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Holden Colorado: LWN 2.8L Diesel DPF Blockage from Urban / Short-Trip Use

LWN 2.8L Diesel DPF Blockage from Urban / Short-Trip Use is a common engine fault on the Holden Colorado on the 2012–2020 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $800 to $3,500 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 11 documented faults on the Holden Colorado.

Vehicle
Holden Colorado
Engine
2.8L
Years
2012–2020
Fuel
diesel
Gearbox
auto
System
Engine

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

All Holden Colorado faults11 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 Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) on the LWN 2.8L Colorado requires extended highway driving for passive regeneration. Vehicles used predominantly in urban or short-trip conditions accumulate soot faster than the system can regenerate, leading to DPF blockage. Forced active regeneration cycles may fail if blockage is severe, requiring physical DPF removal and cleaning or replacement. A known pattern across all diesel 4x4 utes used in city environments in NZ and AU.

What you would notice

  • DPF or exhaust filter warning light on dash
  • Noticeable loss of power
  • Increased fuel consumption
  • Engine entering limp mode

How to check it

Where to look. DPF canister in exhaust system, typically beneath cab on RG Colorado

  1. Scan for DPF-related fault codes (P2002, P244A and related).

  2. Ask about usage pattern – is the vehicle used primarily in town?

  3. Check DPF soot and ash load percentage via live data if available.

  4. Look for any evidence of DPF removal or modification.

Parts involved: Diesel particulate filter.

What it costs to put right

$800 to $3,500 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

  • “What is the typical driving pattern – mostly city or highway?”
  • “Has the DPF warning light ever come on?”
  • “Has the DPF been cleaned or replaced?”
  • “Has the vehicle had any forced regeneration performed?”

Now check the Holden Colorado 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.

Holden Colorado buyer questions

Is lwn 2.8l diesel dpf blockage from urban / short-trip use serious on a Holden Colorado?

We rate it major and common on the Holden Colorado. The Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) on the LWN 2.8L Colorado requires extended highway driving for passive regeneration. Vehicles used predominantly in urban or short-trip conditions accumulate soot faster than the system can regenerate, leading to DPF blockage. Forced active regeneration cycles may fail if blockage is severe, requiring physical DPF removal and cleaning or replacement. A known pattern across all diesel 4x4 utes used in city environments in NZ and AU.

How much does it cost to fix on a Holden Colorado?

$800 to $3,500 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 Holden Colorado years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2012–2020 Holden Colorado. 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-related fault codes (P2002, P244A and related). Ask about usage pattern – is the vehicle used primarily in town? Check DPF soot and ash load percentage via live data if available. Look for any evidence of DPF removal or modification. Look here: DPF canister in exhaust system, typically beneath cab on RG Colorado