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EDC vs 7DCT: which gearbox is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the EDC gearbox carries less risk than the 7DCT gearbox: 38/100 versus 46/100 (both moderate risk). The EDC gearbox has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutral»; the 7DCT gearbox has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Jerking, hesitation and mechatronic faults at low speed».

Risk index

EDC

38

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

7DCT

46

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

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

13 sourcesHow we work

Is the EDC gearbox reliable?

The EDC covers several Renault dual-clutch gearboxes: the EDC6 (Getrag DC4 dry clutch on most entry-level engines, or DW6 wet clutch on higher-torque ones) and the wet-clutch EDC7, introduced in 2016 to fix the low-speed judder of the earlier unit. Many owners document early clutch wear, overheating that forces a safety neutral, and control electronics faults, especially on the EDC6.[1][2]

See the 4 of the EDC gearbox faults

Is the 7DCT gearbox reliable?

The 7DCT is the 7-speed dry dual-clutch gearbox that Hyundai and Kia have fitted to their compacts and SUVs since 2015. Several sources based on owner accounts name it as one of their most-cited weak points: jerking and hesitation at low speed, premature clutch wear and, in a minority of cases, early total failures, especially with the 1.7 CRDi diesel.[3][4][5][6]

See the 3 of the 7DCT gearbox faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of EDC and 7DCT
EDC7DCT
Technical data
TypeGearboxGearbox
Gearbox typeDual-clutch: EDC6 (6-speed; DC4 dry clutch on engines under 250 Nm, or DW6 wet clutch on higher-torque engines) and EDC7 (7-speed, wet clutch, internal code DW5)Dry dual-clutch, 7-speed
Productionsince 2010[1][7][8]since 2015[9][10][11]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)38Moderate risk46Moderate risk
Documented faults43
Of high or critical severity32
Worst severityHigh severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutral
  2. High severity: Control electronics fault: "check gearbox" warning and loss of gears
  3. Medium severity: Premature dry clutch wear and low-speed judder (EDC6/DC4)
  1. High severity: Jerking, hesitation and mechatronic faults at low speed
  2. Medium severity: Premature dry clutch wear in urban use
  3. Critical severity: Total failure or sudden gearbox lock-up, sometimes at low mileage
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,100EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutralPublished figure[1][12]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • EDC6 (6-speed: DC4 dry or DW6 wet)[1][2]
  • EDC7 (7-speed, wet clutch, DW5)[2][12]
  • 7DCT D7UF1 (high torque, up to 265 Nm; 1.6 T-GDi and 1.6/1.7 CRDi)[4][5]
  • 7DCT D7GF1 (low torque, around 172 Nm; entry-level 1.0 T-GDi)[13]
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

EDC

See the 11 models with the EDC gearbox

7DCT

See the 14 models with the 7DCT gearbox

Other comparisons

With the EDC gearbox

With the 7DCT gearbox

Compare other engines

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

Sources

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

  1. Fiabilité de la boîte EDC : problèmes en série ?fiches-auto.fr · Technical documentation · published February 2020 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Essai Renault Scénic 4 dCi 110 EDC7 : le test du Scénic automatiqueL'Argus · Motoring press · published September 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Tous les problèmes sur Hyundai i30 2017-2024Fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Tous les problèmes sur Hyundai Tucson 2015-2021Fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Tous les problèmes sur Kia Sportage 2016-2022Fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Tous les problèmes sur Kia Niro 2016-2022Fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Renault Scénic IIIWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Renault Clio IVWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. Hyundai i30Wikipedia (en inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  10. Hyundai TucsonWikipedia (en inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  11. Vídeo: montaje del doble embrague DDC de Hyundai y KiaAutopos · Technical documentation · published September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  12. FACUA alerta de la llamada a revisión de los Renault Megane IV GT por un problema en la caja de cambiosFACUA · Consumer association · published 26 April 2017 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. Tous les problèmes sur Hyundai Bayon 2021Fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French