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Honda FR-V: N22A i-CTDi DPF Blockage and Failed Regeneration

N22A i-CTDi DPF Blockage and Failed Regeneration is a common engine fault on the Honda FR-V on the 2004–2009 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $500 to $4,500 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 8 documented faults on the Honda FR-V.

Vehicle
Honda FR-V
Years
2004–2009
Fuel
diesel
System
Engine

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

All Honda FR-V 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 Diesel Particulate Filter fitted to the N22A engine captures soot from combustion and relies on periodic passive regeneration during sustained high-load motorway driving to burn off accumulated particulate matter. Vehicles used predominantly in urban or short-trip driving never reach the exhaust temperatures required for passive regeneration, causing the filter to exceed its safe soot load threshold and triggering forced active regeneration attempts that also fail if the journey is too short.

What you would notice

  • DPF warning lamp illuminated on the instrument cluster, often accompanied by the engine management light
  • Engine enters limp mode with power noticeably restricted
  • Fuel consumption rises sharply as the ECU injects post-combustion fuel to raise exhaust temperature for regeneration
  • Excessive white or acrid-smelling smoke during attempted regeneration cycles

How to check it

Where to look. Underside of vehicle in the exhaust system, immediately downstream of the catalytic converter beneath the floor

Watch for: DPF warning lamp illuminated on the instrument cluster, often accompanied by the engine management light. If a workshop inspection is possible: Read DPF differential pressure sensor values with Honda HDS; check DPF soot and ash loading percentage; attempt a forced active regeneration via scan tool and verify exhaust back-pressure returns to normal; inspect DPF casing for cracks or melt damage from failed regeneration events.

Parts involved: Diesel particulate filter.

What it costs to put right

$500 to $4,500 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

  • “Is this vehicle used mainly for short trips or urban driving?”
  • “Has the DPF warning light ever come on, and was the fault resolved?”
  • “Has the DPF ever been professionally cleaned or replaced?”

Now check the Honda FR-V 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.

Honda FR-V buyer questions

Is n22a i-ctdi dpf blockage and failed regeneration serious on a Honda FR-V?

We rate it major and common on the Honda FR-V. The Diesel Particulate Filter fitted to the N22A engine captures soot from combustion and relies on periodic passive regeneration during sustained high-load motorway driving to burn off accumulated particulate matter. Vehicles used predominantly in urban or short-trip driving never reach the exhaust temperatures required for passive regeneration, causing the filter to exceed its safe soot load threshold and triggering forced active regeneration attempts that also fail if the journey is too short.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda FR-V?

$500 to $4,500 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 Honda FR-V years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2004–2009 Honda FR-V. 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?

Watch for: DPF warning lamp illuminated on the instrument cluster, often accompanied by the engine management light. If a workshop inspection is possible: Read DPF differential pressure sensor values with Honda HDS; check DPF soot and ash loading percentage; attempt a forced active regeneration via scan tool and verify exhaust back-pressure returns to normal; inspect DPF casing for cracks or melt damage from failed regeneration events. Look here: Underside of vehicle in the exhaust system, immediately downstream of the catalytic converter beneath the floor