Toyota addresses DPF debacle

Toyota Australia is still unable to advise if it has fixed the engine of Australia’s top-selling vehicle.

Mechanical problems with the inlet and exhaust systems of the turbo-diesel engines in the Toyota HiLux ute have dogged the vehicle since 2015 and embroiled Toyota Australia in a Federal Court class action.

The recently-revealed facelift for the 2021 Toyota HiLux ute and its Fortuner SUV cousin will touch down in Aussie showrooms from August with a significant engine upgrade that boosts peak power from 130kW to 150kW and maximum torque from 450Nm to 500Nm.

But it remains to be seen if the widely-reported diesel particulate filter (DPF) and 'dusting' issues have been fixed.

DPF issues have affected HiLux, Fortuner and Prado vehicles dating back to late 2015, equipped with the 2.8-litre (1GD-FTV) and HiLux-only 2.4-litre (2GD-FTV) turbo-diesel engines. Hundreds of thousands of engines are understood to be affected.

The DPF is designed to trap pollutants and soot from the diesel engine. Periodically it heats up, which burns off noxious particles and then regenerates.

The two Toyota engines’ DPFs have not always regenerated automatically.

As a retro-fit solution, Toyota added a manual override button to the dashboard of affected vehicles that forces regeneration.

It was expected the engine tweaks for the upcoming Toyota HiLux would fix the DPF issues, but it’s not clear if this is the case.

“The new facelift Hilux continues to have a DPF manual regeneration switch fitted as standard,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson told carsales.

“This feature is also standard across the range of Toyota diesel vehicles. This is part of Toyota Australia's initiative to standardise features across vehicle models.

“This new facelift model will also have updates to the engine tune. These have been calibrated to continue to improve the manner in which the DPF operates,” said the Toyota spokesperson.

carsales has gone back to Toyota Australia to clarify if this means the DPF issue is fixed. However, considering it is currently contesting a class action, it’s understandable that Toyota Australia is being very careful with its language.

The class action has been filed by Bannister Law and Gilbert + Tobin, on behalf of HiLux, Fortuner and Prado owners. They accuse Toyota of misleading, deceptive and unconscionable conduct.

Dusting is when tiny particles of dust enter the engine’s induction system and corrupt the mass air-flow sensor. This can force the vehicle into limp mode and shut down driving aids such as traction and stability control.

This only applies to small number of vehicles and only in extreme conditions, insists the car-maker.

Toyota Australia is yet to respond to questions around the dusting issues.