Isuzu D-Max 2018 Problems

Isuzu lifted the warranty on its vehicles to six years/150,000km for all utes sold after May 1, 2019. Unfortunately, it sounds like your car was on the road in 2018, which means it was covered by a five-year/130,000km warranty. Although you haven’t yet covered 130,000km, the vehicle is more than those five years old so, technically, the problem is not covered by warranty.

However, I think it would be worthwhile contacting Isuzu Australia’s customer service division and pointing out the car’s service history and its mileage. Isuzu may then decide to help with the cost of repairs on a pro-rata basis given the circumstances. It is not obliged to, of course, but it’s definitely worth asking.

While all second-generation Isuzu D-Max pick-ups ride on a 3095mm wheelbase the other dimensions differ depending on the specification ordered. The single cab is 5215mm long while the dual cab is 5295mm in length. Widths range from 1775mm to 1860mm, and height ranges from 1690mm to 1785mm depending if you choose a 4x2, 4x4, single cab, space cab or dual cab.

It’s not a problem we’ve heard of occurring in huge numbers, but like any component, a canopy is subject to wear and tear just like any other. Canopies on tradie-trucks can cop an awful hammering at the hands of their owners and damage is inevitable in such cases. Even a few years exposure to Australian levels of UV radiation can cause a canopy to start to break down structurally, so they generally have a finite lifespan.

But instead of replacing the whole canopy (assuming it’s a fibreglass one) it might be worth asking a fibreglass specialist (say, a boat repairer) if the crack can be repaired. That would certainly be cheaper than replacing the whole canopy

It sounds very much like the vehicle has gone into limp-home mode. This is a self-preservation system whereby the engine and drastically reduces the power it’s producing, limits top speed and often locks the transmission into a low gear. Something has happened that has caused this, and a common reason is that something in the engine, fuel system, or (more likely) the transmission has started to get too hot with the strain of towing.

With luck, full operation will be restored once the vehicle has been allowed to cool down. But you may need to visit a dealership to have things reset. It’s always a good idea to do a full engine and transmission fluid and filter change after any overheating event anyway.

There’s clearly something wrong with it. Take it to a dealer and have it diagnosed.

We haven’t had anything reported to us about cracking of the inner guard, but like you have seen reports of cracking on the D-Max. That suggests it could also affect the MUX.

Because of the modifications you have made, and the off-roading you have done, I doubt you would have any success if you were to make a claim against Isuzu for repairs.

The ADR requires carmakers to have a side indicator so there is always a visible turn signal light, so you should be able to see that even if you can’t see the front light.