Relentless1961

In 2017 a purchased a brand new Audi Q7 Premium Plus from Audi of South Orlando, FL for my wife who drives just like "Driving Miss Daisy". When I opened the hood I saw no transmission fluid dip-stick (as usual), but the salesman told me that I had not to worry about the transmission fluid because it was a sealed transmission. After about 110K miles, I've noticing issues with message errors in the screen about the reverse and forward when just moving forward. Once running there was no issues at all (mainly on the highway). I took the Q7 to the same dealership where I purchased it and they told me that I needed to service the transmission fluid and possibly that would fix the issue. The cost for this service would be $1,009 which I gave them the authorization to do.
About 2 days later the manager sent me a text stating that while the Q7 was parked in their shop area, a technician scratched the rear left hand fender, but that is another story and they took full responsibility.
Back to the transmission issue...... So, after the technician serviced the transmission with new fluid, the manager sent me another text saying that the servicing made the issue worse and now the Q7 can't be driven because it is unsafe to drive since it will not engage at all.
I contacted Audi of América trying to get an answer on the simple question "why would a 2017 SHS transmission on a vehicle that has been driven under normal conditions and that has never left the State of Florida, go bad at 112K miles?".
The dealership told me that a new transmission cost $22,000 which is not even worthy because the Q7 worth is way less that that and with a bad transmission way less.

My questions to this wonderful forum are:
1) Has anybody encounter the same issue and what has been the best solution?
2) Can this transmission (SHS type) be fixed or rebuilt like on the America Vehicles?
3) Why would Audi put an SHS transmission on a Q7 when the most common transmission has always been the SUP? The SHS transmission is most common on the Lamborghinis rather that a Q7.
4) What are my best options...if any...besides taking the Q7 to a junk yard?

Thanks for your help and support.

teekay0527

I know this everyone has conflicting opinions about this, but personally, I don’t think you should have changed the transmission fluid if it was never done up until that point. While I may not be able to explain the exact science behind it, I do know that higher-mileage transmission depends on friction in the fluid for the gears to engage. I took mine in to replace the fluid a year ago, but my shop adamantly refused to do it for this reason because it was never replaced before. My Q7 has 120K miles and the transmission is functioning the way it did when I first purchased the vehicle and I don’t intend to ever swap out the fluid for the rest of my ownership.

Sorry I can’t provide a solution but hopefully this information helps anyone else considering the same service. If you have a lot of miles, and you’ve never replaced the fluid before, don’t do it now. Or ever.

IntheQ5

My 2018 Q7 was 120k mile when I purchased it. Nothing was changed besides oil and brakes from previous owner. I changed the transmission fluid myself and it has been smoother than ever. Along with other maintenance as well. These transmission have filters and magnets. Changing fluids will not push any debris around to cause any chaos. I ve change other high mileage vehicles(bmw, toyota ,acura ) with no ill effect.

That initial $1,000 dollar talk was a test to see how much knowledge and deep pockets you have. Sorry to say but this is part of the service advisor tactics.
Tow that sucker home or it to an independent shop and redo the job. Reset transmission adaptation and test.

Relentless1961

Thanks for the advise, but it I hope I had it before. What is surprising is that the dealership should have known better and didn't even considered that option.
I'm sure they did it because of the codes they got (P073600 = Reverse incorrect ratio. Code P270000 = Transmission Friction Element A... and so on).
Thanks and I might have to start looking for a transmission specialist in the Orlando area.

Relentless1961

Thanks IntheQ5 for the suggestion which unfortunately I tend to agree with you.
Before I get it out of the dealership to get it to an independent transmission specialist (All Transmission World in Orlando, FL) the dealer needs to fix the scratches on the LH rear fender they cause in their lot.
Thanks again.

mhoran89

there is no such thing as "lifetime fluid". the old joke is the fluid lasts the "lifetime" of the part... my mom just had this happen with her B9 A4 allroad wagon where the rear diff failed and the dealer took them for a ride replacing the fluid and it did not fix the issue so they dumped the car for a 2023 allroad but that is not the point.

the well known 8-speed ZF transmission in these cars (also more or less same as BMW and others) has a factory service spec of ~60K miles for the fluid and filter to be changed. ZF also states that if the trans fluid has not been done after 90K miles to not change it because it could do more harm than good. I am not sure where this is posted but I have heard it more than once. The ZF is an expensive and amazing transmission and one of the issues is I think Audi just leaves this service off for "cost of ownership" purposes. Audi is trying to compete with lexus and acura sometimes and if they spec no service interval for any of the diff or transmission fluids (minus some of the RS cars), they can have a lower "5 year cost of ownership" because the average consumer drives 12K a year. in the 60K first 5 years of ownership the car isn't that expensive to maintain, however you're doing damage to components by not changing fluids.

changing the trans and diff fluids in these expensive cars is cheap insurance. even a honda civic with a CVT has a 35K trans fluid interval. almost every pickup on the market calls for a rear diff fluid change at or around 50K, however Audi doesn't spec a single diff or trans fluid change interval. this is exactly why I also change the oil every 5K miles.

I have changed the trans and all three diff fluids in my Q7 before 45K and expect no issues. while this doesn't help you and your dealer needs to get it together telling you the trans is sealed, I wish you the best of luck. since you are the original owner, Audi of America might step in and help you somewhat. if they don't, I would recommend sourcing a used transmission from a junkyard with less than 50K miles and changing the fluid and filter and throw it in your Q7 and call it a day.

let us know what happens and happy holidays!

Relentless1961

Thanks for the update, mhoran89.
I'll be talking to the manager at the Audi of South Orlando today and will let them know that they should read the conversations on "AudiWorld Forum" so that they can realize and stop telling buyers that there is no need to change transmission fluid because the transmission is sealed. Also, I had no idea the differential oil needs changing as well. However, since the Q7 has 112K miles, I don't think it will be wise to replace the differential fluid at this time. What do you think?

n00bkiller944

+1 on towing to an Indy if they wont make it right. If you were closer to VA I'd say bring it here. I actually almost picked up one with a bad engine but the buyer said they dont want the loss and will just let in sit in their yard... Tried to get them to go get another quote from an Indy as well because they are basing their budget of dealer prices for a BRAND new motor.

teekay0527

@Relentless1961 If it hasn’t been done yet, I definitely wouldn’t. I highly doubt it’s by chance, but every single person I know who has swapped out there transmission fluid for the first time on their high mileage Q7 has had issues. Irreparable issues.

Relentless1961

Yes, I agree and unfortunately the dealer convinced me that this would resolve the issue. It made it worse and they still charged me $1,009.
I found a transmission specialist in Orlando (All Transmission World) who has lots of experience with these transmissions. I will be bringing the Q7 to him on Monday, unfortunately it will have to be towed since the transmission is not engaging. At least when I brought it to the dealer, the vehicle was running and now it is dead.
I'll keep the forum informed of the event.
Thanks all, for your support....Now I know better and what not to do in the future.