VW warning Transmission in emergency mode. Meaning and solutions

When you are buying a new Volkswagen, you usually think that this is the icon of German reliability and you will drive the car for years without any problems. But then, one after another, error messages and warning lights start bothering you and you understand that the myth about the VW’s durability is a little overestimated.

If your Volkswagen says “Transmission in emergency mode, you can continue driving”, the problem may be with electrical connections, vacuum hose, transmission, or battery. Also, a gear selector unit is often the culprit and should be checked. This problem may show up in cars with DCT transmission, then the mechatronic is the most common issue to check.

Here’s what I will cover in this article:

1. What should you do when you see this error message?
2. What are the most common reasons for this error to pop up?
3. DIY solutions for the problem – are there any?
4. Can you drive if the VW says that there is a problem with the gearbox?

Your first steps when you see this error message?

So, when your Volkswagen says that the transmission is in emergency mode but still comforts you with the phrase that you can continue driving, you may need to register the symptoms. This will help you understand what triggers the problem and will also help your mechanic find the actual culprit much faster.

Here are the symptoms you should remember:

• in most cases, the problem pops up in 8-speed automatic transmissions when you just start the vehicle;
• the message doesn’t change the way your vehicle acts and the transmission drives just as usual;
• if you have a DCT transmission (DSG), it may go into the limp mode and only drive in the second gear;
• after you turn the car off and then on again, the problem may disappear but it still may be there without a complete ECU reset (disconnecting the battery);
• you should also remember what has been done to your vehicle recently – repairs, maintenance, accidents, etc.;
• you should notice the weather – this may happen when the temperature is too low and the fluid in the transmission is not ready to work well.

So, your first task is to observe – you need to notice what happens with the car after you see this message. If the behavior of your transmission doesn’t change, you shouldn’t worry. This is most likely not about the problem with the gearbox but about the issue with some electrical component, so don’t think that the gearbox will immediately break down and leave you with a 10,000-pound bill in your hands.

This problem is very often reported by the Tiguan or Atlas owners, but it can occur in other vehicles offered by Volkswagen.

The most common reasons for the error message to pop up

This message can pop up in your Volkswagen car for many different reasons. It isn’t worth just reading the forums and thinking that the problem that a forum guy describes is your problem. Unfortunately, locating the actual issue that triggers this error message is not that easy and will sometimes require professional help.

Anyway, I’ve tried to compile the most common problems that can trigger the “Transmission in emergency mode” error message in your Volkswagen.

Here they are:

1. Battery issues

The VW dealership mechanic said that 2018-2019 Atlas models had defective batteries and now if these cars throw some error code or message, they first of all replace the battery with the new one. In lots of cases, the problem disappears after that.

Also, a lot of forum threads end up with the conclusion that the battery is worth checking. You can check the voltage in the battery when the car is off – it should be about 12.5 volts. Also, the voltage shouldn’t drop too much when the engine is being cranked.

If the battery shows the symptoms of weakness, you should recharge or replace it. If recharging helps, you may know for sure that the initial problem was in the battery voltage.

2. Engine wiring harness

It’s not uncommon for modern Volkswagen vehicles to have issues with the engine harness. It may lose connections because of corrosion or due to poor-quality clips and clamps. Also, the wires may break when you repair or maintain the vehicle without proper care.

Lots of times, Volkswagen owners reported that the transmission error message appeared after they took the car from the dealer and it was serviced. In the end, they found a loose wire or connection under the hood and this solved the problem.

3. Gear selector unit

The gear selector is connected to the transmission control module and its problems can easily trigger the “Transmission in emergency mode” message. If the TCM registers the problem with the shifter or even with the shifter switch, it can be fooled into thinking that you won’t be able to put the transmission in D again, so it recommends that you keep driving.

Actually, I haven’t heard about common problems with the shifters. They will still work and put the gearbox in P and then in D again without any problems. But to get rid of the error message, you will sometimes need to replace the entire transmission assembly or dig deeper and find the sensor or the switch that is faulty.

4. Vacuum problems

One of the possible problems that somehow triggers the transmission error message is the airflow in the engine. Several owners reported that the air intake hose wasn’t mounted on the throttle when they got this problem. Once they mounted the hose, the error message disappeared.

If this is the case, you will also have the check engine light on and the mass-airflow sensor error code in the ECU. It’s worth checking this before you go to the garage – mounting the hose back will cost you zero pounds while inspection in the dealership may be pretty expensive.

5. Cold weather

One more, really weird, reason is poor warming up. Although Volkswagen says you shouldn’t let the car idle and should start driving right after you start the car, it’s still recommended to warm up your vehicle, especially in winter.

If you are living in a cold place, the transmission fluid may become too viscose and this will stop the transmission from working optimally. The problem will disappear once you’ve warmed up the engine and the gearbox.

If you often get the transmission error message in the mornings, let the car idle for a minute and put your transmission in D when it idles to warm up the gearbox before driving.

Are there any DIY solutions?

Given now you know the most common problems, you can easily see that there are several solutions you can apply without even taking your Volkswagen to a garage or dealership.

Here’s what you can do on your own:

• first of all, check if there is a problem with the air intake hose that should be mounted in the top part of the engine;
• after that, try resetting the ECU by disconnecting the battery – you may deal with the problem at least temporarily;
• if you have a code scanner, it’s a nice idea to read the codes and see what the ECU tells you about the problem;
• also, you may check the battery health and replace the 12V battery on your own or maybe just charge it.

If these solutions won’t help you solve the problem, you will most likely need to go to the dealership or to the trusted garage. Read the manual and see how long is the warranty for the engine and transmission in your vehicle. Some VW have a 10-year-long warranty and you can solve almost all problems in the dealership free of charge and without any problems.

Also, the dealership will likely give you a loaner car if the problem should be repaired under the warranty. In some cases, they will need to order parts from Germany like the engine wiring harness, the new shifter, or even the new transmission. So, this is going to take some time.

Can you drive when you see this message?

A very important thing is to understand whether it’s safe to drive such a car. Well, you can drive the Volkswagen even if it displays the “Transmission in emergency mode” error message since it says: “You can continue driving”.

But if you have a DSG gearbox, I would recommend to stop in the nearest safe place and try turning the car off and then on again. If this is the problem with the mechatronic, the car will be in limp mode and the transmission will work in the third or second gear all the time without even shifting to Reverse. Driving the VW in such a condition is not a good idea.

If you have the newer Volkswagen with the 8-speed automatic transmission, you may be pretty sure that the problem is not with the transmission itself. But it still can mean that you need to check the fluid level or adjust your driving habits.

To wrap up

Although this problem is pretty common, it’s also not that hard to solve. If your gearbox or shifter is not affected, all other components shouldn’t be a problem to replace even if the car is not under warranty anymore.

If you can’t locate the reason why your Volkswagen says that the transmission is in emergency mode, you should plan your visit to the dealership or the trusted garage and have the car inspected. But in this article, you will find the majority of common issues that can trigger this message.

Any questions? Write them in the comments below.