A range recognition apparatus for an automatic transmission. A first contact is configured to generate a first range signal during a state of a range selector being within a first region. A second contact is configured to generate a second range signal during the state of the range selector being within a second region overlapping with the first region. A controller is configured to recognize that a first gear range of the automatic transmission is selected, when the first range signal is present and the second range signal is absent; to recognize that a second gear range of the automatic transmission is selected, when the first range signal is absent and the second range signal is present; and to recognize that the first gear range is selected, when the first range signal and the second range signal are both present.