Dual-clutch transmission problems: which cars have them

Short answer: among vehicles with US sales figures, the Hyundai Tucson has the most complaints about dual-clutch problems per 10,000 sold. Across all 1,161 federal complaints about it, owners reported a median of about 39,000 miles.

Federal complaints

1,161

Typical mileage

39,000 mi

Typical repair

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What it is

A dual-clutch transmission is an automated manual gearbox with two clutches, one for odd gears and one for even. Dry-clutch versions in particular can shudder at low speed, and the clutch packs and the control unit that shifts them are common failure points.

What owners notice

Shudder or jerking at low speed and in stop-and-go traffic
Hesitation or rolling back when pulling away
Harsh or delayed shifts
Warning lights and loss of drive

Vehicles with the most dual-clutch problems

Complaints about this problem per 10,000 sold, for each vehicle’s model years old enough to judge. Each vehicle’s years start at the first model year with a cluster of these complaints, so a vehicle that got the part later isn’t diluted by years without it. Only vehicles with at least 25 such complaints are ranked (2 vehicles).

1. Hyundai Tucson 2.1 per 10k sold

194 complaints, 2016–2022 models · typically around 6,500 mi · most in 2016–2018 · estimate costs
2. Volkswagen Jetta 0.37 per 10k sold

77 complaints, 2005–2022 models · typically around 67,000 mi · most in 2006 and 2009–2010 · estimate costs

Common questions

Which cars have the most dual-clutch problems?

Among vehicles with US sales figures, the most complaints about dual-clutch problems per 10,000 sold come from the Hyundai Tucson (2.1) and the Volkswagen Jetta (0.37). Rates cover model years old enough to judge.

At what mileage do dual-clutch problems usually show up?

Across 1,161 federal complaints, the median mileage owners reported was about 39,000 miles. It varies a lot by vehicle; see the table.