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EDC vs PowerShift: which gearbox is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the EDC gearbox carries less risk than the PowerShift gearbox: 38/100 (moderate risk) versus 72/100 (high risk). The EDC gearbox has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutral»; the PowerShift gearbox has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Juddering, hesitation and slipping of the dry clutch (DPS6)».

Risk index

EDC

38

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

PowerShift

72

High risk · 3 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 PowerShift gearbox reliable?

Ford PowerShift covers two different dual-clutch gearboxes: the dry-clutch DPS6, fitted to the Fiesta, Focus, B-MAX, EcoSport and C-MAX; and the oil-bath 6DCT450, fitted to higher-torque diesels in the Focus, Kuga, Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy. The DPS6 has racked up thousands of complaints about juddering and slipping, with a US court settlement in 2020; the 6DCT450 is more robust, but needs its oil changed every 50,000-60,000 km to avoid wearing out the clutch.[3][4][5]

See the 4 of the PowerShift gearbox faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of EDC and PowerShift
EDCPowerShift
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, 6-speed: dry DPS6/6DCT250 (around 250 Nm) or oil-bath 6DCT450 (up to about 450 Nm), depending on version
Productionsince 2010[1][6][7]2010–2023[3][4][8]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)38Moderate risk72High risk
Documented faults44
Of high or critical severity33
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: Juddering, hesitation and slipping of the dry clutch (DPS6)
  2. High severity: Clutch pressure plate breakage (2018 and 2019 recalls on the Focus and C-MAX)
  3. High severity: Accelerated wear of the wet clutch in the 6DCT450
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,100EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutralPublished figure[1][9]up to €2,800Accelerated wear of the wet clutch in the 6DCT450Published figure[10]
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]
  • PowerShift DPS6 dry clutch, first generation (2011-2016)[3][4]
  • PowerShift DPS6 dry clutch, revised clutch (2016-2023)[11]
  • PowerShift 6DCT450 oil bath (2010-2023)[5][10][12]
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 10 models with the EDC gearbox

PowerShift

See the 11 models with the PowerShift gearbox

Other comparisons

With the EDC gearbox

With the PowerShift 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. 1.Fiabilité de la boîte EDC : problèmes en série ?fiches-auto.fr · Technical documentation · published February 2020 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. 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. 3.Ford Focus (third generation)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  4. 4.Ford Fiesta (sixth generation)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  5. 5.Ford Mondeo MK5 (2014-2022): Typische Probleme & Rückrufegebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · published 9 August 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  6. 6.Renault Scénic IIIWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. 7.Renault Clio IVWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. 8.GetragWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  9. 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. 10.Ford Kuga (Mk2, 2012-2019): Typische Probleme & Rückrufegebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  11. 11.Used Ford Fiesta (Mk7, 2017-2023) buyers guide: a solid second-hand superminiAuto Express · Motoring press · published 26 June 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026
  12. 12.Ford S-Max: Typische Probleme & Rückrufegebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German