Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Isuzu D-Max 2017: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2017 Isuzu D-Max include Rear fog lamp (~13.3× peers) and Wheel bearings (front) (~13.1× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (1,235 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

1,235 failed first-attempt tests · 4,085 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Rear fog lamp — about 13.3× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Rear fog lamp: about 13.3× more often than similar cars
  • Wheel bearings (front): about 13.1× more often than similar cars
  • Shock absorbers (rear): about 7.7× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 1,235 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Rear fog lamp

This failure pattern appears about 13.3× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 131 failed first-attempt tests; 10.6% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 131 failures · ×13.3 vs similar cars · 10.6% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Wheel bearings (front)

This failure pattern appears about 13.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 103 failed first-attempt tests; 8.3% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 103 failures · ×13.1 vs similar cars · 8.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Shock absorbers (rear)

This failure pattern appears about 7.7× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 170 failed first-attempt tests; 13.8% of failed tests for this model year.

Rear · 170 failures · ×7.7 vs similar cars · 13.8% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

# Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
 Front 78 ×36.1 6.3% Likely common fault pattern
2 Exhaust system (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Rear 70 ×16.8 5.7% Likely common fault pattern
3 Rear fog lamp
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp
 Any 131 ×13.3 10.6% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4 Rigid brake pipes (front)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Front 75 ×13.1 6.1% Likely common fault pattern
5 Wheel bearings (front)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
 Front 103 ×13.1 8.3% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
6 Rear fog lamp (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp
 Rear 80 ×11.9 6.5% Likely common fault pattern
7 Emissions not tested
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Emissions not tested
 Any 42 ×10.1 3.4% Likely common fault pattern
8 Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Rear 57 ×8.4 4.6% Likely common fault pattern
9 Exhaust system
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Any 78 ×7.9 6.3% Likely common fault pattern
10 Shock absorbers (rear)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
 Rear 170 ×7.7 13.8% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

# Advisory pattern Location Notes vs similar cars Share Confidence
1 Shackle pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Leaf springs > Shackle pins and bushes
 Rear 21 ×85.8 1.7% Elevated vs peers
2 Wheel bearings (front)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
 Front 267 ×63.0 21.6% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
 Front 68 ×24.7 5.5% Likely common fault pattern
4 Rigid brake pipes
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Any 72 ×12.3 5.8% Possible elevated fault
5 Rigid brake pipes (front)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Front 120 ×7.9 9.7% Likely common fault pattern
6 Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Rear 127 ×7.0 10.3% Likely common fault pattern
7 Shock absorbers (rear)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
 Rear 106 ×4.0 8.6% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
8 Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
 Front 73 ×3.8 5.9% Possible elevated fault

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2017 Isuzu D-Max on this page. Among 1,235 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Rear fog lamp appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 13.3× more often than peers; 131 observed failures; 10.6% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Rear fog lamp (about 13.3× more often than peers; 131 observed failures; 10.6% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Rear fog lamp shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 13.3× more often than peers; 131 observed failures; 10.6% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2017 Isuzu D-Max include Rear fog lamp, Wheel bearings (front), Shock absorbers (rear). These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2017 Isuzu D-Max (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.
PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

  • MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
  • Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Most reliable Isuzu models

See brand-wide MOT rankings and year guidance for Isuzu (separate from this model-year report).