There have been so many years and models of trucks produced that it is hard to single out fifteen of the most reliable. For this particular list, the new models will be left for another article, as will anything produced before 2000. That leaves 23 years' worth of pickup trucks that can be chosen from. Since Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted review sites on the internet, that is where the customer reliability ratings will come from.
Keep in mind that not every consumer will have the same things to say about the trucks that they have chosen to buy, but when the thoughts are combined with those of other truck owners, if anything matches more than a couple of times, it can safely be said that it may be a model wide problem. So, on the flip side of that coin, when people have nothing but good things to say about a specific model and year, it is a safe bet that the truck is reliable and can be trusted by others in the market to buy a used truck that will not let them down.
It all boils down to what current and past truck owners are saying and what the experts have claimed to be the top dogs of the pickup truck industry. What is expected out of a truck is not only being dependable on and off the main roads, but it must also handle hard work and even harder play. The following fifteen trucks are ranked highly on every list and can be found in garages and driveways across the nation.
1 2014 Nissan Frontier Receives A 5 Out Of 5 Customer Reliability Rating
Nissan trucks have been around for a long time, but they have never overcome the mass amounts of publicity that the big three American carmakers push out. People who have owned a Nissan truck, such as this author, have only one complaint about them. The body and the paint simply do not hold out like they are expected to. The paint chips and peels long before the truck should be due for a new paint job, and the truck's body is not designed to keep water out. The seals around the doors and windows tend to leak and must be replaced with better versions. Despite that, though, the truck has been given a 5 out of 5 reliability rating by Consumer Reports because the majority of owners have nothing but good to say about their 2014 Nissan Frontier.
2 2014 Honda Ridgeline Surprises All With A 92/100
The Honda Ridgeline is not a truck that would be expected to be on the top fifteen list, but it shows up so often that it can only be included during its best years. The Ridgeline is a sedan built on the body of a truck, so as would be expected, it drives smoothly on the main roads, but even so, it performs off the beaten path just fine. The reliability ranking for the 2014 Honda Ridgeline came in at a high 92 out of 100, with consumers saying all is good except for the in-car electronics.
3 2017 Toyota Tundra Has An Amazing 90/100
Toyota Tundra struggled to produce a good, reliable truck throughout the first generation, but once 2008 rolled around, they seemed to start figuring things out. 2017 was the pinnacle moment for the Tundra, receiving a high rating of 90 out of 100 from Consumer Reports. The only real problem reported by truck owners has to deal with the fuel system. The fuel gauge can be off by up to 10 gallons, and the fuel pump has an issue with going out before it should. Other than that, only minor things have been reported, which are more annoyances than anything else.
4 2003 Toyota Tacoma Earns A Respectable 89/100
It should not be surprising that the Toyota Tacoma appears on this list because the company makes good trucks. So many top-rated trucks for the decade have the Tacoma listed that it will only appear here a couple of times, but it could take up over half the list. Consumer Reports has the 2003 Toyota Tacoma earning an 89 out of 100 for reliability. The only major issue that owners report is that it has a rough, uncomfortable ride.
5 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Gains An 83/100
When it comes to heavy-duty work trucks, one of the names that always comes up is the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. As expected from a heavy-duty truck, it rides a little rough offroad because the suspension is set up more for towing and hauling than for driving up a rock embankment. Consumer Reports tested the truck inside and out and rated it 83 out of 100. The only major complaint owners have is that the drive system has some bugs that must be resolved.
6 2020 Toyota Tundra Is On The Rise With An 83/100
Toyota has always been one of those trucks that can put in a full day of work and then go off the beaten path to play around in the mud. The Tundra did have moments throughout its production that were not so great, but the engineers have been slowly working out all the kinks. The experts give the 2020 Toyota Tundra an overall reliability rating of 83 out of 100. Owners have a ton of good things to say about the Tundra, but one common issue that has been reported is with the fuel system, which seems to be a problem for most of the years of this truck.
7 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD Rises To An 83/100
The 2009 GMC Sierra is powerful enough to get through a hard work day, but it is not one of the best choices for basic or offroad driving because the suspension is so stiff. The great thing is that the 2500HD could be ordered with two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or even as a dually for extra large loads. It comes in with a rating of 83 out of 100. Current and past owners claim that the Sierra 2500HD is a dependable truck, with the main issue being the drive system, which seems to be a common issue with most of the years of this truck.
8 2007 Toyota Tacoma Has A Good Consumer Reliablity Rating Of 82 Out Of 100
Once again, the Toyota Tacoma comes up as one of the most reliable trucks, coming in with a rating of 82 out of 100. The 4.0L V6 under the hood gets respectable fuel mileage, and the improvements made to the interior make the truck a much more comfortable ride. It is no longer just a work truck but one that can be used as a daily driver. Consumers do not have much to say about the Tacoma in a bad way, except for the clutch in pickup trucks with a manual transmission installed.
9 2009 Honda Ridgeline Gets An 80 Out Of 100 Consumer Reliabity Rating
The 2009 Honda Ridgeline is much more agile around corners than most pickups, but that could be because they are designed like a sedan slapped onto a truck's frame with a unibody frame. It has an all-wheel drive which is helpful when driving in uncertain weather, and it has a switch to allow the computer to give more torque to the wheels that need it, such as when stuck in the mud. The 2009 Ridgeline earned an 80 out of 100; the only major complaint owners list is issues with the in-car electronics.
10 2018 GMC Sierra 2500 Gets 66 Out Of 100 Reliability Rating
One of the things about trucks that make them pickups is that they must be able to put in a full day's work but still be comfortable and roomy enough to take the family to the best camping spot while towing the boat or camper behind. One of the top pickups in its class is the 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD, even though it only receives a reliability rating of 66 out of 100. However, an HD truck designed to tow more weight may have a few issues logged into the reporting system when people expect it to ride like a car. The only real complaints about the 2500HD are that the truck can sometimes shift roughly when going down a gear from third, and the fuel system components can give some problems.
11 2016 GMC Canyon Gets A 4 Out Of 5 Customer Reliability Rating
The shift from internal combustion engines (ICE) to hybrids and EVs has been going on for some time. However, there is still a long way to go before the majority of the public makes the move. Until then, one thing that buyers can do to reduce their carbon emissions is to sell the full-size truck and buy a small version that can still get the most common jobs done. The 2016 GMC Canyon is an excellent option because it can tow up to 7,000 pounds, more than the average camper weighing around 5,000 pounds. Plus, Consumer Reports shows that it gets a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, which is not bad considering some of the other options on the market.
12 2019 Nissan Titan Gets 6 Out Of 10 Overall Rating
The dependability of the full-size Nissan Titan has never really been questioned because the company produces some very good cars and trucks. For some reason, Consumer Reports do not have enough information from buyers for the 2019 Nissan Titan to give any kind of rating, so in this instance, Car and Driver reviews will be used.
Through their intensive testing regime, the truck came out with a 6 out of 10, which is great considering everything they covered. The main issues they found were that the ride in the Titan was rough on any terrain and that the towing capacity was lower than any other truck in its class. If in doubt, check out the resale rating given by JD Powers, which is 86 out of 100, showing that since people are still willing to buy the truck used, that they are thought of in a good light by most buyers.
13 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche Is A Customer Favorite
Like most other truck manufacturers, Chevy has had some issues, but they always find a way to reach the top of the list for reliability. The 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche is part truck, part car, but better than both because they are so versatile. Consumer Reports does not have enough information to rate this one correctly, but when you look at the customer satisfaction numbers listed by Edmunds, it can safely be said that the 2011 Avalanche belongs in the top fifteen.
14 2022 Rivian R1T Is Another Absolute Customer Favorite
Since the Rivian R1T is a new all-electric truck created by a small startup company, Consumer Reports does not recommend buying the 2023 model. Still, since they did not conduct a complete analysis of the first-year model, it is necessary to dig a little deeper. When looking through some reviews from current owners of the 2022 Rivian R1T, one thing is for sure, they absolutely love their truck. People have written in after 1000 miles all the way up to 4000 miles. They all state that the truck is not only one of the quickest and most comfortable pickups they have ever driven but that it has been one of the most reliable that they have ever had parked in their driveways.
15 2008 Lincoln Mark LT Is Rated By Buyers Higher Than Expected
Another truck that has not been thoroughly analyzed by Consumer Reports is the 2008 Lincoln Mark LT. Maybe because it was only in production for three years, or perhaps people have simply not handed over any information to the review site, good or bad. The thing is, though, that when reading through various reviews across the internet, one thing becomes very apparent. The people that did buy the 2008 Lincoln Mark LT love it. The only issues listed on any sites are that the purchase price (new and used) is not a value for the money and that parts for repairs may be hard to find in some regions of the world.
FAQ
Q: What Is The Best Truck To Buy In 2022?
Based on reliability, the best truck to buy in 2022 is the Toyota Tacoma, which comes in with a Consumer Reports score of 74. This truck is followed closely by the Ford Lightning, which received a 73. Both of these trucks would be a great buy in 2022.
Q: What Is The Average Lifetime Of A Truck?
The lifetime of a truck will depend mainly on how the truck is treated. If it is taken care of, a truck can last beyond 200k miles. Still, since most significant issues with trucks begin around 100,000 miles, it is imperative to repair and maintain when needed.
Q: What Is The Number One Truck To Buy?
If you trust the rest of the consumers throughout the nation, the Ford F-150 is the best truck to buy. It has been the top-selling truck for so many years that the competition has focused more on its own trucks than trying to unseat the Ford. If you want an all-around dependable truck that can work and play with the best of them, the F-150 is perfect for you.
Q: What Truck Brand Is The Best?
Even though Ford has been on the top of the ladder for numerous years, the Ram 1500 has been steadily climbing. US News has given the 2023 Ram 1500 the distinguished honor of being the top pick of the year for them. It is a truck on the rise, and it is a good bet that Ram will be one of the top trucks for a long time.