Viano Automatic Gearbox Shifting Problems

I had a similar issue with my Vito's automatic transmission. The implausible shifting and emergency mode sounds familiar. For me it was faulty transmission oil, but also potentially an electrical issue. Have you checked the condition of your transmission oil? Old oil can seriously impact transmission performance.

Thanks for the tip! I haven't checked the transmission oil myself yet. I'm not really sure where to start with that. Should I be looking for a specific color or smell? And would just topping it off potentially help, or is a full oil replacement generally necessary in these cases?

Given the symptoms and mileage, I'd avoid simply topping it off. From my experience, you should visit a workshop and ask them for an oil replacement of your automatic transmission. In fact, my problem was the automatic transmission oil, worn out. It all went away with the oil replacement. Don't postpone this: worn out oil can really damage the automatic gearbox.

Took your advice and brought the Viano to a shop. Turns out the transmission oil replacement did the trick! New oil and it's shifting like new. Total cost was around 240€, which is way better than a new transmission. Thanks a bunch for pointing me in the right direction!