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EDC vs 7G-Tronic / 9G-Tronic: which gearbox is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the EDC gearbox carries less risk than the 7G-Tronic / 9G-Tronic gearbox: 38/100 versus 44/100 (both moderate risk). The EDC gearbox has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutral»; the 7G-Tronic / 9G-Tronic gearbox has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Conductor plate and speed sensor failure (limp mode)».

Risk index

EDC

38

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

7G-Tronic / 9G-Tronic

44

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

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

14 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-Tronic / 9G-Tronic gearbox reliable?

The Mercedes-Benz 7G-Tronic (722.9, since 2003) and 9G-Tronic (725.0, since 2013) automatic gearboxes are fitted to the C-Class, E-Class, GLC, ML/GLE, Sprinter and Vito. They are reliable overall, but the 7G-Tronic has one well-identified fault - the conductor plate and speed sensors, which can trigger limp mode - and several models with either gearbox report jerks and stiffness when cold, according to workshops and owner testimonial roundups.[3][4][5][6][7]

See the 3 of the 7G-Tronic / 9G-Tronic gearbox faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of EDC and 7G-Tronic / 9G-Tronic
EDC7G-Tronic / 9G-Tronic
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)Automatic with torque converter and lock-up clutch; 7-speed (722.9) or 9-speed (725.0); rear-wheel drive or 4MATIC depending on application
Productionsince 2010[1][8][9]since 2003[3][10][11]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)38Moderate risk44Moderate risk
Documented faults43
Of high or critical severity31
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: Conductor plate and speed sensor failure (limp mode)
  2. Medium severity: Jerks, stiffness when cold and getting stuck in one gear
  3. Low severity: Harsh shifts in 1st because of a pending electronic adaptation after a repair
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]
  • 7G-Tronic (722.9, 2003-2021 in the cars covered here)[4][5][6][13]
  • 9G-Tronic (725.0, since 2013)[7][14]
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-Tronic / 9G-Tronic

See the 10 models with the 7G-Tronic / 9G-Tronic gearbox

Other comparisons

With the EDC gearbox

With the 7G-Tronic / 9G-Tronic 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. List of Mercedes-Benz transmissionsWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  4. Mercedes 7G-Tronic: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  5. Fiabilité Mercedes Classe C: pannes et avis (W204)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Fiabilité Mercedes Classe E: pannes et avis (W212)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Fiabilité Mercedes GLC: pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Renault Scénic IIIWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. Renault Clio IVWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  10. Cambio Mercedes-Benz 9G-TRONIC (2013): información técnicakm77.com · Motoring press · published 2013 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Mercedes ya tiene su cambio de 9 marchasAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 26 July 2013 · 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. Fiabilité Mercedes ML 3 (2011-2015): pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  14. Fiabilité Mercedes Classe E (2016-2023): pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French