Here's the situation. I was testing a 2003 A4 Quattro earlier today, and I was on the freeway going about 65 mph. I wanted to make sure the tiptronic worked properly so I shifted over into tiptronic mode and saw that I was in 4th gear. I shifted up to 5th gear no problem. A few seconds later, I tried to ship back down to 4th gear, and nothing happened. I tried a few more times with the same result.

Later, I was driving slower and wanted to test it again. I shifted over to tiptronic, saw I was in 2nd gear, shifted up to 3rd gear without issue, but when I tried to shift back down to 2nd, nothing happened. However, I remained in tiptronic and when I slowed down enough the transmission automatically shifted back down to 2nd.

Are these downshifting issues normal with an audi tiptronic transmission? Or should it have been just as responsive when shifting down as it was when I was shifting up? I do not know transmissions very well so I wasn't sure if it was normal to not be able to downshift on my own. I hope I painted a vivid enough of a picture for you, and if anyone could get back to me ASAP that would be great (I have to make a decision on this car right away).

 

This is not normal. You should be able to shift up and down with the shifter.