MajorCommonTransmission

Audi A5: Multitronic CVT judder and failure (front-wheel-drive cars)

Multitronic CVT judder and failure (front-wheel-drive cars) is a common transmission fault on the Audi A5 on the 2008–2016 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $800 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 25 documented faults on the Audi A5.

Vehicle: Audi A5
Engine: 2.0L
Years: 2008–2016
Gearbox: cvt
System: Transmission

This page covers the Audi A5 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Audi A5 faults25 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Front-wheel-drive 8T A5s (typically 2.0 TFSI / 2.0 TDI Sportback) use the Multitronic CVT, which relies on a steel link-plate chain running on pulleys. The chain and clutch pack wear and the control module (TCM) can fail, producing judder, RPM flare and eventually limp mode. Cars that never had the fluid changed (Audi called it 'lifetime') are the most vulnerable, usually between 100,000-180,000 km. Quattro cars use a conventional auto and are not affected.

What you would notice

Juddering at 30-60 km/h
Engine revs flaring without matching acceleration
Flashing 'PRNDS' lights
Jerky take-up / limp mode

How to check it

Where to look. CVT gearbox, front of car

Confirm whether the car is FWD (Multitronic) or quattro (not affected).
On the test drive accelerate gently through 30-60 km/h and feel for shudder, and watch for revs rising faster than speed.
Ask when the CVT fluid was last changed - 'never / lifetime' is a warning.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$800 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Is this car front-wheel-drive or quattro?”
“When was the Multitronic fluid last serviced?”

Now check the Audi A5 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Audi-Sport.net 'Multitronic Problems - Big Problems'
ECU Testing Audi A4/A6 Multitronic TCM page
AudiForums A6 Multitronic CVT judder threads

Audi A5 buyer questions

Is multitronic cvt judder and failure (front-wheel-drive cars) serious on a Audi A5?

We rate it major and common on the Audi A5. Front-wheel-drive 8T A5s (typically 2.0 TFSI / 2.0 TDI Sportback) use the Multitronic CVT, which relies on a steel link-plate chain running on pulleys. The chain and clutch pack wear and the control module (TCM) can fail, producing judder, RPM flare and eventually limp mode. Cars that never had the fluid changed (Audi called it 'lifetime') are the most vulnerable, usually between 100,000-180,000 km. Quattro cars use a conventional auto and are not affected.

How much does it cost to fix on a Audi A5?

$800 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Audi A5 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2008–2016 Audi A5. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Confirm whether the car is FWD (Multitronic) or quattro (not affected). On the test drive accelerate gently through 30-60 km/h and feel for shudder, and watch for revs rising faster than speed. Ask when the CVT fluid was last changed - 'never / lifetime' is a warning. Look here: CVT gearbox, front of car