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GWM Cannon: Diesel Particulate Filter Blockage on Short-Trip Use

Diesel Particulate Filter Blockage on Short-Trip Use is a common engine fault on the GWM Cannon on the 2020 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $3,800 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 8 documented faults on the GWM Cannon.

Vehicle
GWM Cannon
Engine
2.0L
Years
2020 onward
Fuel
diesel
Gearbox
auto
System
Engine

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

All GWM Cannon faults8 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

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

What goes wrong

The GWM Cannon's GW4C20NT 2.0-litre diesel is fitted with a DPF that requires regular highway-speed driving to complete passive and active regeneration cycles. Owners using the Cannon predominantly on short urban runs or low-speed tracks without sustained highway driving experience DPF blockage, triggering a warning light and forcing a dealer-initiated forced regeneration or physical DPF removal and clean. The problem is compounded by owners switching the engine off mid-regeneration cycle.

What you would notice

  • DPF warning light on dashboard
  • Reduced engine power or limp mode
  • Increased fuel consumption
  • Strong sulphur or burning smell from exhaust during forced regen

How to check it

Where to look. Diesel particulate filter, mid-underfloor exhaust system

  1. Scan for DPF backpressure and soot load fault codes.

  2. Ask the owner about typical driving patterns and whether the vehicle regularly completes highway runs.

  3. Inspect the DPF outlet for heavy soot deposits indicating incomplete regeneration.

  4. If a workshop inspection is possible: Check for regeneration cycle history via OBD.

Parts involved: Diesel particulate filter.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $3,800 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

  • “Is the vehicle regularly driven on highways at sustained speed?”
  • “Has the DPF warning light ever appeared?”
  • “Has a forced DPF regeneration been carried out by a dealer?”

Now check the GWM Cannon 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.

GWM Cannon buyer questions

Is diesel particulate filter blockage on short-trip use serious on a GWM Cannon?

We rate it major and common on the GWM Cannon. The GWM Cannon's GW4C20NT 2.0-litre diesel is fitted with a DPF that requires regular highway-speed driving to complete passive and active regeneration cycles. Owners using the Cannon predominantly on short urban runs or low-speed tracks without sustained highway driving experience DPF blockage, triggering a warning light and forcing a dealer-initiated forced regeneration or physical DPF removal and clean. The problem is compounded by owners switching the engine off mid-regeneration cycle.

How much does it cost to fix on a GWM Cannon?

$400 to $3,800 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 GWM Cannon years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2020 onward GWM Cannon. 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.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Scan for DPF backpressure and soot load fault codes. Ask the owner about typical driving patterns and whether the vehicle regularly completes highway runs. Inspect the DPF outlet for heavy soot deposits indicating incomplete regeneration. If a workshop inspection is possible: Check for regeneration cycle history via OBD. Look here: Diesel particulate filter, mid-underfloor exhaust system