So, the new Puma appeared to be the top-selling vehicle in the UK at the beginning of 2023. Owners tell us that the compact SUV is great to drive in the city or on freeways. It’s extremely economical, quite aggressive on the road, and allows you to feel the freedom of driving. But what about the automatic transmission option?
While the majority of drivers will choose the simple and affordable 6-speed manual transmission, the buyers with some more cash in their pockets may consider the 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid mHEV version with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. This is the only available automatic transmission in the Puma, so yes, it comes exclusively with the hybrid version.
In this article, I will tell you the following:
- What do we know about the 7-speed DCT transmission in the Ford Puma?
- How many miles will this transmission last?
- What are the common problems with the 7-speed DCT in Ford?
- Prolonging the life of the transmission with maintenance and driving style.
Key facts about the 7DCT transmission in the Puma
This transmission appeared in 2019 along with the new Puma on the European and UK markets. The transmission is only available with the 3-cylinder turbo engine (1.0 EcoBoost) with hybrid technology (mHEV). The 1.5L EcoBoost is only offered with the manual transmission. So, if you want an automatic Puma, you will also have the hybrid Puma which is quite expensive.
Anyway, when you are paying a lot of money, you at least need to know something about the transmission. Because dual-clutch transmissions are very much like a lottery. While one model can go 200K miles, another one can pass away after hitting 60,000 miles.
Here are some key facts about the 7DCT transmission in the Puma:
- this is the Getrag transmission that was engineered in 2015 and has been used in dozens of European and Asian cars (BMW, Renault, Chery, Exeed, Mini, Nissan, etc.)
- the code is 7DCT300 – you may find reviews about it and have more information about the transmission;
- the transmission has two wet clutches, it basically consists of the typical manual transmission, mechatronic unit, and clutch pack;
- the earlier models were pretty glitchy but in 2019 the 7DCT unit was updated and many common problems disappeared;
- the transmission is prepared to work with a hybrid vehicle and I believe there are several updates from the original Getrag 7DCT300;
- unfortunately, Ford doesn’t tell us a lot about the transmission, obviously because the company is shy to use the gearbox model that has already been used in a hundred other cars.
At first sight, you may say you are frustrated that Ford didn’t engineer its own transmission for the hybrid Puma. But after some time, you remember the scary word “PowerShift”. This was the Ford-made dual-clutch transmission that was extremely short-lasting and expensive to repair. It was also very glitchy and required constant attention.
So, maybe, it’s not that bad that Ford decided to use the transmission trusted by many other reputable brands. Even though this is not the ideal automatic transmission and it’s going to require a lot of attention anyway, the transmission is not bad and I can agree with that.
How many miles will the 7DCT gearbox last in your Puma?
Well, the Puma is not a heavy vehicle and the 1.0 EcoBoost is not the mighty engine, so the transmission should be pretty comfortable under the bonnet of the model. Wet clutches will almost certainly prolong the life of the unit and also make it much more comfortable to drive than any car with the PowerShift, for example.
In my opinion, the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission in the new Puma should last about 100,000 miles (160,000 km till the first serious repair. Then, you will likely need to replace the clutch kit and the transmission will be good to go another 80,000 miles (130,000 km) or so. After that, the Puma will most likely die.
Given the 1-liter EcoBoost Fox engine with the hybrid addon is not a long-lasting unit, you may not even need to replace the clutch because the Puma may die earlier than that. I mean, it will require a lot of repairs at 100K miles, so replacing the clutch will not prolong its life much.
Think that older technologies were more reliable? Here I have written about the 1.1L non-turbo engine in the Fiesta, have a look if you want!
What are the common problems with the 7-speed automatic in the Puma?
Although you may think that any dual-clutch transmission is one big problem, you shouldn’t be so sure about the new transmission till you know for sure. The 7-speed transmission doesn’t seem to be as bad as the PowerShift was earlier.
So, I decided to investigate the problems that are common to this unit. And here they are:
1. Early clutch death
Given the clutch is one of the most expensive parts of this transmission, the death of the clutch pack will not make you happy. The new clutch pack with everything needed for replacement will cost you more than 1200 euro while the labor cost is going to be about 1000 euro in a good independent shop and even more in the dealership. Crazy costs for just clutch replacement!
The lifespan of the clutch depends much on the driving style. Also, don’t forget to change the transmission fluid every 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers). The life of the wet clutch directly depends on the quality of the fluid.
2. Huge prices for parts
The new transmission if bought from the dealership will cost you about 7,000 euro! The remanufactured one costs 3000-3500 euro depending on the level of warranty you want to get with it. You can buy one from eBay without the warranty much cheaper, but it will most likely be broken.
Another problem is that you can’t buy just any Getrag 7DCT300 transmission. Your Ford Puma has a hybrid version of the gearbox, and it will be much harder to find remanufactured. Finding aftermarket parts is also a big challenge, so you will likely buy new OEM parts from a dealer.
3. Glitches of the TCM
After about 50,000 miles, this transmission starts glitching occasionally. The TCM is not bad and can live as long as the entire transmission, but sometimes you will experience punches when shifting or harsh shifting. Also, sometimes, the transmission may not shift when needed and the engine will rev up like mad.
Reprogramming TCM with the latest software usually helps. The manufacturer issues new updates for the transmission software quite often, so check this with the Ford dealer and update the TCM as soon as the updates are available.
4. Fluid leaks
At about 50K miles, you may notice that the transmission has minor leaks around its plastic fluid pan. Also, this pan is very vulnerable and if you are going to go on bad roads, you better buy undercarriage protection.
The leaks are usually not bad, you may not see any drops in your garage or on the driveway but you may see that the plastic pan is wet. Actually, this is solved by replacing the pan but it’s not necessary to do that because there is no actual leak and the fluid level stays normal.
5. Unstable work
You can’t predict when exactly the transmission will shift, so every time you press the pedal, you get a little different behavior from your Ford Puma. Also, it’s hard to understand why it may shake between certain gears. It may shake today and work absolutely smoothly tomorrow.
The transmission is not stable in the way it works and I would say this is a problem. Because you are likely to go to the dealership once you notice some issues like shaking or punching when shifting. And if the Puma is not under warranty, you will pay several hundred euros (or pounds) just for the diagnosis.
How can you prolong the life of the 7DCT in your Puma?
Driving habits and maintenance are two basic factors that may kill the transmission or let it live much more than average.
Here’s what you should do to prolong the life of the 7DCT unit in the Puma:
- warm up the transmission for about 30 seconds before driving – put it in R or D and keep the brake pressed;
- check the fluid level in the transmission every time your car is on regular maintenance for oil changes;
- don’t forget that Ford recommends changing the fluid and filter in the transmission at 50,000 miles or 80,000 kilometers (may vary in different countries);
- avoid abusive driving and sharp acceleration – this affects the clutch;
- when standing in a traffic jam for too long, don’t keep the Puma in D, put it in Park;
- when changing the clutch, buy the OEM clutch only, don’t try to find any aftermarket options.
To wrap up
Although I am not a fan of dual-clutch transmissions, the 7DCT in the new Puma SUV seems to be quite a good option. It allows you to drive with minimal fuel consumption and maximum comfort without thinking a lot about the quality and durability of the technology.
If you follow the simple recommendations I gave you about maintenance and driving habits, you will be able to use this transmission for a very long time without major issues.
The Puma is not the only model with the new 7-speed PowerShift – the Fiesta also got this transmission in its last model years and you may read about it here, in one of my recent articles.
Still have any questions? Ask them in the comments below!
