks? What specific error codes were shown in the scan? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced with the transmission failure in my vehicle.

Thanks for the detailed explanation. My vehicle has 57587km and had its last service 3 months ago. The automatic transmission does move slightly when pressing the brake, but feels stiff and makes a clicking noise. The shift lock appears completely stuck when trying to move from park to drive. No transmission fluid leaks visible underneath. The scan showed error code P0706 related to the transmission range sensor circuit, along with P0708 suggesting an issue with the gear linkage system. The problems started suddenly after parking overnight. Interesting that your repair involved the control unit replacement. Did the workshop mention if this is a common fault with the transmission sensor system on VW models?

Thanks for providing those additional details. Your symptoms are nearly identical to what I experienced with my Tiguan, especially the P0706 and P0708 codes which point directly to transmission range sensor issues. The clicking noise you mention when moving the gear shifter is a telltale sign of the failing control unit affecting the shift lock mechanism. My vehicle made the same distinct sound before the complete failure occurred. To answer your question about common faults, yes, the workshop confirmed this is a relatively frequent issue with VW automatic transmission systems from that era, particularly affecting the transmission range sensor and control unit combination. After my repair was completed, I learned a few key things: The stiff gear shifter movement is typically the first warning sign, The control unit usually fails gradually, starting with rough shifting, Once the transmission sensor starts malfunctioning, it often triggers multiple related error codes, The complete repair package is necessary, as partial fixes tend to fail again My suggestion would be to get it checked soon, as continuing to drive with these symptoms risks further damage to the automatic transmission components. The repair costs might actually be lower in your case since catching it early, possibly around 800€ to 900€. Would recommend having them check the entire gear linkage system while they are at it, as these components often wear together with the sensor system.

Let me share what I decided to do based on the information received. After comparing the symptoms with yours and considering the error codes, I took my Touareg to the workshop yesterday. Their diagnosis confirmed exactly what you described, a failing transmission control unit affecting the shift lock system. The workshop quoted 850€ for the complete repair package, including: New transmission range sensor, Control unit replacement, Full recalibration, Testing of the gear linkage components They mentioned finding slight wear on the shift lock mechanism as well, which explains the clicking noise during gear changes. The automatic transmission symptoms match perfectly with what you experienced, seems this is indeed a known issue with these models. The car goes in for repairs next week. Really grateful for the detailed feedback, as it helped me understand the transmission issues before visiting the workshop. Will definitely have them check all related components while they are working on the system. Knowing the repair process and approximate costs beforehand made the workshop visit much less stressful. Their quoted price aligns well with your experience, which gives me confidence in their assessment of the automatic transmission problems.