Audi Q5 Gearbox & Transmission Problems

While this version of the Audi Q5 uses a wet-clutch version of the dual-clutch transmission, failures and problems are not unknown. Generally, any shuddering or jerking in a DSG transmission suggest either worn clutch packs or a problem with the electronics that control the gearbox.

But it’s important to make sure that this is not an engine problem contributing to the jerking behaviour, so an electronic scan of the driveline is in order. This should help narrow down the potential causes and make diagnosis more accurate and repairs cheaper. The gearbox can be scanned, too, to check the operation of the clutch packs.

You haven’t told me what engine and transmission your car is fitted with, but if it’s one with the seven-speed DSG transmission, then this would not be the first time buyers have experienced problems. While not as troublesome as some dual-clutch gearboxes, the Audi’s DSG can wear over time, with symptoms including jerking on take-off, an inability to select a gear and, as you’ve noted, a selection of noises and clunks during shifts.

A transmission specialist should be able to scan the car electronically to see if the car throws up a fault code, and can also graph the performance of the transmission’s clutch packs to see if they’re behaving smoothly.

But don’t rule out something loose or worn in the front suspension or even a worn driveshaft. Both these things can contribute to clunks at low speed.

This is an example of why you really shouldn't ignore warning lights as they flash up on your dashboard. In the case of the dual-clutch Audi transmission you have, the warning light indicates that there's a problem inside the transmission (often that the clutch-packs have overheated). Continuing to use the vehicle normally is not recommended as the transmission requires attention to prevent this overheating occurring again and causing permanent damage to the unit.

Audi certainly knew it had a problem with these transmissions back in the day and often the root cause was traced back to the mechatronics unit (the brain that controls the gearbox's clutches and selectors) and in many cases these units were replaced.

However, the chances of Audi attending to your problem now after many years of ignoring the warnings seems a bit remote. You might be lucky and discover that the warning is something as simple as a faulty sensor, but if there's damage inside the transmission, this won't be a cheap fix. Have the vehicle scanned and see what the transmission has been trying to tell you all these years. By the way, Audi's response at the time was in the form of a service bulletin, not a recall.

The seven-speed DSG gearbox has been the subject of a recall by VW and Audi. There have been problems with the transmission ECU and the clutch packs in the gearbox itself. In some cases the ECU has been replaced, in others the whole gearbox has been replaced. I wouldn't panic about what might happen, if your Q5 is driving normally and not exhibiting any problems I would continue to drive it. If you are concerned about it consult your dealer.