VW Sharan Auto Trans Nightmare: Gear Selector Fails

I had a very similar issue with my VW Touran 2017 diesel automatic. As someone with moderate experience maintaining my own vehicles, I initially thought it was just a sensor problem. The electronic display on my instrument panel started showing unusual gear positions, and the gear indicator became completely unreliable. The transmission also began making concerning noises during shifts. The gear shift felt loose and unresponsive, much like what you describe. After scanning for codes, my workshop diagnosed a defective control unit that manages the transmission electronics. The complete repair, including parts and labor, came to 1000€. The fix included replacing the control unit and recalibrating the entire transmission system. After the repair, all gear indicator functions returned to normal, and the transmission shifted smoothly again. Before suggesting specific solutions, could you share: Current mileage on your Sharan, Whether the check engine light is on, Any specific error codes stored, When the symptoms first appeared, If the problems occur more in certain driving conditions This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced with my Touran. These transmission control problems seem to affect several models in the VW lineup from those production years.

Last serviced at 128510km and dealing with the same nightmare. The mechatronic control unit replacement fixed my gear selector issues completely. Transmission now shifts perfectly, and the instrument panel displays gears correctly again. Total cost was 1450€ at an independent workshop, but worth every cent considering how dangerous unreliable shifting can be. The digital display on my car dashboard started working properly right after the repair, and the grinding noise disappeared completely. Make sure they also check the wiring harness connected to the shift knob, in my case, it had some loose connections that needed fixing too.

Based on my experience with the VW Touran, the mechatronic control unit replacement is indeed the correct fix. After dealing with similar transmission electronics issues, I can confirm that faulty control units often cause both the gear indicator problems and the actual shifting issues. The automotive electronics governing the transmission are quite complex, and when the control unit starts failing, it affects both the mechanical operation and the electronic display systems. My repair cost was slightly lower at 1000€, but prices can vary based on parts availability and labor rates. The instrument panel showing correct gear positions after repair is a clear sign the fix worked. The grinding noises and irregular shifting behavior stopped immediately after the control unit replacement in my case too. Important to note that the gear selector and its electronic components are part of an integrated system, when one part fails, it often affects multiple functions. Like your case, my transmission now shifts flawlessly, and the gear indicator displays accurately. These control unit failures seem to be a known issue across several VW models with automatic transmissions from that era.

Thanks for the thorough info on the transmission control unit repair. My 128510km Sharan is performing perfectly now after the mechatronic unit replacement. The gear selector moves smoothly, and the instrument panel shows accurate gear positions, much safer than driving with unreliable shifting. While 1450€ at the workshop was significant, restoring proper transmission function was worth the investment. The automotive electronics are all working correctly after the repair. The gear indicator displays properly, grinding noises are gone, and the shift knob has a solid, connected feel again. They also found and fixed some loose wiring connections during the repair. Really glad to have this sorted, as inconsistent gear changes were becoming quite concerning. The transmission now shifts exactly as it should.