VW Caddy Trans Issues: Dead Gear Display & Slipping

Had a similar issue with a 2010 VW Touran Automatic. The gear selector system completely failed, causing both display and mechanical problems. The digital display stopped showing gear positions and the transmission started acting erratically. From my experience with cars, this kind of failure typically points to the transmission control unit. After multiple failed gear shifts and watching the gear indicator go completely dark, I took it to a workshop specializing in automatic transmissions. The diagnosis revealed a defective control unit that was causing both the display failure and transmission problems. The repair involved replacing the entire control unit module, which resolved both the gear indicator issues and the erratic shifting behavior. Total cost was around 1000€. Before suggesting specific solutions, could you provide: Current mileage, Service history details, Any warning lights on the dashboard, Whether the issues started gradually or suddenly, Any recent transmission fluid changes This information would help determine if your Caddy is experiencing the same underlying problem that affected my Touran. Worth noting that the gear shift mechanism in these VW models is quite similar, and when the control unit fails, it typically affects both the mechanical operation and electronic displays simultaneously.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Touran TCU failure. My Caddy currently has 53256km and had its last major service 6 months ago. The gear indicator display suddenly went dark last week, and the transmission issues started immediately after. The automotive electronics warning light came on right after the gear indicator failed. The sensor problem seems similar to what you described with your control unit failure. No recent transmission fluid changes were done. After reading about your repair costs, I will definitely have the transmission control unit checked first before considering more extensive transmission work. Good to know the gear shift mechanism issues were resolved by replacing the control unit in your case. Would be great to hear if other forum members had similar instrument panel failures that were fixed by replacing the control unit.

Thanks for the additional details about your Caddy. The symptoms you describe are nearly identical to what I experienced with my Touran. The sudden gear indicator failure followed by transmission issues strongly suggests a control unit problem rather than mechanical transmission damage. In my case, the sensor problem was also accompanied by the electronics warning light. The workshop confirmed that when the gear selector system fails, it typically triggers this warning. The electronic display issues are usually the first sign before the transmission starts misbehaving. Since your mileage is relatively low at 53256km and the problems appeared suddenly, this further supports the likelihood of an electrical rather than mechanical issue. My Touran had similar mileage when the gear shift control unit failed. The repair process was straightforward once the correct diagnosis was made. The new control unit needed programming to match the vehicle, but this was included in the 1000€ repair cost. After replacement, both the gear indicator and transmission operation returned to normal. Important to know: make sure to get the latest version of the control unit. The updated versions have improved protection against electronic failures that affected earlier models.

Thank you for the detailed follow-up about the control unit issues. Your experience with the Touran really helps confirm my suspicions about the gear selector system being the root cause. The matching symptoms, especially how the instrument panel failed before transmission problems started, gives me more confidence about the diagnosis. The similar mileage when your issues occurred is particularly relevant. Really appreciate the tip about requesting the latest version of the control unit, will definitely mention this when I take it to the workshop. The 1000€ repair cost sounds much better than what I was fearing for a full transmission rebuild. This sensor problem seems more common than I thought in these VW models. Will schedule an appointment this week to have the control unit checked and hopefully resolve both the gear indicator and transmission issues at once. Thanks again for walking me through your repair experience. It has given me a much clearer picture of what to expect at the workshop.