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Gearbox, clutch and transmission

Problems with the clutch: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 183 faults with the clutch in 27 engines and gearboxes and 153 cars, affecting 276 models of car in our database. The most important by severity and frequency: juddering, hesitation and slipping of the dry clutch (DPS6) (PowerShift gearbox), clutch pressure plate breakage (2018 and 2019 recalls on the Focus and C-MAX) (PowerShift gearbox) and clutch pressure plate breakage in the PowerShift automatic gearbox (Ford C-Max II). At an independent garage, the repair costs from €340 to €4,000 depending on the engine or car.[1][2][3]

Documented faults
183
41 of high or critical severity
Engines and gearboxes
27
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
276
car generations in our database
Garage repair
€340–€4,000
Depending on engine and car, including VAT

18 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Clutch

The clutch connects and disconnects the engine from the gearbox. It is a wear item, but in some cars it wears out much sooner than normal because of weight, engine torque or design, and on dual-clutch or automated manual gearboxes the wear also depends on the electronic management.

What to do

If the engine revs rise without the car accelerating (slipping), the pedal vibrates or feels odd, or it is hard to engage gears, have it checked. Avoid driving with your foot resting on the pedal and pulling away with high revs. When replacing it, consider replacing the dual-mass flywheel too if it is already worn.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with the clutch. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with the clutch by engine

From most to least important (severity × frequency). Each page details the affected versions and years, symptoms, cost and how to check for it.

  1. 1High severityVery frequentFrequency: Very frequentPowerShiftJuddering, hesitation and slipping of the dry clutch (DPS6)Yes: the dry-clutch DPS6 judders, hesitates when pulling away and slips in a very large number of cars. Ford revised the clutch and software at least six times without fully solving it, and in the US a 2020 court settlement covered close to 600,000 Ford Fiesta and Focus cars.
  2. 2High severityVery frequentFrequency: Very frequentPowerShiftClutch pressure plate breakage (2018 and 2019 recalls on the Focus and C-MAX)Ford recalled the Focus III and C-MAX II with the Powershift gearbox over the risk of the clutch pressure plate breaking, in two successive campaigns (2018 and 2019) covering vehicles built between August 2012 and May 2018.
  3. 3High severityCommonFrequency: CommonPowerShiftAccelerated wear of the wet clutch in the 6DCT450The 6DCT450, with its oil-bath wet clutch, tends to wear its clutches sooner than expected if the oil is not changed every 50,000-60,000 km; it affects the automatic diesel versions of the Mondeo, Kuga, S-MAX, Galaxy and some Focus models.Repair (garage): €1,800–€2,800
  4. 4Medium severityVery frequentFrequency: Very frequent1.8 TDCiPremature wear of the dual-mass flywheel and clutchYes, it is the most-cited fault of the 1.8 TDCi: the dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear out sooner than expected, with vibrations, metallic noises at idle and jerking. It appears repeatedly in the Focus, Mondeo and S-Max, sometimes from 70,000-80,000 km.Appears at around 70,000 km
  5. 5Medium severityVery frequentFrequency: Very frequent2.2 i-CTDiDual-mass flywheel and clutch wearYes: the 2.2 i-CTDi's dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear out fairly often, with cases documented from 30,000 km and replacements already common between 100,000 and 160,000 km. It is well documented on the Civic, Accord and CR-V.Appears at around 30,000 km
  6. 6High severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.7 CDTIDual-mass flywheel and clutch wearA documented case of an Opel Meriva with this engine had to have the dual-mass flywheel and clutch replaced at 66,000 km, for €1,600 at a French garage. It is neither an official nor a Spanish figure, but it points to real wear of these parts.
  7. 7Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonDSG7 DQ200Premature dry clutch wear and judder when drivingYes: the DQ200's dry clutch wears out sooner than a wet one, especially in stop-start urban traffic. It warns of its condition with judder or jerking when pulling away, slipping when accelerating and, in advanced cases, a burning smell; specialists put its service life at between 120,000 and 180,000 km depending on use.Repair (garage): €500–€1,100Appears at around 120,000 km
  8. 8Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonMultitronicJerking and vibration when pulling away from cold (multi-plate clutch)Yes: with no torque converter, the multitronic pulls away using an electronic multi-plate clutch that can jerk or vibrate, especially when cold, if its plates are worn or the oil no longer has the right properties. It is one of the most cited fault symptoms of this gearbox.
  9. 9Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonDSG6 DQ250Wet clutch pack wear: slipping and vibrationsYes: although the oil bath makes it last longer than the dry clutch of the DQ200, the DQ250's wet clutch pack also wears with use, especially on cars driven hard. It warns you with vibrations or jerks when pulling away and in traffic jams, and with slipping when accelerating hard.Repair (garage): €450–€850
  10. 10Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonEDCPremature dry clutch wear and low-speed judder (EDC6/DC4)Yes: the dry-clutch EDC6 (DC4) is known for juddering and running roughly at low speed, and its clutch wears out sooner than one in a wet gearbox; several owners document clutch and complete gearbox replacements across different Renault models since 2010.
  11. 11Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTECPremature clutch and flywheel wearYes: several Jazz II owners and, above all, Civic VIII owners document early clutch and flywheel wear, with replacements as early as 35,000-90,000 km and the odd case of total failure while driving; it is the mechanical fault that recurs most in the reports for these two cars.Appears at around 35,000 km
  12. 12Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common7DCTPremature dry clutch wear in urban useThe 7DCT dry clutch wears with use, especially in stop-start urban traffic: it warns of itself with slipping and jerking that get worse with mileage, and ends up needing the complete clutch kit; a case documented in France puts it at €3,100 at 227,800 km.
  13. 13Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.0 / 1.25 MPiPremature clutch wear and slippingOwners of the Picanto, i10, Rio and Stonic with this engine describe clutches that slip or have to be replaced much sooner than normal: documented cases from 30,000 km and several more between 43,000 and 112,000 km. There is no manufacturer campaign and no defective part identified; it appears to depend on use.
  14. 14Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.0 VVT-iPremature clutch wearThe clutch is by far the most cited fault among owners of the Aygo, C1 and 107/108 with this engine: between 13% and 41% of the reviews collected by fiches-auto.fr for each of the four cars mention it.
  15. 15Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.4 D-4DPremature clutch and dual-mass flywheel wearThe 1.4 D-4D's clutch is frequently documented, almost always above 84,000 km, although there is the odd clearly premature case (a Yaris with the clutch replaced at 28,000 km); the dual-mass flywheel also fails, with proportionally more weight on the MINI One D.Appears at around 84,000 km
  16. 16Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.9 TDIPremature wear of the dual-mass flywheel and clutchThe dual-mass flywheel and the clutch are, according to the garages we consulted, the fault most cited by 1.9 TDI owners across several generations: vibrations, idle noises and slipping that end up requiring both parts to be replaced together.Repair (garage): €900–€1,500Appears at around 80,000 km
  17. 17Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonDSG7 DQ381/DQ500Jerking and juddering when pulling away and at low speedYes: like other dual-clutch gearboxes, the DQ381 and DQ500 can jerk or judder when pulling away and in heavy traffic, especially with a worn clutch or a cold gearbox. Several German specialists describe it as a known behaviour of these gearboxes, not always a serious fault.Repair (garage): €1,000–€2,000
  18. 18Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.5 dCiPremature dual-mass flywheel failure and clutch problemsThe 105 and 110 hp 1.5 dCi engines can break the dual-mass flywheel early, sometimes before 40,000 km. It warns you with vibrations at idle and metallic noises, and forces you to replace the clutch and flywheel assembly.Repair (garage): €700–€1,300
  19. 19Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional2.4 JTD / JTDm MultijetDual-mass flywheel and clutch wear on the 2.4 JTDThe flywheel of the 2.4 JTD appears in 11 mentions out of 163 testimonies (6 on the Alfa 159, 5 on the 156), often together with the clutch and between about 113,000 and 200,000 km. Auto Świat warns that on the 10V replacing the dual-mass flywheel can be expensive and that not all parts are easy to find.
  20. 20Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDualogicPremature wear or breakage of the Dualogic clutchThe Dualogic clutch can wear out or break sooner than expected: there are documented cases of a failed clutch ("HS") at 27,000 km on a Fiat 500 0.9 TwinAir and of breakage at 35,000 km on a 1.2, far below the usual life of a clutch.Appears at around 27,000 km
  21. 21Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFlyClutch and flywheel wear (0.9 TwinAir)The 0.9 TwinAir's clutch and flywheel can wear sooner than expected: there are documented cases in the Fiat 500 (27,000 km), the Fiat Panda III (73,000 km) and the Fiat Punto, where a faulty flywheel went on to damage the clutch. The more uneven running of a two-cylinder puts more strain on these parts.
  22. 22Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.1 and 1.4 CRDiDual-mass flywheel and clutch wearThe dual-mass flywheel and clutch on the 1.1 and 1.4 CRDi are cited as typical wear points with intensive urban use or towing, with the clutch becoming heavier or slipping and the dual-mass flywheel losing its function of filtering vibrations.
  23. 23Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional7G-DCTClutch wear with use: slipping and loss of smoothnessYes: like any dual-clutch gearbox, the 7G-DCT/8G-DCT wears its clutch discs with use, especially in stop-start city traffic, towing or short cold journeys; with mileage, slipping can appear that can no longer be corrected by software and means the clutch kit has to be replaced.
  24. 24Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.6 16v HR16DE / H4MPremature clutch and flywheel wearThe clutch and, in one case, the flywheel wear out earlier than expected in several owner accounts for the Qashqai I and Juke I with this naturally aspirated engine. It is always a minority of cases and does not indicate any internal block failure.
  25. 25Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.0 SCe (B4D)Clutch that slips or judders, especially when coldThe 1.0 SCe can have a clutch that slips or judders, especially with a cold engine. It is the issue that recurs most in the sources consulted, documented independently on the Sandero II, the Logan II and the Twingo III, without being described as a fault that damages the engine.
  26. 26Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVTClutch: premature wear and clutch cable anchor failureSeveral Swift and Ignis owners with a manual gearbox describe a clutch that bites abruptly and wears out sooner than expected; on the Ignis's AGS automated gearbox, gebrauchtwagenberater.de directly points to fast clutch wear in town driving. There is no manufacturer campaign for this cause.
  27. 27Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.33 Dual VVT-iPremature clutch wear and MMT gearbox actuator faultsThe manual clutch has been reported worn prematurely on the Yaris, Auris and iQ with this engine, and the MMT automated gearbox can fail because of the actuator that operates it, with repairs of €900 to €1,800 according to a German source; we have not found equivalent prices in Spain.Appears at around 35,000 km
  28. 28Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDSG7 DQ381/DQ500Accelerated clutch wear from towing and professional useTowing, heavy loads or frequent delivery work (Transporter, Tiguan, Passat) wear the wet clutch pack sooner than normal. A German specialist warns that replacement can come earlier than expected and is expensive.Repair (garage): €1,000–€2,000
  29. 29Low severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-iPremature clutch wear on the manual gearboxOn a minority of Corolla, Avensis and Corolla Verso cars with this engine and a manual gearbox, owners document a clutch replaced earlier than expected, in some cases already at 49,000-53,000 km; the sources describe no cause other than normal wear of the clutch disc.Repair (garage): €1,300–€1,700Appears at around 49,000 km
  30. 30Low severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.6 Dual VVT-iPremature clutch wear on the manual gearboxOn a minority of Auris and Verso cars with this engine and a manual gearbox, owners document a clutch replaced sooner than expected; the sources describe no mechanical cause other than normal disc wear, and there is no sign that it is a factory defect.

Engines and gearboxes with faults with the clutch

Problems with the clutch by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1High severityVery frequentFrequency: Very frequentFord C-Max IIClutch pressure plate breakage in the PowerShift automatic gearboxThe PowerShift automatic gearbox, a dry dual-clutch unit with no torque converter, had two successive Ford campaigns on the C-MAX II for the risk of the clutch pressure plate breaking, which between them cover vehicles built from 2012 to 2018. Owners also document numerous clutch replacements out of warranty, some before 100,000 km.
  2. 2High severityVery frequentFrequency: Very frequentFord Fiesta VIIJudder and clutch slip in the Powershift (DPS6) automatic gearboxThe Powershift (DPS6) automatic gearbox, a dry dual-clutch unit, has attracted many complaints of judder when pulling away, hesitation and clutch slip. Ford revised the clutch and software several times, and in 2020 a US court settlement also covered the Fiesta (2011-2016) alongside the Focus. In Spain it was sold with the 1.0 EcoBoost engine.
  3. 3High severityVery frequentFrequency: Very frequentFord Focus IIIJudder and clutch slip in the PowerShift automatic gearboxThe PowerShift automatic gearbox (DPS6), a dry dual-clutch unit with no torque converter, has piled up numerous complaints of judder when pulling away, vibration and clutch slip. Ford applied several clutch and software revisions, and in the US it reached a court settlement covering around 600,000 Focus and Fiesta owners.
  4. 4High severityCommonFrequency: CommonCitroën Xsara PicassoPremature wear of the dual-mass flywheel and clutch on diesel versions (especially the 1.6 HDi)On diesel versions of the Xsara Picasso, and in particular the 1.6 HDi 110, the dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear prematurely (in documented cases between 36,000 and 110,000 km), with vibration as the first symptom; fiches-auto.fr identifies this engine as one of the most problematic in the model on this point.Repair (garage): €1,300–€1,800Appears at around 36,000 km
  5. 5High severityCommonFrequency: CommonFord B-MaxClutch wear and gearbox faults, including the Powershift automaticfiches-auto.fr records 13 cases of gearbox failure and 11 of clutch failure among 127 Ford B-Max owner testimonials, concentrated mainly in the 1.6 Duratec 105 hp and 1.0 EcoBoost 125 hp versions; Auto Express adds that the Powershift automatic gearbox can suffer persistent judder.
  6. 6High severityCommonFrequency: CommonFord Focus IIDual-mass flywheel and clutch wear on the dieselsOn the diesels, above all the 1.8 TDCi 115, the dual-mass flywheel wears out and can damage the clutch, with vibrations at idle, judders when engaging a gear and, occasionally, leaks in the pedal's hydraulic circuit.Repair (garage): €1,800–€2,850
  7. 7High severityCommonFrequency: CommonFord Mondeo VClutch wear in the PowerShift automatic gearbox (6DCT450)The PowerShift dual-clutch automatic gearbox (6DCT450, of Getrag/Magna origin) fitted to the automatic diesel versions of the Mondeo V has a reputation for giving trouble: its clutches wear, and the oil should be changed every 50,000-60,000 km to extend its life.
  8. 8High severityCommonFrequency: CommonMINI Cooper R50Faults in the CVT automatic gearbox, the manual gearbox and the clutchAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the Mini R50 accumulates 22 gearbox mentions and 32 clutch mentions, and the CVT automatic variant is described as fragile and 'to be avoided'. Wikipedia confirms that the CVT and the manual gearboxes were fitted depending on the year.
  9. 9High severityCommonFrequency: CommonMINI Cooper R56Noise and premature wear of the manual gearbox and clutchIt is the most frequently cited non-engine fault of the Cooper R56: the manual gearbox can become noisy, whine or be hard to get into gear through wear of the bearings and synchromesh, sometimes with an oil leak; the clutch and, on diesels, the dual-mass flywheel also wear out early.
  10. 10High severityCommonFrequency: CommonMINI Countryman R60Premature wear of the clutch and flywheelThis is the most cited non-engine fault on the Countryman R60: according to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch and flywheel wear out from around 22,000 km. Wikipedia notes that Mini changed the clutch material and the software in November 2012.
  11. 11High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi A3 IIDual-mass flywheel breakage and clutch wear on manual gearbox versionsOn 2003 to 2005 vehicles, Germany's KBA attributed a risk of damage to the dual-mass flywheel to an incorrectly sized pressure reducer, according to gebrauchtwagenberater.de. Apart from that specific batch, numerous owners quoted by fiches-auto.fr document dual-mass flywheel and clutch breakages over a much wider range, between 35,000 and 165,000 km.Repair (garage): €4,000Appears at around 35,000 km
  12. 12High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q5 IIJerks and harsh shifts from the 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearboxOn versions with the 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox, owners and a website specialising in leased cars document jerks when pulling away and harsh or delayed gear changes, with clutch pack wear and mechatronic faults named as the causes.
  13. 13High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 3 F30Campaign over the clutch pressure plate bolts (manual gearbox)Yes: in July 2013 BMW recalled 3 Series F30 cars with a manual gearbox over a risk related to the clutch pressure plate bolts. Check with the chassis number whether your car has already been repaired.
  14. 14High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 5 E60Wear of the ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox and of the clutch and dual-mass flywheel assemblyThe 5 Series E60's ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox needs an oil change sooner than BMW suggests despite being advertised as "lifetime", and the clutch and dual-mass flywheel assembly on manual versions tends to wear out from around 160,000-200,000 km, according to fiches-auto.fr and gebrauchtwagenberater.de.Appears at around 160,000 km
  15. 15High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord EcoSportNoise and premature wear of the manual gearbox, and clutch wear on the Powershift automaticAccording to fiches-auto.fr, the EcoSport's manual gearbox can become noisy, hard to shift or fail prematurely for a noticeable number of owners; Auto Express adds that, among the automatic gearboxes, the dual-clutch Powershift suffers the most clutch wear.
  16. 16High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Fiesta VIIIVibrations and clutch wear in the Powershift automatic gearboxAuto Express warns that the Fiesta VIII's Powershift automatic gearbox can go wrong: it recommends feeling for vibrations and checking that gear changes are smooth before buying. It also points out that the clutch can wear quickly on some units.
  17. 17High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Galaxy IIIClutch pressure plate breakage on the manual gearboxAccording to the fiches-auto.fr page, Ford has issued two campaigns over the clutch pressure plate, which can break and cause a loss of drive while the car is moving. They affect cars built between 2014 and 2018, depending on the campaign date.
  18. 18High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord S-Max II2018-2019 recalls for clutch failures and Powershift automatic gearbox wearAuto Express documents two clutch-related recalls for the Ford S-Max, in July 2018 and February 2019 (the latter for a broken pressure plate on petrol versions); fiches-auto.fr adds the account of a Powershift automatic gearbox (2.0 TDCi 210 hp) that failed at 60,000 km.
  19. 19High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Transit ConnectClutch pressure plate breakageFord has recalled Transit Connect vans over a clutch pressure plate that can break while the vehicle is moving: three Safety Gate alerts (July 2018, January and December 2019) covering 2012 to 2018 production. One of them affects manual-gearbox 1.0 EcoBoost models built between October 2016 and May 2018.
  20. 20High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai i40Clutch pedal switch fault: the engine starts without pressing the pedalYes: Hyundai recalled i40s built between April 2011 and the end of March 2012 because the clutch interlock could fail and let the car start in gear without the pedal being pressed. The fix is to fit a modified switch.
  21. 21High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Santa Fe IClutch and gearbox failuresAccording to reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, there are 8 clutch cases and 7 broken gearbox cases among 103 reports on the first Santa Fe, with one clutch and flywheel repair costing more than 1,700 euros (a French price).
  22. 22High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalNissan Almera IIGearbox and clutch wear on the Nissan Almera N16According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the gearbox (11 mentions) and clutch (3) of the 2000-2005 Almera give trouble: wear, oil leaks at around 200,000 km and, in one case, a failed automatic gearbox at 105,000 km that cost €7,200 to replace.
  23. 23High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalNissan Juke IPremature clutch wear and, in serious cases, manual gearbox breakageFiches-auto.fr documents a clutch that slipped from 3,000 rpm in 3rd gear until it "died" at 50,000 km on a Juke 1.6 DIG-T 190, and a misaligned flywheel at 20,000 km on a 1.5 dCi. Caradisiac adds gears that are hard to engage on several engines and a manual gearbox that broke at 77,000 km with no manufacturer cover on another 1.6 DIG-T 190.Appears at around 20,000 km
  24. 24High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 308 IPremature clutch and dual-mass flywheel wearOn diesel versions, the dual-mass flywheel and clutch can wear out sooner than expected, with vibration when pulling away and difficulty engaging gears; fiches-auto.fr puts the full replacement at around €1,883 and places the earliest cases at around 30,000 km.Repair (garage): €1,883Appears at around 30,000 km
  25. 25High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 607Wear of the dual-mass flywheel and clutchThe fiches-auto.fr page records 20 owner reports for the 607 about the dual-mass flywheel and 8 about the clutch, with failures between around 42,000 and 280,000 km, some at 120,000 km.
  26. 26High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Captur IEDC automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox faultsYes: a public complaint to the OCU (the Spanish consumer organisation) and several owners document that the Captur's EDC dual-clutch gearbox can show the "check gearbox" warning and lose reverse and the even-numbered gears, with repairs ranging from around €1,000 up to complete replacement of the gearbox (prices in Spain).Repair: €1,000–€5,600
  27. 27High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Clio IVClutch pedal that loses travel and, in isolated cases, manual gearbox failureFiches-auto.fr records a Clio IV 1.5 dCi 90 whose clutch pedal went 'to the floor' at 35,000 km and another 1.5 dCi 75 that needed its manual gearbox replaced at 40,000 km. Caradisiac adds a clutch pedal that starts to squeak and a clutch that slips on a high-mileage car.Appears at around 35,000 km
  28. 28High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Scénic IIPremature wear of the clutch and dual-mass flywheelOn the diesel Scénic II the clutch and dual-mass flywheel can wear out early, with rattling at idle or when starting and, in some cases, the clutch master/slave cylinder loses pressure and the pedal goes to the floor.Appears at around 100,000 km
  29. 29High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S60 IIJerking of the Geartronic automatic gearbox and clutch faults on the Volvo S60According to fiches-auto.fr, there are around 11 gearbox and clutch cases: Geartronic with jerks and vibrations at low speed, and manual gearbox clutches failing at 64,000 and 158,000 km.Appears at around 64,000 km
  30. 30Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonAlfa Romeo 147Premature clutch wearAccording to fiches-auto.fr, the clutch is the Alfa Romeo 147's weakest point: it wears out sooner than expected on a large share of cars, with the pedal losing firmness and difficulty selecting gears.Appears at around 50,000 km
  31. 31Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonAudi A4 B6Early wear of the clutch and dual-mass flywheel (diesel)Several owners of 1.9 TDI versions document clutch and dual-mass flywheel failures on fiches-auto.fr between 75,000 and 160,000 km, with combined repairs of up to around €2,000 when both have to be replaced at once.Repair (garage): €1,000–€2,500Appears at around 75,000 km
  32. 32Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonAudi A4 B7Early wear of the clutch and dual-mass flywheel (diesel)Several owners of 1.9 TDI versions document clutch and dual-mass flywheel faults on fiches-auto.fr between 75,000 and 160,000 km, with combined repairs of up to around €2,000 when both have to be replaced at the same time.Repair (garage): €1,000–€2,500Appears at around 75,000 km
  33. 33Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonBMW X1 F48Delay in power engagement when pulling away on the 7-speed dual-clutch Steptronic gearboxIt is a known trait and not an isolated fault: on X1 F48 cars with the 7-speed dual-clutch (DKG) Steptronic gearbox, the engagement of power when pulling away is noticeably delayed, something Gebrauchtwagenberater.de recommends checking on the test drive.
  34. 34Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonCitroën Berlingo ISelf-adjusting clutch cable breaking or going out of adjustmentThe self-adjusting clutch cable is the most frequently cited non-engine fault on the fiches-auto.fr page for the Citroën Berlingo I (103 reports): a heavy pedal or a broken cable, generally around 40,000-90,000 km in urban use according to the Partner page.
  35. 35Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonCitroën C1 IPremature clutch wear on the Citroën C1 ICommon: it is the most-cited non-engine fault in C1 reports; there are cases of worn-out clutches between 20,000 and 42,000 km and a bill of 800 euros at 36,000 km.
  36. 36Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonCitroën C4 Picasso IIPremature wear of the clutch master cylinderThe C4 Picasso II's clutch master cylinder can weaken very early, sometimes from 40,000 km, on manual-gearbox versions. It is one of the faults used-car workshops cite most.Appears at around 40,000 km
  37. 37Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonCitroën C5 IIClutch and dual-mass flywheel wear on manual dieselsOn manual-gearbox diesel versions, the clutch and the dual-mass flywheel account for a very high number of cases in the reliability survey -up to 54 of 117 reports on the 2.0 HDi 140 hp-, wear that a German used-car guide confirms as a known weak point of the generation; the BVA6 automatic gearbox does not show the same pattern.Appears at around 20,000 km
  38. 38Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonDacia Duster IPremature wear and cold slipping of the clutch (dCi engine)On the Duster I with the 1.5 dCi diesel (85, 90 and 110 hp), Fiches-auto.fr and Caradisiac report numerous cases of a clutch that slips or judders when cold and wears out sooner than normal, some from as little as 4,500 km. Dealers do not always cover it outside warranty.Appears at around 4,500 km
  39. 39Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonFiat Punto IIPremature clutch wear on the Punto IIYes: the fiches-auto.fr page lists 36 cases of a worn clutch or a faulty release bearing, usually between 100,000 and 120,000 km, although some testimonials place it much earlier.Appears at around 26,000 km
  40. 40Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonFord Fiesta VClutch and gearbox wear, more pronounced on the Durashift ESTThe Fiesta V's clutch and manual gearbox wear fairly often across the range -- 20 clutch cases and 14 gearbox cases out of 237 reports -- a problem that gebrauchtwagenberater.de says is especially marked on the automated Durashift EST version.
  41. 41Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonFord Mondeo IVDual-mass flywheel and clutch wear (TDCi diesel)According to fiches-auto.fr, the dual-mass flywheel and clutch are "a major weak point" of TDCi versions of the Mondeo IV: with use they lose precision, cause vibrations and rattling, and wear out the clutch disc sooner than normal.
  42. 42Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonHyundai i20 IPremature clutch wear and difficulty engaging gears when coldThe clutch is the most frequently cited mechanical fault on the first-generation i20: fiches-auto.fr documents 12 cases out of 128 reports, with difficulty engaging reverse and fourth when cold; gebrauchtwagenberater.de independently confirms higher-than-usual clutch wear together with difficulty engaging first.
  43. 43Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonHyundai Santa Fe IIPremature wear of the clutch and dual-mass flywheelThis is the most repeated fault in the reports on the Santa Fe II: 42 clutch cases and 36 flywheel cases, more than any other component outside the engine. There is no manufacturer campaign; it comes from owner reports.
  44. 44Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonKia Rio IIIPremature clutch wear and difficulty engaging first or reverseThe clutch is the most frequently cited mechanical fault on the Kia Rio III: fiches-auto.fr records 35 cases out of 174 accounts (mainly on the 1.2 85 hp, with replacements from 2,500 km in one case), and gebrauchtwagenberater.de independently confirms above-average clutch wear along with difficulty engaging first gear when cold.
  45. 45Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonKia Sportage IIIPremature clutch and dual-mass flywheel wear on diesel versionsThe clutch and dual-mass flywheel are the most-cited mechanical weak point among diesel Sportage SL owners: fiches-auto.fr records dual-mass flywheel and clutch failures in a quarter of the 1.7 CRDi testimonies and in over a third of the 2.0 CRDi ones, with replacements documented from 56,000 km.
  46. 46Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonOpel Mokka APremature clutch wear and hydraulic actuation faultsThe clutch is the most cited non-engine fault in the fiches-auto.fr entry for the Mokka (2012-2016): 26 mentions out of 228 reports, with clutches failing between 38,000 and 60,000 km and one owner who had it replaced three times. The Mokka X (2016-2020) entry also cites wear of the hydraulic actuation (one case at 37,000 km).
  47. 47Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 107Premature clutch wear on the Peugeot 107 ICommon: it is the most cited non-engine fault; the listing counts 51 cases on the 68 hp 1.0i and cases of a worn-out clutch from 19,000 km, with a €1,200 bill at 37,000 km.
  48. 48Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 206Premature clutch wearOn the Peugeot 206 the clutch can slip or judder when pulling away earlier than expected, with a pedal or mechanism that stiffens and, in some cases, noise from the release bearing.
  49. 49Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 307Clutch and dual-mass flywheel wear (diesel versions)On diesel versions, especially the 2.0 HDi in 110 and 136 hp, the clutch and dual-mass flywheel can wear out sooner than expected, with vibrations, judder when pulling away or difficulty selecting gears.
  50. 50Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 407Clutch and dual-mass flywheel wear (diesel versions)On diesel versions, the clutch and dual-mass flywheel can wear out sooner than expected, causing vibration, judder when pulling away or difficulty engaging gears; it is one of the most-cited faults of the 407 outside the engine.
  51. 51Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot Partner ISelf-adjusting clutch cable breaking or going out of adjustmentThe self-adjusting clutch cable is the most frequently cited non-engine fault on the fiches-auto.fr page for the Peugeot Partner I (72 reports): a heavy pedal or a broken cable, generally around 40,000-90,000 km in urban use according to the Partner page.
  52. 52Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonRenault Kangoo IIThe clutch pedal comes away from the master cylinder and leaves the car with no gearsOn the Kangoo II, the mechanism that connects the clutch pedal to the hydraulic master cylinder can come loose or break, leaving the pedal slack and the car unable to engage any gear; there are documented cases from 15,000 km.Appears at around 15,000 km
  53. 53Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonRenault Laguna IClutch wear and manual gearbox faultsAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch wears or slips and the gearbox becomes noisy, stiff or loses gears (for example fifth). No official recall is on record.
  54. 54Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonSeat MiiManual gearbox hard to engage (first and reverse) and clutch wearThe manual gearbox is the weak point owners of this city car mention most: first and reverse are hard to engage, especially when cold, with crunching, and some clutches wear out early. It is a pattern in testimonials, not a manufacturer campaign.
  55. 55Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonŠkoda CitigoManual gearbox hard to engage (first and reverse) and clutch wearThe manual gearbox is the weak point that owners of this city car mention most: first and reverse are hard to select, especially when cold, with crunching, and some clutches wear out early. It is a pattern in testimonials, not a manufacturer campaign.
  56. 56Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonToyota Aygo IPremature clutch wear on the Toyota Aygo ICommon: the fiches-auto.fr page lists 56 clutch cases in 165 owner reports, with failures between 20,000 and 40,000 km and a bill of 1,800 euros at 40,000 km, out of warranty.
  57. 57Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonToyota Corolla VersoPremature clutch and flywheel wear on the manual gearboxAccording to the testimonies collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch of the Corolla Verso (bearing, disc and flywheel) is one of the most cited faults, with cases of replacement earlier than usual. It refers to the manual gearbox, not the robotised one.
  58. 58Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Golf IVThe clutch, dual-mass flywheel and manual gearbox can fail earlier than expectedYes: the clutch, the dual-mass flywheel (on diesels) and the 5-speed manual gearbox are, taken together, the non-engine fault most often cited by Golf IV owners. gebrauchtwagenberater.de also documents a specific pinion in that gearbox that can break on units with the 1.4, 1.6 petrol or 1.9 SDI engine built before July 2001.
  59. 59Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Golf VThe clutch, dual-mass flywheel and manual gearbox can wear earlier than expectedYes: on the MANUAL gearbox (the DQ250 DSG6 automatic has its own fault page), the clutch and dual-mass flywheel wear earlier than expected on both petrol and diesel, with noise at low revs on diesels when the dual-mass flywheel starts to fail.
  60. 60Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Polo IVThe manual gearbox, clutch and dual-mass flywheel can fail earlier than expectedYes: the manual gearbox is the most-cited non-engine fault among Polo IV owners, with internal noises and difficulty selecting gears; the clutch wears at around 100,000 km and, on diesels, the dual-mass flywheel can fail earlier than expected.
  61. 61Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonVolkswagen up!Manual gearbox hard to engage (first and reverse) and clutch wearThe manual gearbox is the weak point that owners of this city car mention most: first gear and reverse are hard to select, especially when cold, with grinding, and some clutches wear out early. It is a pattern in testimonies, not a manufacturer campaign.
  62. 62Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo 159Clutch wear and gearbox operating faultsThe Alfa Romeo 159 has built up reports of slipping clutches and gearboxes with operating problems, with faults documented from 19,000 to over 200,000 km.
  63. 63Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi A5 IDual-mass flywheel and clutch wear on manual gearboxesAccording to testimonies collected by fiches-auto.fr, the dual-mass flywheel (15 cases) and the clutch (12) fail on the A5 8T from around 80,000-160,000 km, with jerking or vibration. Multitronic and S tronic gearboxes are not included here.
  64. 64Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalBMW X1 E84Premature wear of the clutch and flywheel on the manual X1According to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch is the most cited point on the manual X1 E84: 48 mentions out of 315 reports, with vibrations, noise in first gear and wear between 32,000 and 95,000 km. There is no known official campaign.Appears at around 32,000 km
  65. 65Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalBMW X2 F39Automatic gearbox jerking and clutch pedal vibrationsAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, 4 owners cite jerking or gear selection faults in the 8-speed automatic gearbox, or difficulty engaging gears when cold in the manual, and others cite clutch pedal vibrations from 6,000 km. No official recall is on record.
  66. 66Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalBMW Z4 E85/E86Premature clutch wear and slipping when hotAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, 5 of 78 Z4 E85 owners cite clutch faults, with slipping when hot or problems engaging gear, from around 150,000 km. No cost is given.
  67. 67Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën Berlingo IIEarly clutch wear, especially on the ETG6 automated gearboxThe same reliability survey puts the clutch as the second most cited system (24 cases): it can slip, seize or wear its release bearing prematurely, above all on diesel versions and used vehicles carrying loads; one documented case reports clutch wear at just 37,000 km on the ETG6 automated gearbox.Appears at around 37,000 km
  68. 68Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën Berlingo IIIDifficulty engaging gears in the manual gearbox and clutch vibrationA reliability survey documents 4 cases of difficulty engaging gears (mainly 3rd, 4th and reverse) from 35,000 km, and 2 cases of clutch vibration or seizing with premature flywheel cracking from 28,000 km.Appears at around 28,000 km
  69. 69Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C3 PicassoClutch wear and manual gearbox faultsThe page records 26 clutch cases (between 15,500 and 128,000 km) and 24 gearbox cases with difficulty engaging gears, mainly on the diesels.
  70. 70Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C4 CactusPremature clutch wear and failure on the manual gearboxSeveral owners of manual C4 Cactus cars document clutch failures (the disc or the hydraulic release bearing mechanism) between 60,000 and 65,000 km, a short life for this type of part.Appears at around 60,000 km
  71. 71Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C4 IPremature wear of the clutch and flywheelIn the same survey, the clutch accounts for 61 cases: it can slip, judder or wear out sooner than expected, especially on the more powerful diesel versions, and several testimonials link the problem to deterioration of the flywheel.
  72. 72Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C4 Picasso IPremature wear of the clutch and dual-mass flywheelThe listing records 88 clutch reports (wear between 42,000 and 90,000 km) and 24 dual-mass flywheel reports, with more cases on the 1.6 HDi 110.
  73. 73Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDacia Duster IIPremature wear of the gearbox, clutch and transfer case on 4x4 versionsOn the four-wheel-drive 4x4 versions, the specialist press and several owners describe faster-than-usual wear of the gearbox, clutch and transfer case, with noises and, in some cases, failures that force expensive repairs.
  74. 74Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDacia LodgyPremature clutch wearIt is a recurring complaint in the fiches-auto.fr entry: the clutch can judder or wear out early, especially on loaded cars or those used in town. There are cited cases of replacement at 50,000 km and at 120,000 km.
  75. 75Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDacia Logan IPremature wear of the clutch and its actuating mechanismLogan I owners cite clutches that wear sooner than expected and a pedal that stiffens through fatigue of the cable or mechanism; on fiches-auto.fr there are 19 clutch mentions out of 347 reports. There is no official recall.
  76. 76Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDacia Logan IIDifficulty engaging fifth gear and reverse, with premature clutch wearOn some Logan II units it is hard to engage fifth gear and, above all, reverse, and there are cases of the clutch and flywheel being replaced after very few kilometres; the rest of the gearbox works normally according to the testimonies consulted.
  77. 77Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDacia Sandero IPremature clutch wearThe clutch is the most cited non-engine mechanical fault on the Sandero I on fiches-auto.fr: 32 mentions out of 413 reports, with cases between roughly 49,000 and 80,000 km. There is no public recall or bulletin.
  78. 78Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDS DS 3Premature clutch and flywheel wearThe DS3 entry has 35 clutch/flywheel mentions: clutches that slip or fail after few kilometres (one at 2,500 km after being replaced, another at 80,000 km) and pedals that lock.
  79. 79Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFiat Punto IIIClutch wear and stiffness of the manual gearboxThe Fiat Punto (Grande Punto/Punto Evo/Punto) with the conventional manual gearbox has accumulated testimonials of clutches that wear out early and of stiff gearboxes or faulty selector cables.
  80. 80Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord FusionClutch wear and Durashift manual gearbox faultsAccording to owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch and gearbox are the most frequently cited non-engine fault on the Fusion (28 of 206): clutches replaced at around 90,000 km, gears that stick and a reverse gear that grinds.
  81. 81Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Ka IIPremature clutch wear and noises from the manual gearboxAccording to testimonies collected by fiches-auto.fr, the Ka II has a number of cases of clutches worn out early (12 cases across both engines) and of a manual gearbox that is noisy or hard to engage (11 cases on the 1.2 69 hp).
  82. 82Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord S-Max IDual-mass flywheel failure and clutch wear on the diesel S-MaxThe testimonials record 22 cases of dual-mass flywheel or clutch trouble on the S-Max I, with vibrations and noises; one owner cites a quote of €1,800 in France, and a Spanish mechanic puts the repair generally above €1,000.
  83. 83Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHonda Accord VIIPremature clutch wear and squeaking pedal on the Honda Accord VIIIt is the most cited non-engine fault among owners: 17 clutch mentions among 154 testimonies, 11 of them on the 2.2 CTDi. Replacements between 40,000 and 240,000 km are described, along with a clutch that slips when cold and a pedal that squeaks.
  84. 84Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHonda CR-V IVPremature wear of the manual gearbox clutch and synchronisersAccording to the fiches-auto.fr entry, 8 of 142 CR-V IV reports mention the clutch or manual gearbox (heavy clutch, wear, synchronisers), with a clutch replaced at 75,000 km on a 1.6 i-DTEC 160 hp.
  85. 85Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai i10 IIPremature clutch wearAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, 5 of the 33 i10 owners (2013-2020) cite the clutch: one replaced it at 53,000 km and another describes the pedal sticking after half an hour in traffic jams. No official campaign is recorded.
  86. 86Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai i20 IIClutch wear in the automatic dual-clutch gearboxOn the Hyundai i20 II with the automatic dual-clutch gearbox, heavy town use with constant stop-start driving or towing speeds up clutch wear and can show up as jerking or abrupt pull-aways; the 1.4 MPI's torque-converter gearbox is more robust but less efficient.
  87. 87Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai TrajetPremature clutch wear on the diesel TrajetGerman Wikipedia notes that the Trajet's diesel did not come from the Sonata saloon and that its greater torque shortens clutch life, which in some cases lasts only around 100,000 km. It is not a manufacturer campaign and there are no statistics: it relies on forum reports cited by that source.
  88. 88Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia Carens IVClutch and flywheel failure at low mileageAccording to fiches-auto.fr, there are around 8 clutch and flywheel cases on the Carens IV: flywheels replaced at 20,000 and 40,000 km on a 2016 automatic and clutches failing between 35,000 and 45,400 km. There are also 5 gearbox cases, such as a sixth-gear pinion at 40,000 km.
  89. 89Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia Ceed IIIClutch wear and jerkiness in the dual-clutch automatic gearbox (DCT7)On the Kia Ceed III with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, heavy city use or towing speeds up clutch wear and can show up as jerking or abrupt take-offs; Hyundai-Kia has been dropping this type of gearbox in other models because of its reliability record.
  90. 90Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia Picanto IIPremature clutch wearAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, 4 of the 41 Picanto owners (2011-2017) cite the clutch: one died at 30,000 km, another wore out at 28,000 km and a third failed 800 km after the car was delivered.
  91. 91Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia Rio IVThe clutch, the weak point of the manual gearboxSeveral owner accounts point to the clutch as the Kia Rio IV's weakest point, with occasional difficulty engaging first or reverse and the odd case of jerking when pulling away, according to fiches-auto.fr and Gebrauchtwagenberater.de.
  92. 92Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia Sorento IIPremature clutch and flywheel wearAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch and flywheel are the most cited problem outside the engine on the Sorento II: 9 cases out of about 47, with a flywheel replaced at around 90,000 km and a broken bearing at 144,000 km.
  93. 93Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia StonicJerking in the 6iMT automated gearbox and clutch wear in the DCT7 gearboxThe Stonic's 6iMT automated gearbox can jerk when changing gear, and the DCT7 dual-clutch gearbox can wear its clutch early with heavy use in dense traffic or when towing; there are also accounts of a manual clutch failing after very few kilometres.
  94. 94Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMazda 2 IClutch wear and hard-to-engage gears on the 1.4 MZ-CD dieselOn the Mazda 2 DY 1.4 MZ-CD diesel, the Gebrauchtwagenberater notes that the clutch fairly often forces unplanned visits to the garage and that the gears are hard to engage. The source gives no mileage or cost.
  95. 95Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMazda 6 IIPremature clutch wear and difficulty engaging first gearThe manual gearbox clutch on the Mazda6 GH has limited durability and at times first gear is hard to engage at the first attempt, according to a German used-car guide; fiches-auto.fr also records a clutch failure case among the owners consulted.
  96. 96Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase A W169Premature clutch and dual-mass flywheel wear on CDI diesel versionsOn the CDI diesel versions, some owners describe faster-than-normal wear of the clutch and dual-mass flywheel, with metallic noise and vibrations at idle once the flywheel starts to fail.
  97. 97Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase B W246Premature clutch and dual-mass flywheel wear on manual diesel versionsOn diesel versions with a manual gearbox, especially the B 180 CDI, several testimonies describe earlier-than-normal wear of the clutch and dual-mass flywheel, with vibrations and metallic noises; it does not affect versions with the 7G-DCT automatic gearbox.
  98. 98Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi LancerClutch master cylinder pipe coming off because of an insufficient retaining clipIn 2010 the DVSA registered a campaign (R/2010/080) because the clip holding the pipe to the clutch master cylinder did not have enough strength: the pipe could come off and the clutch stop working. It was resolved with a modified, stronger clip. The DVSA gives no manufacturing dates and does not distinguish the generation.
  99. 99Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalNissan Micra IVPremature clutch wear (disc, pressure plate, release bearing and flywheel)According to reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the Micra IV's clutch is its weak point: 23 cases out of 76, with failures between 4,900 and 50,000 km, mainly on the 80 hp 1.2.
  100. 100Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalNissan X-Trail IPremature wear of the Nissan X-Trail clutchAccording to the fiches-auto.fr testimonies, the clutch is the most cited transmission fault on the X-Trail (16 cases), with very early replacements on some cars and others near 200,000 km. There is no known campaign.
  101. 101Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalNissan X-Trail IIPremature clutch wear on the Nissan X-TrailAccording to reports on fiches-auto.fr, the clutch is the most frequently cited transmission fault on the X-Trail (16 cases), with very early replacements on some cars and others close to 200,000 km. There is no known recall.
  102. 102Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalOpel Astra KPremature clutch wear in urban useAuto Express's used-car buying guide says that the Astra K's clutch wears out sooner than expected on used cars, especially in urban use and with relatively low mileage.
  103. 103Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalOpel Meriva BPremature clutch wear and manual gearbox noisesThe fiches-auto.fr page lists 13 clutch and manual gearbox cases on the Meriva B (out of 238 testimonials): a failed clutch at 90,000 km, reverse gear noise, the gearbox locking up on the motorway and gear lever wear at 25,000 km.
  104. 104Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 108Premature wear of the manual gearbox clutchAccording to testimonies on fiches-auto.fr, the clutch is the most frequently cited non-engine fault on the 108: 10 cases out of 75, with wear between 20,000 and 52,000 km, slipping and a biting point that is hard to judge.
  105. 105Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 207Premature wear of the clutch and manual gearboxOn diesel versions, the clutch (and the dual-mass flywheel that goes with it) can wear sooner than expected, with vibrations when pulling away or a heavier pedal than normal; the manual gearbox can also become noisy or hard to get into reverse.
  106. 106Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 3008 IJerking from the BMP6 robotised gearbox and clutch wearThe BMP6 robotised gearbox can jerk or hesitate when pulling away if the system does not manage the clutch bite point well; on diesel versions, the dual-mass flywheel and clutch can also wear sooner than expected.
  107. 107Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 5008 IClutch and dual-mass flywheel wear5008 owner reports include 36 cases of clutch trouble and 26 of dual-mass flywheel trouble, with more wear on diesels because of the car's weight. This is a pattern among owners, not a campaign.
  108. 108Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot Partner IIPremature clutch wearThe clutch accounts for 18 cases in the same survey: it can slip, judder or develop a noisy release bearing, with one documented case of replacement at 40,000 km on the 1.6 110 hp version.
  109. 109Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Clio IIWear of the manual gearbox and clutchThe Clio II's manual gearbox can become stiff and noisy because of wear in the bearings and synchronisers, while the clutch slips or fails to disengage fully when the cable or mechanism becomes fatigued.
  110. 110Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Kangoo IPremature clutch wear and manual gearbox faultsThe testimonies record clutches failing from 78,000 km on a 1.4 and gearboxes breaking down around 100,000-120,000 km on diesel engines. One owner cites €1,300 (in Spain) for gearbox and clutch, but it is an isolated case.
  111. 111Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Koleos IPremature clutch wearAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, 12 owners of the Koleos I cite clutch problems, including one clutch that failed several times in two months and another that made noises at 900 km. There is no official recall.
  112. 112Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Mégane IClutch wear and manual gearbox faultsAccording to the testimonies collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch wears or slips and the gearbox becomes noisy, stiff or loses gears (for example fifth). No official recall is recorded.
  113. 113Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault ModusPremature clutch wear and noise in the manual gearboxOn the Modus, especially on diesel versions used in town, the clutch can slip, judder or wear out sooner than expected; the manual gearbox can also become noisier or find it hard to engage a gear as the mileage builds up.
  114. 114Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Scénic IClutch wear and manual gearbox faultsAccording to the testimonies collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch wears or slips and the gearbox becomes noisy, stiff or loses gears (for example fifth). No official recall is recorded.
  115. 115Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Trafic IIClutch actuator fault in the Quickshift6 automated gearboxAuto Express reports complaints about the optional Quickshift6 automated gearbox on the Trafic II: the clutch actuator mechanism gives trouble and can be expensive to repair. The Primastar and the Vivaro A, which share the drivetrain, have the same gear selection problem described.
  116. 116Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Twingo IIPremature wear of the clutch and its release bearingThere are owners with a worn-out clutch at 50,000 km because of the release bearing, and cases of a broken reverse gear cable at 80,000 km. These are fiches-auto.fr reports, with no official campaign.
  117. 117Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSeat ExeoPremature failure of the clutch, dual-mass flywheel and manual gearboxAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, there is a 2.0 TDI 143 hp with a failed dual-mass flywheel and clutch at 46,000 km and another with a gearbox replaced at 1,790 km and persistent noises. These are specific owner cases, not a recall.
  118. 118Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSeat Ibiza IVThe clutch and manual gearbox can fail at low mileageOn the manual gearbox (not the DSG, which has its own page), several owners report the clutch and gearbox failing between 7,000 and 60,000 km, much earlier than normal, with noise, difficulty selecting a gear or a broken release bearing.
  119. 119Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSeat León IIIClutch and dual-mass flywheel wear on the manual gearboxOn the 6-speed manual gearboxes, the Leon III's clutch and dual-mass flywheel show their age with a higher biting point and, in some cases, a metallic rattle from cold. A specialist workshop puts their typical life at between 80,000 and 130,000 km.Repair (garage): €340–€520Appears at around 80,000 km
  120. 120Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSeat Toledo IIPremature clutch wear and manual gearbox synchromesh wearAccording to fiches-auto.fr, several owners replaced the clutch at around 110,000 km, with three mentions of a slipping clutch and another three of synchromesh or manual gearbox problems (up to 135,000 km). This is a pattern drawn from owner reports, not a manufacturer recall.
  121. 121Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda Fabia IIThe clutch, dual-mass flywheel or manual gearbox can fail earlier than expectedOn the manual gearbox (not the DSG, which has its own page), several owners report the gearbox becoming progressively noisy or breaking between 67,000 and 150,000 km, along with a worn clutch and dual-mass flywheel.
  122. 122Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda Octavia IIIDual-mass flywheel and clutch wear on manual dieselsOn diesel versions with a manual gearbox, a specialist garage documents premature dual-mass flywheel wear, more common if the car does short urban journeys and many cold starts, which shows up as a metallic knocking on starting or when pressing the clutch.Repair (garage): €700–€900
  123. 123Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki IgnisPremature clutch wear and stretched clutch cableAccording to owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch is the most repeated non-engine complaint on the Ignis: judder, poor progression and premature wear, with replacements cited at 9,000 and 37,000 km. There is no known official recall on this.
  124. 124Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki SplashPremature clutch wearAccording to owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch fails sooner than expected for several owners (clutch dead at 20,000 km on a 1.2). There is no official recall: it is a pattern in owner reports.
  125. 125Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki Swift IIIPremature clutch wearAccording to testimonies collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch fails earlier than expected for several owners (47,500 km in one case and 120,000 km with the gearbox included in another). There is no official campaign: it is a pattern in testimonies.
  126. 126Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki Swift IVPremature clutch wearAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch fails earlier than expected for several owners (47,000 and 70,000 km on two diesels, with flywheel). There is no official campaign: it is a pattern in owner reports.
  127. 127Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota Avensis T25Premature clutch wear on the Toyota Avensis T25According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch is the most-cited non-engine fault on the 2003-2009 Avensis: 57 cases out of 370, with failures from around 49,000 km up to 200,000 km on the 2.0 D4D 116 hp.
  128. 128Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota Aygo IIThe clutch of the x-shift automated gearbox wears out prematurelyOn versions with the single-clutch x-shift automated gearbox, several owners describe noise from the release bearing and slipping that is hard to modulate, with the clutch disc wearing out sooner than expected in heavy urban use.
  129. 129Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota iQPremature clutch wearAccording to fiches-auto.fr, the iQ's clutch appears in 4 reports out of 59, which, together with gearbox and differential cases, are the model's most cited non-engine faults.
  130. 130Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen BoraClutch and manual gearbox wear on a 20-year-old carOn the Golf IV, the Bora's sister platform, fiches-auto.fr records 46 clutch cases and 44 manual gearbox cases with play in the synchronisers and bearings on high-mileage cars. This is indirect data, not for the Bora.
  131. 131Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Golf VIWear of the clutch, flywheel and manual gearboxAdding up clutch, flywheel and manual gearbox, the transmission accounts for 141 of the 666 Golf VI owner responses in a fiches-auto.fr reliability survey, with the source not distinguishing which gearbox or engine version predominates in each report.
  132. 132Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Polo VThe clutch, dual-mass flywheel or manual gearbox can fail sooner than expectedOn the manual gearbox (not the DSG automatic, which has its own page), several owners report gearbox noise, difficulty engaging a gear, or a worn clutch and dual-mass flywheel between 25,000 and 90,000 km, well below what is normal for these parts.
  133. 133Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo C30Premature wear of the clutch and dual-mass flywheel on the diesel Volvo C30According to the fiches-auto.fr reports, the C30's clutch accounts for 18 cases between clutch and flywheel, mostly on diesels, some at barely 30,000-45,000 km. It is an owner pattern, not an official campaign.Appears at around 30,000 km
  134. 134Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S40 IIBreakage of the plastic rod in the Volvo S40's clutch master cylinderThe rod connecting the clutch master cylinder to the pedal can snap suddenly and without warning, after which the clutch no longer disengages. UK campaign R/2011/127 (C30, S40, V50 and C70) replaces the cylinder with one that has a metal rod instead of a plastic one.
  135. 135Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V50Breakage of the plastic rod in the Volvo V50's clutch master cylinderThe rod connecting the clutch master cylinder to the pedal can snap suddenly and without warning, after which the clutch no longer disengages. UK campaign R/2011/127 (C30, S40, V50 and C70) replaces the cylinder with one that has a metal rod instead of a plastic one.
  136. 136High severityRareFrequency: RareFiat 500Premature clutch wear and jumps into neutral on the Dualogic gearboxTestimonies from Fiat 500 owners with the Dualogic robotised gearbox describe a clutch that wears out sooner than expected (cases between 27,000 and 55,000 km) and involuntary jumps into neutral or refused gear changes in automatic mode; there is no official campaign or specialist press to confirm it.Appears at around 27,000 km
  137. 137High severityRareFrequency: RareFiat TipoPremature clutch wear on the manual gearboxTestimonies from Fiat Tipo owners with a manual gearbox describe clutch failures from around 38,000 km, with cases at 52,000 and 66,000 km, as well as occasional jamming when selecting third gear; there is no official campaign or specialist press to confirm it.Appears at around 38,000 km
  138. 138High severityRareFrequency: RareFord Kuga IIClutch pressure plate breakage on EcoBoost versions with a manual gearboxFord recalled Kuga models with the EcoBoost engine and six-speed manual gearbox built between August 2013 and June 2016, and again between June 2016 and May 2018, because the clutch pressure plate could fracture.
  139. 139High severityRareFrequency: RareHyundai IoniqRecall for possible hydraulic leak in the DCT gearbox clutch actuator (fire risk)According to fiches-auto.fr, Hyundai recalled the Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid built between 15 December 2015 and 20 September 2017 because of a possible hydraulic fluid leak in the clutch actuator of the DCT gearbox, with a risk of fire.
  140. 140High severityRareFrequency: RareRenault Clio VClutch that slips or breaks prematurely on the manual gearboxSeveral Clio V owners with a manual gearbox describe a clutch that slips or even breaks at very low mileage, and gears that are hard to select; one case mentions replacing the whole gearbox at 15,000 km. There are no official campaigns or specialist press to confirm it.
  141. 141High severityRareFrequency: RareRenault Mégane IIIClutch failure and premature flywheel breakage on the 1.5 dCi 105 and 1.9 dCi 130On the 1.5 dCi 105 and 1.9 dCi 130 the clutch master/slave cylinder can fail, rarely, and the flywheel can break prematurely, less often, which means the whole clutch and flywheel assembly has to be replaced.
  142. 142High severityRareFrequency: RareSeat AlteaA miscalculated clutch pressure regulator could damage the dual-mass flywheelThe KBA documented that, on manual-gearbox Altea cars built between 2004 and 2006, a miscalculated pressure regulator in the clutch circuit could damage the dual-mass flywheel. It does not affect versions with the DSG6 (DQ250) automatic gearbox, which has its own page.
  143. 143High severityRareFrequency: RareSeat León IAn incorrectly calculated clutch pressure regulator could damage the dual-mass flywheelThe KBA documented that, on León I units built between 2004 and 2006, an incorrectly calculated pressure regulator in the clutch circuit could damage the dual-mass flywheel.
  144. 144Medium severityRareFrequency: RareCitroën C1 IIPremature clutch wearAccording to fiches-auto.fr, the C1's clutch (2014-2021) appears in 2 reports out of 44, one of them at only 9,800 km, with a difficult biting point and vibrations when pulling away.Appears at around 9,800 km
  145. 145Medium severityRareFrequency: RareFord Ka+Clutch and manual gearbox: early failures, noises and difficult reverse gearAccording to testimonials on fiches-auto.fr, the Ka+ racks up clutch failures (one at 10,100 km, another at 50,000 km) and manual gearbox faults, with clicks, jerks and difficult reverse gear on the 1.2 Ti-VCT 85 hp.
  146. 146Medium severityRareFrequency: RareNissan Note IISlipping or failing clutch on the Note 1.5 dCi 90The fiches-auto.fr fiche cites 2 cases of a slipping or failing clutch among the 20 testimonials for the Note II 1.5 dCi 90, a very small sample.
  147. 147Medium severityRareFrequency: RareNissan PulsarClutch and flywheel wearThe fiches-auto.fr file cites between 4 and 6 cases of faulty clutch or flywheel among 63 Pulsar owner reports.
  148. 148Medium severityRareFrequency: RarePeugeot Partner IIIClutch judder and cracked flywheelThe Berlingo 3 and Rifter entries cite clutch judder and squealing when pulling away; on one Berlingo 3 the flywheel cracked at 28,000 km. That is 3 reports in total.
  149. 149Medium severityRareFrequency: RareRenault Scénic IIIClutch release bearing (butée) failure on the 1.9 dCi 130The clutch release bearing (butée) on the 1.9 dCi 130 can fail prematurely, although Caradisiac describes it as 'fairly rare'; the clutch assembly can also wear with normal use on the other engines.
  150. 150Medium severityRareFrequency: RareToyota VersoBroken clutch release bearing and flywheel faults on the Toyota VersoAccording to fiches-auto.fr, five Verso reports mention clutch problems, such as a clutch release bearing that broke at five years or a faulty flywheel. Four other cases cite gearbox faults, one costing 5,000 euros at 115,000 km.
  151. 151Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C2Premature clutch wear on the Citroën C2According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the C2 clutch appears in around 24 mentions out of 235 reports, with premature wear between 45,000 and 100,000 km. No public recall or bulletin is on record.
  152. 152Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën XsaraWear of the clutch and release bearing on the Citroën XsaraThe Xsara's clutch wears and becomes heavy, especially on diesels and in town use, according to fiches-auto.fr, which counts between 82 and 100 mentions of clutch and gearbox out of 495 owner reports. No public recall is recorded.
  153. 153Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Clio IIIClutch pedal creaking and clutch assembly wearSome Clio IIIs develop creaking in the clutch pedal that needs lubrication, and the clutch assembly may need replacing after many kilometres; it is one of the categories with the most complaints recorded by owners.

Problems with the clutch by make

Problems with the clutch in your car

112 cars have several documented faults with the clutch. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect them, by engine and by year.

Alfa Romeo 1
Audi 6
Citroën 2
Dacia 7
Fiat 4
Ford 13
Honda 2
Hyundai 5
Kia 6
Lancia 1
Mercedes-Benz 1
MINI 1
Nissan 5
Opel 1
Peugeot 2
Renault 14
Seat 7
Škoda 4
Suzuki 3
Toyota 13
Volkswagen 14

How much it costs to repair a fault with the clutch

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

OBD fault codes with the clutch

The codes the ECU usually stores when this part fails: what they mean, causes and what to check.

Frequently asked questions

Which engines have the most faults with the clutch?

By severity and frequency, the PowerShift (juddering, hesitation and slipping of the dry clutch (DPS6), high severity), the 1.8 TDCi (premature wear of the dual-mass flywheel and clutch, medium severity), the 2.2 i-CTDi (dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear, medium severity), the 1.7 CDTI (dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear, high severity), the DSG7 DQ381/DQ500 (jerking and juddering when pulling away and at low speed, medium severity) and the DSG7 DQ200 (premature dry clutch wear and judder when driving, medium severity). In total we have documented 27 engines and gearboxes with faults with the clutch.

Which cars have problems with the clutch?

Among those we have analysed: Ford C-Max II (clutch pressure plate breakage in the PowerShift automatic gearbox), Ford Fiesta VII (judder and clutch slip in the Powershift (DPS6) automatic gearbox), Ford Focus III (judder and clutch slip in the PowerShift automatic gearbox), Citroën Xsara Picasso (premature wear of the dual-mass flywheel and clutch on diesel versions (especially the 1.6 HDi)), Ford B-Max (clutch wear and gearbox faults, including the Powershift automatic), Ford Focus II (dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear on the diesels), Ford Mondeo V (clutch wear in the PowerShift automatic gearbox (6DCT450)) and MINI Cooper R50 (faults in the CVT automatic gearbox, the manual gearbox and the clutch). In total, 153 cars with documented faults with the clutch.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with the clutch?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At an independent garage, from €340 to €4,000; at a dealer, from €1,000 to €5,600, including VAT, based on the 17 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is EDC automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox faults (Renault Captur I).

What symptoms does a fault with the clutch cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: clutch slipping, clutch pedal heavy, juddering or not returning, gearbox will not select gears or drops into neutral, gearbox or clutch noise or rattle, abnormal vibrations or unstable idle and judder when pulling away or at low speed (automatic gearbox).

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. 1.Problemas Seat Leon 3 | Fallos y averías más frecuentesTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  2. 2.Posible fallo en volante bimasa o collarín...Club de Propietarios del Seat León · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. 3.Fiabilité Audi A3 (2003-2012): pannes et avis de propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. 4.Fallos Caja Cambios - Reclamaciones y opiniones RENAULT ESPAÑAOCU · Consumer association · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  5. 5.Revise caja de cambios (Automática)Club Foro Renault Captur (solocaptur.com) · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  6. 6.Fiabilité et pannes du Ford Focus 2 (2004-2010)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. 7.Ford Kuga (Mk2, 2012-2019): Typische Probleme & Rückrufegebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  8. 8.Fiabilité Audi A4 (2001-2007)fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. 9.Probleme & Schwachstellen beim DSGGebrauchtwagenberater · Technical documentation · published March 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  10. 10.Volante bimasa, averías y precio de sustituciónDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 3 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. 11.Diesels : volant moteur défectueuxFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · published 17 October 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  12. 12.Peugeot 308 : pannes et fiabilitéfiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  13. 13.Fiabilité Citroën Xsara Picasso (1999-2010) : pannes et rappelsfiches-auto.fr · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  14. 14.Toyota Corolla Verso (2004-2009) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  15. 15.Tous les problèmes sur Volkswagen Golf IVfiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  16. 16.Fallo en la mecatrónica de la caja DSG: Ojo a estos modelosGT Autos · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  17. 17.Reparar DSG en España: Precios RealesTCA - Tu Cambio Automático · Technical documentation · published 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  18. 18.Skoda Octavia Problemas | Fallos y averías más frecuentesTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish