u/Admirable_Yak_8238

Just wondering if anyone has ever come across this, has any ideas what could be causing it, or knows what next step I could take, because I’m pulling my hair out and don’t seem to be getting anywhere.

I have a 2025 VW Golf 8.5 eTSI DSG, registered March 2025. Intermittently, when I select reverse and press the accelerator, the car initially appears to accept reverse, but as Auto Hold releases, reverse drops out, no gear appears to be engaged, and the engine switches off. The dashboard then often says: “The vehicle will switch off automatically in 30 seconds.”

It’s very intermittent and I can’t reproduce it on demand, but it has happened numerous times. It’s obviously a problem, and I have previously been completely stuck in a car park unable to reverse out of a space.

I’ve also had a separate warning whilst driving shortly after one of the reversing incidents: “Error: drive system. Please visit a workshop.” I also recall a warning about not exceeding 4,000 rpm around the same time. This may or not be related, however has only happened once.

I’ve already taken it to a VW dealer to look at under warranty. They checked the log and said they had found a relevant TPI relating to restricted front camera vision / driver assist systems becoming temporarily unavailable. That may explain camera or driver-assist warnings, which I was well aware of anyway and understand can happen in poor weather, but I don’t see how this explains the car dropping out of reverse, no gear being engaged, and the engine switching off when trying to reverse.

They wouldn’t budge from that position, said there was no fault, and said there was nothing else they could do.

I’ve spoken to another dealer who quoted £189 for diagnostics, but said that if they can’t find a fault, I’ll have to pay for that too. I’m concerned about this because the first dealer has already told me there’s no fault.

Has anyone seen anything like this before, or got any advice on what I should do next? Any advice would be gratefully received!