Isuzu D-Max Problems

No, yours doesn’t have a DPF filter. The D-Max is generally reliable with no major issues to be concerned about.

I doubt that there will be a recall any time soon; it’s not the sort of safety issue that might trigger a recall. I wouldn’t be overly concerned about driving your D-Max from Perth to Brisbane, providing it has been serviced, the oil changed regularly, and it is in sound overall condition.

It could be a fuel supply problem, so I would suggest checking the fuel pump.

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

It may be sufficient to warrant a recall on the grounds of safety, but more info would be needed to make a definitive call on the issue. But it’s being fixed under warranty, so hopefully you should be back on the road soon. In the meantime if I were you I would be demanding a replacement vehicle to be used while yours is being repaired.

There are no issues of concern with the 2010 D-Max, just the regular issues of wear and tear on a vehicle that is almost 10 years old. It’s a good idea to have a mechanic check it for you before you buy it so that any issues that might need attention can be identified.

It’s true that diesels are at their best on longer trips when they are fully warmed up and not accelerating and decelerating all the time. You can have problems with the DPF clogging up and not regenerating if the car isn’t getting up to speed for any length of time. You could take it for a run on a highway or freeway once a month or so to get fully up to working temperature, so the DPF burn-off car hopefully happen. If the burn-off doesn’t happen automatically you face the prospect of having to have the dealer do it manually, and that would involve a cost.

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.

What they were referring to is the automatic burn of the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), which collects carbon in the exhaust while you are driving along, and then periodically goes through a cleaning process in which the accumulated carbon is burnt off. The burn-off happens automatically without you knowing it’s happening, but it needs regular freeway type driving for it to happen. If your travels don’t involve any freeway travel then the burn-off might not happen and you have to take it to a dealer to have it done manually. From what you tell us about your driving I would say it doesn’t suit a diesel, and you would be better off buying a car with a small petrol engine.

Have you tried the spare key? If not perhaps try it and see if that one works. If it does it could be a problem with the key/battery. You could also have it checked by a dealer or an auto electrician.