I have read a few things about auto gearboxes playing up in the A4 (i'm particularly interested in the 1.8 petrol B5 circa 1998 model) - does anyone have any specific advice or first hand experience of this please, or in a similar VAG product?

I've read such faults as the car cannot get beyond third gear, car cannot reverse on anything other than level ground and oil cooler water contamination, and I'm trying to ascertain if these are isolated events or more of a general pattern of unreliability.