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Warning lights

Diesel particulate filter (DPF) light

The particulate filter is filling with soot and needs a regeneration cycle — usually a sustained drive at highway speed.

Urgency:Service soon

Is it safe to keep driving?

Yes, and driving is the fix: 15 to 20 minutes at a steady 40+ mph usually lets the filter regenerate. Ignoring it leads to a blocked filter and a very expensive replacement.

Likely causes

  • Repeated short trips that never let the filter regenerate
  • Failed regeneration due to another fault
  • Wrong engine oil (non low-ash)

Typical repair cost (US)

$0 – $3,500

Free if a highway drive clears it; a forced regeneration at a shop mid-range; filter replacement at the high end.

A typical range, not a quote. Actual cost depends on the car, the shop and the fault.

What to do now

  1. Take the car for a sustained highway drive as soon as possible.
  2. If the light does not clear, or turns red or flashes, have the car seen before the filter blocks completely.
Read the full guide →Check your VIN for open recalls →All warning lights