Holden Cruze: DPF blocking and EGR carbon build-up (2.0 diesel)
DPF blocking and EGR carbon build-up (2.0 diesel) is a common engine fault on the Holden Cruze on the 2009–2014 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $500 to $3,000 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 13 documented faults on the Holden Cruze.
- Vehicle
- Holden Cruze
- Engine
- 2.0L
- Years
- 2009–2014
- Fuel
- diesel
- System
- Engine
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The 2.0 turbo-diesel Cruze suffers the usual short-trip diesel diseases, amplified by a small DPF: around-town use blocks the particulate filter and coats the EGR valve and intake in carbon, causing limp mode, warning lights and rough running. Forced regenerations buy time, but a fully blocked DPF is a $2,000+ replacement. The diesel also uses a timing belt that must be kept up to date, unlike the petrol Cruzes' chains.
What you would notice
- DPF warning light or frequent regens (fan running after shutdown, smell of hot exhaust)
- Limp mode with power loss
- Rough idle and black smoke
- Rising fuel consumption
How to check it
Where to look. DPF in the exhaust under the front floor; EGR valve on the engine's intake side
Scan for DPF soot load and stored P24xx/EGR codes before buying.
Ask about the car's typical use — a motorway commuter is a far better bet than a short-trip city car.
Confirm timing belt replacement history.
What it costs to put right
$500 to $3,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Has the DPF ever been cleaned, forced-regenerated or replaced?”
- “What sort of driving did the car do?”
Now check the Holden Cruze 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.
Where this comes from
- CarsGuide Holden Cruze diesel problems Q&As
- Whirlpool Forums Cruze CDX diesel DPF threads
Holden Cruze buyer questions
Is dpf blocking and egr carbon build-up (2.0 diesel) serious on a Holden Cruze?
We rate it major and common on the Holden Cruze. The 2.0 turbo-diesel Cruze suffers the usual short-trip diesel diseases, amplified by a small DPF: around-town use blocks the particulate filter and coats the EGR valve and intake in carbon, causing limp mode, warning lights and rough running. Forced regenerations buy time, but a fully blocked DPF is a $2,000+ replacement. The diesel also uses a timing belt that must be kept up to date, unlike the petrol Cruzes' chains.
How much does it cost to fix on a Holden Cruze?
$500 to $3,000 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 Holden Cruze years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2009–2014 Holden Cruze. 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 soot load and stored P24xx/EGR codes before buying. Ask about the car's typical use — a motorway commuter is a far better bet than a short-trip city car. Confirm timing belt replacement history. Look here: DPF in the exhaust under the front floor; EGR valve on the engine's intake side