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EAT6/EAT8 vs PowerShift: which gearbox is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the EAT6/EAT8 gearbox carries less risk than the PowerShift gearbox: 38/100 (moderate risk) versus 72/100 (high risk). The EAT6/EAT8 gearbox has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Valve body failure leading to immobilisation or gearbox replacement»; the PowerShift gearbox has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Juddering, hesitation and slipping of the dry clutch (DPS6)».

Risk index

EAT6/EAT8

38

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

PowerShift

72

High risk · 3 serious faults

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

17 sourcesHow we work

Is the EAT6/EAT8 gearbox reliable?

The EAT6 and EAT8 gearboxes, made by Aisin for PSA/Stellantis, are torque-converter automatics fitted to Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Opel models since 2014. Their most-cited weak point is the valve body: pressure or calibration faults cause jerking and hesitation, sometimes fixable with software, and in isolated cases failures that force a gearbox replacement. The manufacturer advertises the fluid as "lifetime", but several specialists recommend changing the oil every 60,000-80,000 km.[1][2][3][4]

See the 3 of the EAT6/EAT8 gearbox faults

Is the PowerShift gearbox reliable?

Ford PowerShift covers two different dual-clutch gearboxes: the dry-clutch DPS6, fitted to the Fiesta, Focus, B-MAX, EcoSport and C-MAX; and the oil-bath 6DCT450, fitted to higher-torque diesels in the Focus, Kuga, Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy. The DPS6 has racked up thousands of complaints about juddering and slipping, with a US court settlement in 2020; the 6DCT450 is more robust, but needs its oil changed every 50,000-60,000 km to avoid wearing out the clutch.[5][6][7]

See the 4 of the PowerShift gearbox faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of EAT6/EAT8 and PowerShift
EAT6/EAT8PowerShift
Technical data
TypeGearboxGearbox
Gearbox typeTorque-converter automatic with epicyclic gear sets, 6 or 8 speeds depending on version (EAT6/EAT8)Dual-clutch, 6-speed: dry DPS6/6DCT250 (around 250 Nm) or oil-bath 6DCT450 (up to about 450 Nm), depending on version
Productionsince 2014[1][8][9]2010–2023[5][6][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)38Moderate risk72High risk
Documented faults34
Of high or critical severity13
Worst severityHigh severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Valve body failure leading to immobilisation or gearbox replacement
  2. Medium severity: Jerking and hesitation when changing gear, especially when cold
  3. Medium severity: Gearbox oil advertised as "lifetime" that is best changed preventively
  1. High severity: Juddering, hesitation and slipping of the dry clutch (DPS6)
  2. High severity: Clutch pressure plate breakage (2018 and 2019 recalls on the Focus and C-MAX)
  3. High severity: Accelerated wear of the wet clutch in the 6DCT450
Most expensive documented repairup to €9,000Valve body failure leading to immobilisation or gearbox replacementPublished figure[2][11][12]up to €2,800Accelerated wear of the wet clutch in the 6DCT450Published figure[13]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • PowerShift DPS6 dry clutch, first generation (2011-2016)[5][6]
  • PowerShift DPS6 dry clutch, revised clutch (2016-2023)[16]
  • PowerShift 6DCT450 oil bath (2010-2023)[7][13][17]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

EAT6/EAT8

See the 11 models with the EAT6/EAT8 gearbox

PowerShift

See the 11 models with the PowerShift gearbox

Other comparisons

With the EAT6/EAT8 gearbox

With the PowerShift gearbox

Compare other engines

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Boîte auto EAT8 Peugeot / CitroënFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Fiabilité Peugeot 508 2 (2018), pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Fiabilité Opel Grandland X (2017-2024), pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Fiabilité Peugeot 2008 2 (2020), pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Ford Focus (third generation)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Ford Fiesta (sixth generation)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  7. Ford Mondeo MK5 (2014-2022): Typische Probleme & Rückrufegebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · published 9 August 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  8. Peugeot 308 IIWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. Peugeot 3008 IIWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  10. GetragWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  11. El cambio de aceite de la caja de cambios que evita una avería de 2.000 eurosMotor16 · Motoring press · published 24 September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  12. El mantenimiento de la caja de cambios que evita una avería de más de 2.000 eurosMotor16 · Motoring press · published 21 September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. Ford Kuga (Mk2, 2012-2019): Typische Probleme & Rückrufegebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  14. Fiabilité Peugeot 308 (2013-2021), pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  15. Fiabilité Peugeot 5008 2 (2017-2024), pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  16. Used Ford Fiesta (Mk7, 2017-2023) buyers guide: a solid second-hand superminiAuto Express · Motoring press · published 26 June 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026
  17. Ford S-Max: Typische Probleme & Rückrufegebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German