MajorCommonEngine

GWM Cannon: DPF blocking and constant regeneration on urban-driven early Cannons

DPF blocking and constant regeneration on urban-driven early Cannons is a common engine fault on the GWM Cannon on the 2020–2022 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $250 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 8 documented faults on the GWM Cannon.

Vehicle: GWM Cannon
Engine: 2.0L
Years: 2020–2022
Fuel: diesel
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

Early (2020–2021) 2.0 turbo-diesel Cannons were notorious for near-constant DPF regeneration burns and a flat spot in acceleration, especially when driven mostly around town without regular open-road runs. GWM released an ECU update that largely fixed the constant regens and the dead spot, so an un-updated example may still show the old behaviour. A truly blocked DPF causes power loss, higher fuel use and, if ignored, turbo or engine damage; replacement DPFs are dealer-only parts in NZ.

What you would notice

Frequent regeneration (hot exhaust smell, elevated idle, fans running after shutdown)
Rising fuel consumption
Loss of power / limp mode
DPF warning light
Diesel smoke on acceleration

How to check it

Where to look. Exhaust system, under vehicle mid-section

On the test drive include a 10+ minute drive and watch for power flat spots or a hot acrid smell afterwards. Check the service history for the GWM ECU/DPF software update and ask what proportion of driving was short urban trips. Have a workshop read the DPF soot loading and regen count via OBD before purchase.

Parts involved: Diesel particulate filter.

What it costs to put right

$250 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 the GWM ECU update for DPF regeneration been done?”
“Was the ute mostly driven around town or on the open road?”
“Has the DPF light ever come on or a forced regen been needed?”

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 the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

CarsGuide GWM Ute problems page (carsguide.com.au/gwm/ute/problems)
ProductReview.com.au GWM Ute Cannon-X owner Q&A/reviews (DPF complaints)
Owner/workshop reports of GWM ECU update resolving constant DPF burns (e.g. waag4x4.com GWM Cannon power issues)

GWM Cannon buyer questions

Is dpf blocking and constant regeneration on urban-driven early cannons serious on a GWM Cannon?

We rate it major and common on the GWM Cannon. Early (2020–2021) 2.0 turbo-diesel Cannons were notorious for near-constant DPF regeneration burns and a flat spot in acceleration, especially when driven mostly around town without regular open-road runs. GWM released an ECU update that largely fixed the constant regens and the dead spot, so an un-updated example may still show the old behaviour. A truly blocked DPF causes power loss, higher fuel use and, if ignored, turbo or engine damage; replacement DPFs are dealer-only parts in NZ.

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

$250 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 GWM Cannon years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2020–2022 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.