VW Arteon's Rough Shifting Points to Transmission Trouble

Had similar issues on my 2019 VW Passat 2.0 TSI. The symptoms matched exactly, harsh shifts and delayed gear engagement. The root cause was significant gear wear in the transfer case due to degraded transfer case oil. The oil had broken down prematurely, leading to metal particles in the fluid. During inspection, the transfer fluid showed dark coloring and a burnt smell, indicating severe heat exposure. This required complete transfer case disassembly, replacement of worn gear components, and fresh gear oil. The repair was quite extensive since metal debris had circulated through the system. Important warning signs to watch for: Grinding noise during shifts, Delayed engagement after shifting, Rough transitions between gears, Oil leakage around transfer case seals Given your low mileage, this could be a warranty-covered repair. The transmission symptoms you describe strongly suggest transfer case oil issues that should be addressed quickly before more severe gear wear occurs. Would recommend having a certified transmission specialist perform a proper transfer fluid analysis. Catching these issues early prevents major transmission damage.

Thanks for your detailed response. Those symptoms match my experience exactly, especially the delayed engagement and grinding noise during shifts. I plan to get it inspected as you suggested. Before I make an appointment, wondering if you recall roughly how much the transfer case oil service and repairs cost? Also curious if you had any other mechanical wear issues pop up afterward that might be related to the transfer case problem. My main concern is catching this early enough to prevent major gear oil problems, considering the warranty status. Really helpful to hear about the warning signs you experienced with your VW.

Wanted to update you on the final repair costs since my Passat had similar issues. The complete service came to 330€ for fixing the defective gears in the transfer case, which eliminated all the gear grinding and rough shifting problems. The transfer fluid analysis confirmed extensive wear particles, but catching it early prevented any major transmission damage. Since the repair, the gear changes have been perfectly smooth with no oil leakage or related mechanical issues for over 20000km now. Getting the worn components replaced and doing a complete transfer case oil change resolved all symptoms. The grinding noise disappeared completely after the repair. If your car shows the same signs mine did, addressing it now will definitely prevent more expensive problems down the line. If still under warranty, these transfer case repairs should be covered, so worth checking your coverage before paying out of pocket.

Just had the car inspected at a different transmission specialist based on the advice here. They found metal particles in the transfer fluid, exactly as described. The grinding noise during shifts was definitely from worn gears in the transfer case. Total repair cost came to 290€ including fresh gear oil and replacement of the worn components. Really glad I caught this early before the mechanical wear caused major transmission damage. The dealership confirmed it was still under warranty, so they covered the full repair cost. The car shifts perfectly smooth now with no grinding or delayed engagement. Such a relief to have this fixed properly. Oil leakage around the seals has also completely stopped. The transmission specialist did a thorough job explaining the wear patterns they found and showed me the contaminated transfer fluid they drained. Big thanks for steering me toward getting a proper diagnosis. Definitely saved me from more extensive transmission repairs down the road.