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Which used automatic gearbox is reliable?

By Rédaction Quelle Occasion · updated on 29 October 2026

In our guides, the safest automatics are Toyota and Lexus hybrids with an "acheter" (buy) verdict, none of whose listed faults concern the gearbox: Yaris, Yaris Cross, Corolla, C-HR, Lexus RX. Conversely, dual-clutch gearboxes (DSG, EDC, PowerShift) and continuously variable ones (CVT) appear in many fault titles. The type of gearbox matters as much as the model: here is what our data says.

Which automatic models are reliable in our guides?

We took the published guides where at least one version has an automatic gearbox, with an "acheter" verdict, and where no fault title mentions the gearbox, the clutch or the transmission. They are all hybrids:

Model Reliability Price range Faults listed in the guide
Toyota Yaris Cross 5.0 €20,990 to €28,490 none documented, for lack of hindsight according to the press
Toyota Yaris IV 5.0 €17,500 to €22,000 1: 12 V battery flat after a few days without driving
Toyota Corolla XII 5.0 €18,000 to €29,000 2: 12 V battery, recall of the brake pedal bracket bolt
Toyota C-HR II 5.0 €27,790 to €30,990 2: instrument cluster (recall), 12 V battery
Toyota C-HR I 4.5 €14,200 to €22,000 2: 12 V battery, windscreen that cracks
Lexus RX IV 5.0 €29,000 to €32,000 2: 12 V battery, airbag recalls (2015-2016 series)
Renault Captur II 5.0 €13,490 to €26,980 1: electronic and software bugs

Two important points. First, on the Captur II the automatic gearbox only exists on the hybrids (E-Tech full hybrid 145 and E-Tech Plug-in 160); the other versions are manual. Second, a model with no gearbox fault listed is not guaranteed fault-free: the most-cited weak point of these hybrids is the 12 V battery, which goes flat when the car is driven little.

Which hybrid models have an e-CVT gearbox?

Several of our guides mention an e-CVT transmission, that is, an automatic continuously variable gearbox paired with a hybrid engine. For these models, no fault title concerns the e-CVT transmission itself (the Yaris III lists manual gearbox and clutch faults, but on other engines):

This does not mean these models have no weak points. Our guide to the Toyota 1.8 hybrid engine, paired with an e-CVT transmission on the Prius 3, Auris, Prius IV, C-HR and the 2023 facelifted Corolla, carries a "précautions" (take precautions) verdict (reliability 3.0), with three faults: cylinder head gasket failure (Prius 3 and Prius+), the electric water pump, and the traction battery at end of life. The Prius II lists a hybrid battery at end of life, and the Prius III a failure of the hybrid system inverter and a recall of the inverter's management software. The Kuga III adds up three serious recalls (plug-in high-voltage battery, 2.5 hybrid engine block, 1.5 EcoBoost injectors), with no transmission fault listed.

Not all hybrids have the same gearbox. On the Renault Clio V, the guide lists "Bruits, à-coups ou coupures de la transmission hybride (premières 140 ch)" (noises, jerks or cut-outs of the hybrid transmission, first 140 hp); on the Renault Austral, "Boîte de vitesses de l'hybride E-Tech : message « risque de casse boîte »" (E-Tech hybrid gearbox: "gearbox breakage risk" message). For the Clio V, the guide recommends the 145 hp version, whose management was revised.

Which automatic gearboxes have known faults?

Here are the gearbox families whose name appears in fault titles of our published guides, with examples.

DSG / S tronic dual-clutch (39 guides). This is the most-cited family. Examples: Volkswagen Golf VII, "Boîte DSG7 à embrayages à sec (DQ200) : mécatronique et embrayages" (dry-clutch DSG7 gearbox: mechatronics and clutches); Škoda Octavia III, "À-coups et défauts de la boîte DSG7 à sec (DQ200)" (jerks and faults of the dry DSG7 gearbox); Volkswagen Polo VI, "À-coups et défaillances de la boîte automatique DSG7" (jerks and failures of the DSG7 automatic gearbox). These three faults are rated severity 2 out of 3.

Renault EDC dual-clutch (7 guides). Clio IV: "Boîte EDC : à-coups, passages au point mort et embrayage à remplacer" (EDC gearbox: jerks, shifts to neutral and clutch to replace); Mégane III: "Défaillances de la boîte EDC (calculateur ou double embrayage)" (EDC gearbox failures, control unit or dual clutch). Severity 2 out of 3.

CVT continuously variable (17 guides). Nissan Juke I: "Boîte CVT défaillante" (faulty CVT gearbox), severity 3 out of 3; Nissan Qashqai II: "Boîte Xtronic (CVT) : à-coups et surchauffe" (Xtronic CVT gearbox: jerks and overheating), severity 2.

Ford PowerShift (7 guides). Ford Focus III: "Boîte Powershift : à-coups et défaillances" (PowerShift gearbox: jerks and failures), severity 2.

Robotised gearboxes in small city cars. Fiat Panda III: "Boîte robotisée Dualogic capricieuse" (temperamental Dualogic robotised gearbox); Citroën C1 II: "Boîte robotisée ETG5 : à-coups et patinage" (ETG5 robotised gearbox: jerks and slipping); Toyota Aygo II: "Broutements et défaillance de la boîte robotisée x-shift" (judder and failure of the x-shift robotised gearbox); Peugeot 108: "À-coups et défauts de la boîte robotisée ETG5" (jerks and faults of the ETG5 robotised gearbox). Severity 2 out of 3 each. On the Kia Picanto III, the "À-coups de la boîte robotisée BVMA5" (jerks of the BVMA5 robotised gearbox) are rated severity 1.

Conventional automatic gearboxes. The Volkswagen Touareg I, with an "éviter" (avoid) verdict, lists "Boîte automatique Tiptronic fragile" (fragile Tiptronic automatic gearbox) at severity 3.

Always read the detail of the guide: some faults only concern one engine or one production period, and a title does not say at what mileage the fault appears.

How should you test drive a used automatic gearbox?

Our guide to test-driving a used car gives the full method. For an automatic or robotised gearbox, it recommends starting cold and concentrating on low-speed driving, where faults appear:

  1. Do a long stretch in town, with stops, starts and manoeuvres.
  2. Refuse the car if there are jerks or judder. This is the instruction in our guides for the DSG7 of the Volkswagen T-Cross.
  3. Ask for the gearbox oil-change invoices, as our guide to the Qashqai II advises for its Xtronic gearbox.
  4. On a hybrid, listen to the transitions between electric and petrol: they should be smooth. On the Clio V E-Tech 140, the guide advises a 20-minute test in town and on a fast road; on the Yaris IV, there must be no cut-out or loss of power on a fast road.
  5. Look under the car after the drive: no fresh drop of oil or gearbox fluid.

Then keep the usual buying habits: the documents to demand, the roadworthiness test and mileage.

Sources

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of car parts (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.