We have had ongoing problems with the DPF filter in our 2010 Nissan X-Trail TS diesel whereby the DPF light comes on, then the engine malfunction light comes on, and if left for even a few days, our car loses engine power. It has now occurred about four or five times and each time when picking our car up again the dealer tells us it has been fixed whereby they have cleared the filter or they have replaced the filter. The dealer keeps telling us this will always occur with short trips and being 'stuck in traffic' and that we are not doing sufficient higher speed mileage. But our car is driven to and from work every weekday and within each trip, there are speeds of 100 km/h being reached when traveling on the freeways, and on top of that we do short local trips and drives to the coasts on the weekends. Our current dealer and other dealers say they have had other complaints of this nature, but Nissan simply will not listen or try to solve the problem. When it occurred the last time, just after the 60,000 km service, our Nissan dealer told us to buy a new car. Can you believe this?
The problem is that your driving routine doesn't meet the requirements for the Diesel Particulate Filter to conduct an automatic burn that it must do to get rid of the carbon that has accumulated in it as part of its normal function. The auto burns happens without you knowing, there is no effect on the engine operation while it's going on, but if it doesn't happen the warning light comes on, the engine warning comes on, and eventually the car goes on to a limp home mode that virtually forces you to go to the dealer who can do a forced burn to restore the filter to normal operation. If it's not done it can result in a damaged filter, and can also result in damage to the catalytic converters and that can lead to a very large repair bill in the many thousands of dollars. There isn't much the dealer can do, other than what they have done on your car, and the suggestion to buy a new car is a sign of the frustration they are feeling. Nissan's reputation in the trade is that they are very uncooperative when it comes to warranty claims, although in this case there is little they can do, the solution needs to come from Japan.
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