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EDC vs CVT Xtronic: which gearbox is more reliable?

The EDC gearbox and the CVT Xtronic gearbox tie on our risk index: 38/100 (moderate risk). The EDC gearbox has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutral»; the CVT Xtronic gearbox has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil leaks and internal wear that can force gearbox replacement».

Risk index

EDC

38

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

CVT Xtronic

38

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

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 CVT Xtronic gearbox reliable?

The Xtronic gearbox (Jatco JF015E on the compact models and JF016E/JF017E on the mid-size SUVs) is one of the most-cited weak points in owner fault roundups for the Nissan Qashqai, X-Trail, Juke and Pulsar, and the Renault Koleos II: jerking, a slipping sensation and internal wear that in the most advanced cases forces replacement of components or the whole gearbox. Nissan recalled a batch of 2013-2014 Qashqai II over a risk of loss of traction.[3][4][5][6][7]

See the 3 of the CVT Xtronic gearbox faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of EDC and CVT Xtronic
EDCCVT Xtronic
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)Continuously variable transmission (CVT) with variable-diameter pulleys and a metal belt or chain driven by hydraulic pressure; depending on the model, Jatco builds it as the CVT7 (JF015E) or CVT8 (JF016E/JF017E).
Productionsince 2010[1][8][9]since 2009[10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)38Moderate risk38Moderate risk
Documented faults43
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: Oil leaks and internal wear that can force gearbox replacement
  2. High severity: Limp mode and loss of traction due to rev fluctuations
  3. Medium severity: Jerking, vibrations and a slipping sensation under acceleration
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,100EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutralPublished figure[1][11]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][11]
  • Jatco CVT7 JF015E (compact applications)[3][5][12]
  • Jatco CVT8 JF016E/JF017E (larger applications)[4][6]
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

CVT Xtronic

See the 7 models with the CVT Xtronic gearbox

Other comparisons

With the EDC gearbox

With the CVT Xtronic 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. Fiabilité Nissan Qashqai 2 (2014-2021) : pannes recensées par les propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Fiabilité Nissan X-Trail 3 (2014-2022) : pannes recensées par les propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Fiabilité Nissan Juke (2010-2019) : pannes recensées par les propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Fiabilité Renault Koleos 2 (depuis 2017) : pannes recensées par les propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Nissan Qashqai II: Schwachstellen, Probleme und KaufberatungGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  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. JatcoWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  11. 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
  12. Fiabilité Nissan Pulsar (2014-2019) : pannes recensées par les propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French