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MotorFiable

EDC vs 7G-DCT: which gearbox is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 7G-DCT gearbox carries less risk than the EDC gearbox: 36/100 versus 38/100 (both moderate risk). The EDC gearbox has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutral»; the 7G-DCT gearbox has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Incorrect oil level in the 7G-DCT: December 2020 campaign».

Risk index

EDC

38

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

7G-DCT

36

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

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

12 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 7G-DCT gearbox reliable?

The 7G-DCT is Mercedes-Benz's first dual-clutch gearbox: it has been fitted since 2012 to the A-Class (W176), B-Class (W246), CLA (C117) and GLA (X156); since 2018 its 8-speed evolution, the 8G-DCT, has been used in the second generation of those models (W177, W247, C118, H247). Owners report jerks when cold, clutch wear and, in a few cases, electronic faults with limp mode; there was a service campaign over an incorrect oil level on 2018-2020 units.[3][4][5][6]

See the 5 of the 7G-DCT gearbox faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of EDC and 7G-DCT
EDC7G-DCT
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)Dual-clutch, 7-speed (7G-DCT) or 8-speed (8G-DCT)
Productionsince 2010[1][7][8]since 2012[3][4]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)38Moderate risk36Moderate risk
Documented faults45
Of high or critical severity32
Worst severityHigh severityHigh 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: Incorrect oil level in the 7G-DCT: December 2020 campaign
  2. High severity: Mechatronics or control unit failure: limp mode and loss of gears
  3. Medium severity: Jerks and hesitation when pulling away or manoeuvring at low speed
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,100EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutralPublished figure[1][9]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][9]
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

7G-DCT

See the 8 models with the 7G-DCT gearbox

Other comparisons

With the EDC gearbox

With the 7G-DCT 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. 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. Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  4. Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W177)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  5. Fiabilité Mercedes Classe A (2018) - pannesFiches-auto.fr · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Mercedes A-Klasse W177 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published April 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  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. 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
  10. Fiabilité Mercedes Classe A (2012-2017) - pannesFiches-auto.fr · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  11. Fiabilité Mercedes CLA (2013-2019) - pannesFiches-auto.fr · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  12. Fiabilité Mercedes GLA (2013-2019) - pannesFiches-auto.fr · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French