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EDC vs ZF 6HP: which gearbox is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the EDC gearbox carries less risk than the ZF 6HP gearbox: 38/100 versus 46/100 (both moderate risk). The EDC gearbox has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutral»; the ZF 6HP gearbox has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Valve body and mechatronic failure: erratic shifts or a locked-up gearbox».

Risk index

EDC

38

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

ZF 6HP

46

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

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 ZF 6HP gearbox reliable?

The ZF 6HP is the six-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox that ZF built between 2000 and 2014, fitted by BMW (Steptronic), Audi (tiptronic, in the A6 and A8 quattro), Jaguar and Land Rover, before handing over to the ZF 8HP. It has a reputation for lasting a lot of kilometres, but with age it accumulates jerking, valve body and mechatronic faults, leaks and a controversy over the "lifetime" oil, which several workshops advise changing earlier.[3][4][5][6][7]

See the 3 of the ZF 6HP gearbox faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of EDC and ZF 6HP
EDCZF 6HP
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)Torque-converter automatic with Lepelletier planetary gear sets, 6-speed, longitudinal mounting
Productionsince 2010[1][8][9]2000–2014[3]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)38Moderate risk46Moderate 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: Valve body and mechatronic failure: erratic shifts or a locked-up gearbox
  2. Medium severity: Jerking and harsh shifts from converter wear and ageing oil
  3. Medium severity: Oil leaks from the sump or the gearbox seals
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,100EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutralPublished figure[1][10]up to €10,000Valve body and mechatronic failure: erratic shifts or a locked-up gearboxPublished figure[5][6]
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][10]
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

ZF 6HP

See the 9 models with the ZF 6HP gearbox

Other comparisons

With the EDC gearbox

With the ZF 6HP 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.ZF 6HP transmissionWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  4. 4.Fiabilité BMW Série 5 (2003-2010), pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. 5.Fiabilité Audi A6 (2004-2010), pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. 6.Fiabilité Audi A8 (2002-2010), pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. 7.Fiabilité Land Rover Range Rover Sport (2005-2013), pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. 8.Renault Scénic IIIWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. 9.Renault Clio IVWikipédia (fr) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.Jaguar XFWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  12. 12.Fiabilité BMW X3 (2004-2010), pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French