I picked up my 1.4 Tsi Elegance in March and every now and again it wouldn't engage reverse gear.

I took it into the dealer today expecting that the linkage just needed tightening up however they determined that was not the problem.

They are going to need to keep the car for a few days and consult with the factory go try and identify the problem. Thus is going to happen a week on Monday.

Would anyone like to guess what the problem may be? I'll keep you posted!

At a wild guess, the problem is that your car occasionally won't engage reverse?

 

If it is a manual I would be suspecting syncro rings or something like that.

 

If it is DSG then it is more than likely the mechatronic unit.

Have you tried putting it in first before reverse, that always makes reverse go in smoother.

Sorry. Should have mentioned it is a manual. The problem is something that couldn't be spotted in an initial half hour inspection so I guess something needs taking apart!

I'll make a note of all your guesses and we'll see who is right in a few weeks when it goes back in!

My 5 speed manual on my 1.6tdi has the same problem.  Sometimes VERY reluctant to go into reverse.  

It's a female gearbox. It never will & doesn't do backwards. 

Many cars I've owned, all the way back to a 1966 Herald had "issues" with selecting reverse at some point or another, was always told, put it in 2nd lift the clutch pedal to biting point, then try again, something to do with gears/teeth being in-line to mesh, most of the time it works, but sometimes the teeth won't mesh and you need to "jog" the box by trying a different gear first.

One of my cars has synchro on reverse and even that doesn't slot straight in every time..