does anyone have any ideas on why my car is doing this?

 

From what I've been told, the programming on the ecu is set so that each gear tops out at 4000 rpm before shifting. I had the same limit until I got my car chipped. Now, its gone. Something to consider...

 

Who told you this? Shifts are (should be) dictated by engine load at X rpm's in D. In tip, you should be able to hold every gear to redline if you want to regardless of engine load. I mean it wont let you shift to 4th gear @ 15 mph, and it will upshift at/after redline to keep you from over reving, but you should have pretty much full control. I'd have to guess your TCU is fooked. Get ahold of someone with vag com, or get vag com and scan the TCU for faults. Depending on what scanner places like autozone use, their equipment MIGHT be able to get into the TCU, but don't count on it. Vag com or dealer diag. is maybe the only way to access the TCU. Is there any way you can get a video of your RPM's while this is happening? I gotta see this!