MajorVery commonTransmission

MG HS: 7DCT Dual Clutch Judder at Low Speed

7DCT Dual Clutch Judder at Low Speed is a very common transmission fault on the MG HS on the 2019 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $350 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 9 documented faults on the MG HS.

Vehicle: MG HS
Years: 2019 onward
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: dct
System: Transmission

This page covers the MG HS as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All MG HS faults9 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The MG HS shares the same 7-speed dual clutch transmission supply chain as GWM-Haval products and exhibits identical low-speed judder and shudder characteristics. The fault is documented extensively across AU and NZ owner communities and has been confirmed in independent press tests. The DCT clutch pack engagement is overly abrupt at light throttle from rest, resulting in vibration and hesitation. TCU recalibration updates have been issued but do not fully resolve the underlying mechanical tendency. Fluid replacement and clutch adaptation reset provide the most consistent temporary relief.

What you would notice

Shudder or vibration when pulling away from a standstill
Hesitation and jolt between first and second gear under light throttle
Clunky low-speed gear changes in heavy traffic
Worsens after the transmission has been heat-cycled in traffic

How to check it

Where to look. 7-speed DCT gearbox unit

Extended low-speed test drive including multiple stop-and-go cycles. Apply light throttle from standstill repeatedly. Scan for transmission fault codes. Check transmission fluid service history. Any vibration through the floor on pull-away is a confirmed symptom.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$350 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has any shudder or judder been felt when pulling away from traffic lights?”
“Has MG carried out a TCU software update?”
“When was the DCT fluid last replaced?”

Now check the MG HS you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

MG HS buyer questions

Is 7dct dual clutch judder at low speed serious on a MG HS?

We rate it major and very common on the MG HS. The MG HS shares the same 7-speed dual clutch transmission supply chain as GWM-Haval products and exhibits identical low-speed judder and shudder characteristics. The fault is documented extensively across AU and NZ owner communities and has been confirmed in independent press tests. The DCT clutch pack engagement is overly abrupt at light throttle from rest, resulting in vibration and hesitation. TCU recalibration updates have been issued but do not fully resolve the underlying mechanical tendency. Fluid replacement and clutch adaptation reset provide the most consistent temporary relief.

How much does it cost to fix on a MG HS?

$350 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which MG HS years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2019 onward MG HS. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.