Used car guide · 2012–2023

Isuzu D-Max common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Isuzu D-Max, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 37,252 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

37,252MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model
2021best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012

What usually goes wrong with an Isuzu D-Max?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Isuzu D-Max in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Isuzu D-Max MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 60.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 31× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints

    up to 76× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 6.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 5.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Rear fog light

    up to 13.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Isuzu D-Max MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2021 Isuzu D-Max did best (83% passed first time, 4 points below all 2021 cars) and the 2020 did worst (77%, 9 points below all 2020 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202389%92% -3131 (small sample)
202284%89% -53,503
202183%87% -43,138
202077%86% -92,541
201975%84% -93,799
201872%81% -93,817
201770%78% -84,249
201667%75% -84,181
201565%72% -74,432
201463%69% -63,740
201361%66% -52,578
201259%63% -41,143

Questions to ask the seller before buying an Isuzu D-Max

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 60.5× as often on the Isuzu D-Max as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 31× as often on the Isuzu D-Max as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 76× as often on the Isuzu D-Max as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Isuzu D-Max?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score