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Multitronic vs EDC: which gearbox is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the EDC gearbox carries less risk than the Multitronic gearbox: 38/100 (moderate risk) versus 64/100 (high risk). The Multitronic gearbox has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Wear of the variator chain and cones»; the EDC gearbox has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutral».

Risk index

Multitronic

64

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

EDC

38

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

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

8 sourcesHow we work

Is the Multitronic gearbox reliable?

The multitronic is the continuously variable (CVT) automatic gearbox that Audi fitted, with front-wheel drive only, between 1999 and 2014: first the 01J code and, from 2007, the 0AW. It was fitted to the A4 from the B6, the A6 and the A5. Its reliability is limited - Gebrauchtwagenberater calls it Audi's "black sheep": the 01J concentrates control unit failures, jerking when pulling away and chain wear; the 0AW is notably more reliable, although it does not eliminate them entirely.[1][2][3]

See the 3 of the Multitronic gearbox faults

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.[4][5]

See the 4 of the EDC gearbox faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Multitronic and EDC
MultitronicEDC
Technical data
TypeGearboxGearbox
Gearbox typeContinuously variable transmission (CVT) with a link chain running between cones, with an electronically controlled multi-plate start-off clutch instead of a torque converterDual-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)
Production1999–2014[1][2][3]since 2010[4][6][7]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)64High risk38Moderate risk
Documented faults34
Of high or critical severity23
Worst severityCritical severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Wear of the variator chain and cones
  2. High severity: Control unit (TCU) failure and limp mode
  3. Medium severity: Jerking and vibration when pulling away from cold (multi-plate clutch)
  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)
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataup to €2,100EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutralPublished figure[4][8]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • Multitronic 01J (1999-2007)[1][3]
  • Multitronic 0AW (2007-2014)[3]
  • EDC6 (6-speed: DC4 dry or DW6 wet)[4][5]
  • EDC7 (7-speed, wet clutch, DW5)[5][8]
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

Multitronic

See the 8 models with the Multitronic gearbox

EDC

See the 11 models with the EDC gearbox

Other comparisons

With the Multitronic gearbox

With the EDC 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. MultitronicWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. MultitronicWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  3. Typische Probleme & Haltbarkeit der MultitronicGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  4. Fiabilité de la boîte EDC : problèmes en série ?fiches-auto.fr · Technical documentation · published February 2020 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Essai Renault Scénic 4 dCi 110 EDC7 : le test du Scénic automatiqueL'Argus · Motoring press · published September 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Renault Scénic IIIWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Renault Clio IVWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. 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