Which diesel cars have DPF problems?
Almost every diesel car registered since January 2011 has a diesel particulate filter, or DPF, in its exhaust. It traps soot and has to burn it off, and on cars driven mostly on short trips it can clog. Here's how it works, which used diesels reviewers have commented on, and what to check before you buy one.
By Natalie Pilling
Car enthusiast
Updated
First published
Quick answer
Used-car reviewers mention DPF trouble on diesels such as the 2012–2017 Mazda CX-5 and the 2013–2019 Peugeot 2008, often as advice that applies to any diesel, not a fault of that model. The usual cause is short, slow trips, which stop the filter cleaning itself, so how a car was driven matters.
Key takeaways
- A DPF traps soot and burns it off on longer, faster drives, so a diesel used mostly on short, slow trips can clog its filter.
- A filter cleaned off part way through can leave fuel in the engine oil, so a rising oil level on a used diesel is a warning sign.
- Before you buy, ask how the car was driven, check the oil level and warning lights, and read its MOT and service history.
See what CarCanny finds on the car you're looking at.
What is a DPF, and why do short trips matter?
A DPF is a filter in a diesel's exhaust that traps soot, and it needs a long, fast drive now and then to burn that soot off. The RAC says Euro 5 emissions rules made the filters effectively standard on diesels from 2009, and that short, low-speed journeys are the main reason they block.
The filter cleans itself, which is called regenerating. On a long run at speed, such as 30 to 50 minutes on a motorway or A-road, the exhaust gets hot enough to burn the soot off on its own. When the filter is getting full, the engine also burns off soot itself by adding extra fuel, which takes about 10 minutes above 40mph, the RAC says. You may notice the cooling fans running, a higher idle speed or the stop-start switching off while it happens.
Short trips never give the filter that chance, so the soot builds up until a warning light comes on. And if the engine is switched off part way through a clean, some of that extra fuel can end up in the engine oil, What Car? warns. The oil level then rises over time, and diluted oil can damage the engine.
Which diesel cars have DPF problems?
Used-car reviewers mention the filter on these diesels, often as advice that applies to any diesel rather than a fault of that model, and DVSA lists recalls on one of them. They're listed in no order: we found no current dataset that ranks models by DPF faults.
| Car | Years | What's reported | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5, diesel | 2012–2017 | On some diesels, fuel can get into the oil if the engine is switched off while the filter is cleaning | A rising oil level; if it has risen, the oil needs changing |
| Peugeot 2008, diesel | 2013–2019 | Needs regular motorway runs; DVSA recalls in 2019 (a plastic part that could damage the filter, some 2018 cars) and 2025 (warning light software, some cars built from late 2017 to 2020) | How it was driven, the oil level, and whether recall work is still open |
| Mazda 3, 1.6 diesel | 2009–2013 | The filter uses an additive, Eolys, that needs topping up, usually around 75,000 miles | A top-up in the service history |
| Dacia Duster, diesel | 2013–2018 | Needs frequent motorway runs; a clogged filter is costly to replace | How it was driven, and a rising oil level |
| Audi Q3, TDI diesel | 2011–2018 | Carbuyer rates it reliable overall; its general diesel advice is that cars driven mostly in town can clog the filter and raise the oil level | How and where it was driven, and the oil level |
| Land Rover Discovery Sport, 2.0 diesel | 2015–2019 | Low-mileage cars are prone to oil dilution and DPF problems | Mileage per year, and frequent oil changes in the history |
Checked against What Car?'s, Carbuyer's and Autocar's used-car guides and GOV.UK's recall service and DVSA's recall file on 30 October 2026. The list isn't complete: any diesel used mostly on short trips can clog its filter, and not every car of these models will have a problem. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Mazda CX-5 (2012–2017)
What Car?'s used guide warns that on some CX-5 diesels, stopping the engine mid-clean can let fuel reach the sump. A rising oil level is the clue, and the car then needs an oil change.
Peugeot 2008 (2013–2019)
What Car? says the diesel 2008 needs frequent motorway runs so its filter can clean itself, and that switching off mid-clean can leave fuel in the oil. In the same guide, What Car? says the 2008 scored well for reliability among small SUVs in its survey. Separately, DVSA's recall R/2019/136, from April 2019, covers a plastic part in the exhaust that could damage the filter on 2,686 Peugeot 308, 2008, 3008 and 5008 models built from 28 January to 7 May 2018. The fix is to check the filter and replace it if needed. DVSA's recall R/2025/344, from August 2025, covers several Peugeot models, including some 208, 308, 3008 and 5008 cars, and some 2008s built from November 2017 to October 2020. Their warning light may not come on for a fault in the emissions system or DPF, and the fix is a software update.
Mazda 3 1.6 diesel (2009–2013)
What Car? finds little to worry about on this Mazda 3. On the 1.6 diesel, it says, the filter relies on an additive called Eolys, usually topped up around 75,000 miles, so look for that in the service history, and walk away from a car with a DPF warning light on.
Dacia Duster (2013–2018)
What Car? says to ask whether a diesel Duster has had regular motorway use, since a blocked filter is expensive to replace and a clean cut short can put fuel in the oil. Beyond that, it says few problems are reported.
Audi Q3 TDI (2011–2018)
Carbuyer calls the first-generation Q3 remarkably reliable overall, and says its DPF advice applies to modern diesels generally: gentle town driving can stop the filter cleaning itself, and an unfinished clean can raise the oil level. Ask how and where the car was driven, and check the oil.
Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 diesel (2015–2019)
The Discovery Sport got Land Rover's 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel in 2015. Autocar's buying guide says low-mileage diesels are prone to oil dilution and DPF problems, and that a low-mileage driver should avoid the diesels. Owners of 2015 to 2017 cars report the same on Carbuyer's owner reviews, some with oil changes every 5,000 to 6,000 miles.
Do all diesel cars have DPF problems?
No. The RAC says short, low-speed journeys are the prime cause of blockages, so how a diesel is driven matters. A filter that gets regular long runs at speed cleans itself, while one used for short town trips can clog on any model. Which?'s 2020 reliability survey of over 47,000 owners found diesels more prone to faults than other cars, especially older ones, with owners of every brand often reporting emissions or exhaust faults.
Does a DPF problem fail the MOT?
It can. Under DVSA's MOT inspection manual, a car fitted with a DPF gets a major fault, and fails, if the filter is missing or tampered with, or if its exhaust gives off visible smoke of any colour. Removing the filter is illegal, Auto Express notes, so be wary of a seller who says theirs has been taken out.
How do I check a used diesel's DPF before buying?
Ask how the car was driven, then check the oil, the dashboard and the paperwork.
Confirm the engine
Our free check shows the car's fuel and engine size from its logbook record, so you know it's a diesel and which size.
Ask how it was driven
Regular motorway or A-road runs are good news. A life of school runs and short town trips isn't.
Check the oil level
Check it with the engine cold. A level above the maximum mark can mean fuel in the oil.
Watch the dashboard and exhaust
No DPF or engine warning light should stay on, and the exhaust shouldn't smoke on a test drive.
Read the service history
Look for on-time oil changes with the oil the handbook specifies, and any additive top-ups or filter cleans.
Check for recalls
Enter the car's registration on GOV.UK's free recall check to see any safety recalls not yet checked or fixed, and ask a dealer if you're unsure.
CarCanny's full report shows every MOT test with its failures and advisories and the mileage recorded at each, and the car's average miles a year. A diesel that has covered few miles a year may have spent its life on short trips, so ask. It also checks finance, write-off and stolen.
Frequently asked questions
Which cars are most prone to DPF problems?
Diesels driven mostly on short, slow trips, whatever the model, because the filter never gets hot enough to clean itself. We found no current dataset that ranks models by DPF faults. So we don't name the most prone. The cars in this article are ones reviewers have commented on, not a ranking.
Do all diesel cars have DPF problems?
No. Almost every diesel registered since January 2011 has a DPF, but one that gets regular long runs at speed cleans itself. The problems mostly come from short town trips, switching off while the filter is cleaning, and missed servicing.
Which diesel car has the least DPF issues?
We found no reliable dataset that ranks diesels by DPF faults, so we can't name one. The diesel least likely to have trouble is one that has done regular motorway miles, with on-time servicing and the oil its maker specifies.
Which cars don't have DPF issues?
Electric cars have no exhaust filter, and petrol cars don't have a diesel particulate filter, though some newer petrols have a filter of their own. The RAC says car makers often recommend petrol or electric to drivers who mostly make short town trips.
Sources
- GOV.UK: MOT inspection manual, cars and passenger vehicles, 8. Nuisance (updated 14 October 2026)(opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK: Check if a vehicle has been recalled(opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK (DVSA): Vehicle recalls, Peugeot 2008 2018, recall R/2019/136 (26 April 2019)(opens in a new tab)
- DVSA: Recalls file, recalls R/2019/136 and R/2025/344 (checked 30 October 2026)(opens in a new tab)
- RAC: Diesel particulate filters, everything you need to know about DPFs (28 September 2026)(opens in a new tab)
- RAC: Euro emissions standards guide(opens in a new tab)
- What Car?: Used Mazda CX-5 2012–2017 reliability review (updated 17 May 2022)(opens in a new tab)
- What Car?: Used Peugeot 2008 2013–2019 reliability review (updated 20 December 2019)(opens in a new tab)
- What Car?: Used Mazda 3 2009–2013 reliability review (updated 14 December 2016)(opens in a new tab)
- What Car?: Used Dacia Duster 2013–2018 reliability review (updated 23 February 2024)(opens in a new tab)
- Carbuyer: Used Audi Q3 review 2011–2018, reliability and common problems (20 April 2022)(opens in a new tab)
- Autocar: Nearly new buying guide, Land Rover Discovery Sport (3 November 2021)(opens in a new tab)
- Carbuyer: Land Rover Discovery Sport owner reviews(opens in a new tab)
- Which?: The two least reliable car brands (25 September 2020)(opens in a new tab)
- Auto Express: DPF, what is a diesel particulate filter? (6 September 2022)(opens in a new tab)
The ideas for our guides come from people on our team. We use AI tools to help research, draft and edit them, and the named author reads each one before it's published.
Written by
Natalie Pilling
Car enthusiast at CarCanny
Natalie is a senior product engineer at vlayer, the company behind CarCanny.
