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Gearbox, clutch and transmission

Problems with the dual-clutch gearbox: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 60 faults with the dual-clutch gearbox in 7 gearboxes and 35 cars, affecting 112 models of car in our database. The most important by severity and frequency: mechatronic unit failure: pressure accumulator, pump and cracked housing (DSG7 DQ200 gearbox), juddering, hesitation and slipping of the dry clutch (DPS6) (PowerShift gearbox) and clutch pressure plate breakage (2018 and 2019 recalls on the Focus and C-MAX) (PowerShift gearbox). At an independent garage, the repair costs from €450 to €3,100 depending on the engine or car.[1]

Documented faults
60
37 of high or critical severity
Gearboxes
7
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
112
car generations in our database
Garage repair
€450–€3,100
Depending on engine and car, including VAT

13 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Dual-clutch gearbox (DSG, EDC, PowerShift...)

Dual-clutch gearboxes (DSG at Volkswagen, EDC at Renault, PowerShift at Ford, 7DCT at Hyundai and Kia, 7G-DCT at Mercedes...) preselect the next gear so they can shift without interruption. They combine clutches, manual gearbox mechanics and a mechatronic unit that manages everything, and some versions have documented clutch, mechatronic or software faults.

What to do

Jerking when pulling away or at low speed, harsh shifts, warnings on the dashboard or the gearbox dropping into neutral are reasons for a check. Keep to the gearbox oil changes even if it is advertised as "lifetime" and ask about software updates and extended manufacturer warranties.

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 dual-clutch gearbox. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with the dual-clutch gearbox 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 frequentDSG7 DQ200Mechatronic unit failure: pressure accumulator, pump and cracked housingYes: the mechatronic unit is the DQ200's most cited weak point. Its pressure accumulator and hydraulic pump can fail because of a housing design defect, with fault warnings, limp mode or loss of drive; Volkswagen has acknowledged the problem with service actions and software updates.Repair (garage): €600–€2,200
  2. 2High 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.
  3. 3High 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.
  4. 4High 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
  5. 5High severityCommonFrequency: Common7DCTJerking, hesitation and mechatronic faults at low speedYes: several sources based on owner accounts name the 7DCT as one of the most-cited weak points of these models, with jerking and hesitation on pulling away, missing gears (sometimes reverse) and, on the most affected diesels, more than a third of the accounts mentioning gearbox faults.
  6. 6High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDSG6 DQ250Mechatronic unit failure: solenoid valves and temperature sensorYes, although less than on the dry-clutch DQ200: the DQ250 mechatronic unit can fail because of defective solenoid valves or an incorrect reading of the clutch temperature, with limp mode, harsh shifts or fault warnings on the dashboard. Volkswagen recalled vehicles in the US and Australia in 2009 for this reason.Repair (garage): €850–€3,100
  7. 7High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalEDCEDC gearbox overheating and safety neutralYes: several owners document that the EDC gearbox can drop into neutral or lose its gears when it overheats under sustained load, and Renault even updated the EDC7 (DW5) gearbox software of the first Mégane IV GT cars because the overheating increased the risk of an accident.Repair (garage): €2,100
  8. 8High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalEDCControl electronics fault: "check gearbox" warning and loss of gearsYes: a fault in the sensors or switches that tell the control unit the position of each clutch (the "manocontact") can make the EDC gearbox lose the gears associated with one of the two clutches, for example only the even gears or only reverse, with a "check gearbox" warning on the dashboard.
  9. 9High severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional7G-DCTIncorrect oil level in the 7G-DCT: December 2020 campaignYes: in December 2020 Mercedes-Benz recalled a range of vehicles with the 7G-DCT gearbox built between January 2018 and February 2020 because of an incorrect oil level in the gearbox, which can lead to oil loss; the repair under the campaign is free of charge at the official dealer.Repair: €0
  10. 10High severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional7G-DCTMechatronics or control unit failure: limp mode and loss of gearsYes: a minority of owners document electronic failures of the 7G-DCT's mechatronics or control unit -sensors, synchronisation between shafts or the control unit itself- that trigger a limp mode with loss of gears or, in the most serious cases, immobilise the car.
  11. 11High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDSG7 DQ381/DQ500Mechatronic unit and oil pump failureYes, though less than on the dry DQ200: the mechatronic unit, which on the DQ381 includes an auxiliary electric oil pump, can fail and leave the gearbox in limp mode or without enough pressure. Specialists describe it as mechanical wear, not a systemic design defect.Repair (garage): €1,300–€2,200
  12. 12Medium 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
  13. 13Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonDSG7 DQ200Reverse and 6th gear selector fork bearing failureYes, mainly on 0AM units: the bearing that guides the reverse and 6th gear selector fork can wear and leave the fork unsupported, so that the car stops engaging those gears or loses reverse, with fault warnings in the instrument cluster.
  14. 14Medium 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
  15. 15Medium 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.
  16. 16Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonPowerShiftCold hesitation and electronic faults in the control module (TCM)Both the DPS6 and the 6DCT450 depend on a control module (TCM) that manages the clutches; there is cold hesitation, resonance at idle and occasional electronic failures, and Ford has revised the software several times without a single fix.
  17. 17Medium 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.
  18. 18Medium 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
  19. 19Critical severityRareFrequency: Rare7DCTTotal failure or sudden gearbox lock-up, sometimes at low mileageIn a minority of documented cases, the gearbox has broken or suddenly stopped working at low mileage or after a short time in use: one source records a broken gearbox at 900 km in a Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi and a dual clutch out of service at 54,000 km (two years) in a Hyundai Tucson with the same engine.
  20. 20Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDSG6 DQ250Dual-mass flywheel wear on the engines paired with the DQ250It is common wear on the turbo engines paired with the DQ250 (Golf GTI/R, Cupra, RS, S3, TT), not a defect exclusive to the gearbox: the dual-mass flywheel damps engine vibrations and, over the years, its springs and bearings wear, with a metallic noise at idle and vibrations as the first warnings.Repair (garage): €700–€1,300
  21. 21Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional7G-DCTJerks and hesitation when pulling away or manoeuvring at low speedYes: several owner testimonies describe jerks, hesitation or small judders when pulling away or manoeuvring slowly, especially with a cold engine or at low revs; in some cases, a manufacturer software update improves the behaviour without replacing any part.
  22. 22Medium 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.
  23. 23Medium 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
  24. 24High severityRareFrequency: RareEDCOil leak from the EDC output shaft sealOne documented case (Renault Captur 1.2 TCe 120, failure at 48,000 km) describes an oil leak from the output shaft seal ("joint spy") of the EDC gearbox that ended in a complete automatic gearbox failure; we have not found other cases with the same exact diagnosis.
  25. 25Medium severityRareFrequency: Rare7G-DCTWorn synchroniser: reverse or a specific gear won't engageOne case documented on a Mercedes GLA describes wear of the 3rd gear synchroniser from 50,000 km, with difficulty engaging it; we have not found more cases with the same exact diagnosis on other models of the family, so we treat it as a possible but minority fault.

Gearboxes with faults with the dual-clutch gearbox

Problems with the dual-clutch gearbox 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: CommonAudi Q5 IAudi Q5 S tronic gearbox faults: jerking, vibrations and mechatronicsThe S tronic gearbox and the transmission account for 65 and 48 testimonies out of 322 on fiches-auto.fr, with jerking, vibrations and gear selection faults; there are cases of mechatronic unit replacement at 105,000 km. No official campaign found.Appears at around 48,000 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 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.
  7. 7High severityCommonFrequency: CommonHyundai Kona IDCT7 dual-clutch gearbox: jerkiness and cases of premature failureThe Kona's 7-speed dry dual-clutch gearbox (DCT7) has a reputation for jerky pull-aways and premature clutch wear, especially in town; a compilation of owner testimonies even records a case of total failure after barely 800 km.
  8. 8High severityCommonFrequency: CommonHyundai Tucson IIIJerking and hesitation when pulling away from the 7DCT dual-clutch gearboxThe Tucson TL's 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (7DCT), also sold in Spain with the 1.7 CRDi diesel, is the non-engine mechanical part with the most recorded complaints: hesitation and jerking when pulling away and, in cases documented in the US, a sudden loss of drive while moving, with an official campaign in 2016.
  9. 9High severityCommonFrequency: CommonOpel Astra LFaults with the e-DCS6 hybrid dual-clutch gearboxThe Hybrid version of the Astra L has the e-DCS6 dual-clutch gearbox, for which fiches-auto.fr documents jerking, hesitant gear changes, mechanical noises and lock-ups in an analysis dedicated to this transmission, which is shared by several models in the Stellantis group.
  10. 10High severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 3008 IIIFailures of the e-DCS6 dual-clutch gearbox of the 48V hybrid (Hybrid 136)Owners of the Peugeot 3008 III Hybrid 136 (e-DCS6) describe jerks, noises and selector lock-ups on the e-DCS6 dual-clutch gearbox, with complete gearbox replacements documented from 9,000 km; an analysis by fiches-auto.fr of this transmission, used in several Stellantis models, points to wear of the gear selection mechanism shaft as the main cause.
  11. 11High severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 308 IIIFaults in the hybrid's e-DCS6 dual-clutch gearboxAn analysis by fiches-auto.fr of the e-DCS6 hybrid gearbox - also fitted to the Peugeot 308 Hybrid - documents jerks, noises and selector lock-ups, with the gear selection mechanism as the most-cited cause; of 75 owner ratings across several Stellantis group models, 17 mention a transmission problem.
  12. 12High severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 408Faults with the e-DCS6 hybrid dual-clutch gearboxThe Hybrid (48V mild-hybrid) version of the Peugeot 408 uses the e-DCS6 dual-clutch gearbox, for which a fiches-auto.fr analysis covering several Stellantis Group models documents jerking, noises and selector lock-ups; 408 owners also describe unexpected downshifts when overtaking.
  13. 13High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo GiuliettaPremature clutch wear in the TCT dual-clutch gearboxYes: both a German used-car guide and French owner reports agree that the clutch in the Giulietta's TCT dual-clutch gearbox wears sooner than expected, especially with dense urban use or towing, and more so on diesel versions.
  14. 14High 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.
  15. 15High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFiat 600Jerking, lock-ups and risk of early failure in the e-DCS6 hybrid gearboxYes: fiches-auto.fr documents that the e-DCS6 hybrid dual-clutch gearbox in the Fiat 600 can produce jerking and lock-ups, with cases of early failure, and several owners have reported transmission faults; the source itself notes that this recently introduced gearbox 'has yet to prove its reliability'.
  16. 16High 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.
  17. 17High 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.
  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: OccasionalHyundai Santa Fe IVDual-clutch gearbox entering fail-safe mode due to erroneous error warnings, leaving the car without driveYes: a Safety Gate alert from May 2024 states that erroneous error warnings can cause the dual-clutch gearbox to go into fail-safe mode and the car to lose drive. It covers Santa Fes built between 29 January 2020 and 3 June 2022, together with the Kona.
  20. 20High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase A W177Oil leak in the 7G-DCT dual-clutch gearboxA range of A-Class cars from 2018 to 2020 can suffer oil loss from the 7G-DCT dual-clutch gearbox, the reason for a manufacturer recall; more generally, several owners also describe jerking and hesitation pulling away from cold with this gearbox.
  21. 21High 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
  22. 22Medium 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.
  23. 23Medium 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.
  24. 24Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Kona IIHybrid DCT6 automatic gearbox with occasional faults when changing gearOn the Kona II with the 141 hp hybrid engine, reports gathered by a French reliability site describe a dual-clutch automatic gearbox (DCT6) with occasional faults when changing gear, in one case from 110 km/h; there are few documented cases on a model that is still recent.
  25. 25Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalJeep AvengerNoises, gear selection lock-ups, jerks and immobilisation in the e-DCS6 hybrid gearboxYes: fiches-auto.fr documents that the e-DCS6 hybrid dual-clutch gearbox can produce noises, gear selection lock-ups, jerks or even immobilisation of the car when the transmission control stops validating the requested gear correctly; owner reviews collected by the same source also point to transmission reliability complaints.
  26. 26Medium 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.
  27. 27Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia Niro IHybrid DCT6 dual-clutch gearbox: jerking and hesitation when pulling awayIn the Niro hybrid and plug-in, some owners describe jerking, hesitation when pulling away and, in one case, being unable to activate Sport mode in the 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DCT6) integrated with the electric motor.
  28. 28Medium 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.
  29. 29Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase A W176Judder and hesitation from the 7G-DCT dual-clutch gearbox when cold or at low speedSome owners describe judder, hesitation or slipping when pulling away with the 7G-DCT dual-clutch gearbox, especially when cold or crawling in heavy traffic.
  30. 30Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda Kodiaq IAbrupt shifts from the 7-speed DSG automatic gearboxOn cars with the 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox, some owners notice shifts that are less smooth than on the 6-speed DSG, with occasional jerks at low speed. It is not a fault that immobilises the car, but it is worth keeping an eye on.
  31. 31High severityRareFrequency: RareCitroën C3 Aircross IISelector and e-DCS6 gearbox lock-up on the hybrid C3 AircrossAccording to the reports gathered by fiches-auto.fr, the e-DCS6 gearbox in the hybrid C3 Aircross has produced 3 cases of gear selection locking, with the car immobilised or stuck at 60 km/h, at around 2,000, 6,000 and 9,000 km.
  32. 32High severityRareFrequency: RareCitroën C3 IVLock-ups and noises from the e-DCS6 automatic gearbox in the hybrid C3According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the e-DCS6 automatic gearbox in the mild-hybrid C3 has produced 5 cases of lock-up, mechanical noises or faulty shifts, including a car immobilised with a locked gearbox in October 2024.
  33. 33High 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.
  34. 34Medium severityRareFrequency: RareAlfa Romeo JuniorFailure of the e-DCS6 automatic gearbox on the hybrid JuniorThere is very little data: the fiches-auto.fr entry records a hybrid Junior whose automatic gearbox was replaced at 23,000 km under warranty (March 2025) and warns that the e-DCS6 can show jerking, gear selection lock-up and mechanical noises. No official campaign on record.
  35. 35Medium severityRareFrequency: RareKia Niro IIHybrid DCT6 dual-clutch gearbox: jerking and electric parking brakeIn one documented case of a second-generation hybrid Niro with 24,600 km, the DCT6 dual-clutch gearbox jerked and hesitated when pulling away, while the electric parking brake also failed; the data available for this generation is still scarce.

Problems with the dual-clutch gearbox by make

Problems with the dual-clutch gearbox in your car

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

Audi 9
Dacia 1
Ford 11
Hyundai 8
Kia 6
Mercedes-Benz 8
Renault 9
Seat 10
Škoda 12
Volkswagen 20

How much it costs to repair a fault with the dual-clutch gearbox

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

Frequently asked questions

Which engines have the most faults with the dual-clutch gearbox?

By severity and frequency, the PowerShift (juddering, hesitation and slipping of the dry clutch (DPS6), high severity), the DSG7 DQ200 (mechatronic unit failure: pressure accumulator, pump and cracked housing, high severity), the 7DCT (jerking, hesitation and mechatronic faults at low speed, high severity), the 7G-DCT (incorrect oil level in the 7G-DCT: December 2020 campaign, high severity), the EDC (EDC gearbox overheating and safety neutral, high severity) and the DSG6 DQ250 (mechatronic unit failure: solenoid valves and temperature sensor, high severity). In total we have documented 7 gearboxes with faults with the dual-clutch gearbox.

Which cars have problems with the dual-clutch gearbox?

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), Audi Q5 I (audi Q5 S tronic gearbox faults: jerking, vibrations and mechatronics), Ford B-Max (clutch wear and gearbox faults, including the Powershift automatic), Ford Mondeo V (clutch wear in the PowerShift automatic gearbox (6DCT450)), Hyundai Kona I (DCT7 dual-clutch gearbox: jerkiness and cases of premature failure) and Hyundai Tucson III (jerking and hesitation when pulling away from the 7DCT dual-clutch gearbox). In total, 35 cars with documented faults with the dual-clutch gearbox.

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

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At an independent garage, from €450 to €3,100; at a dealer, from €0 to €5,600, including VAT, based on the 12 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 dual-clutch gearbox cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: judder when pulling away or at low speed (automatic gearbox), gearbox will not select gears or drops into neutral, clutch slipping, automatic gearbox fault warning, gearbox or clutch noise or rattle and sudden loss of power (limp mode).

Sources

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

  1. 1.Reparar DSG en España: Precios RealesTCA - Tu Cambio Automático · Technical documentation · published 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  2. 2.Fallos Caja Cambios - Reclamaciones y opiniones RENAULT ESPAÑAOCU · Consumer association · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. 3.Revise caja de cambios (Automática)Club Foro Renault Captur (solocaptur.com) · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  4. 4.DSG7 DQ200: Guía Técnica Definitiva (P17BF, Mecatrónica y Soluciones)STR Performance · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  5. 5.Ford Kuga (Mk2, 2012-2019): Typische Probleme & Rückrufegebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  6. 6.VW, Skoda & Seat DSG Probleme: alle 6 und 7-Gang DQ GetriebeCarwiki · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  7. 7.Fiabilité de la boîte EDC : problèmes en série ?fiches-auto.fr · Technical documentation · published February 2020 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. 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
  9. 9.Probleme & Schwachstellen beim DSGGebrauchtwagenberater · Technical documentation · published March 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  10. 10.Volante bimasa: cómo saber si está averiado y cuánto cuesta sustituirloDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 2 November 2020 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. 11.Fallo en la mecatrónica de la caja DSG: Ojo a estos modelosGT Autos · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  12. 12.Fiabilité Mercedes Classe A (2018) - pannesFiches-auto.fr · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  13. 13.Mercedes A-Klasse W177 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published April 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German