Full-Sized Pickup Trucks From Detroit Haven't Proved To Be The Most Reliable Among Used Vehicles ―Here Are The Most Reliable Pickup Trucks to Buy Used Instead, Say These Experts

The Big Three popular full-sized pickup trucks from Detroit—the Silverado, the F-150, and the Ram—have had less-than-stellar reviews from multiple sources regarding whether or not you should buy one used.

And for good reasons. Reliability is the top complaint as these models struggle to approach the 100,000-mile mark and are past their warranty period.

So, what are your options? Two come to mind that are reasonable alternatives if buying a brand new truck is beyond your budget for both the mechanic and non-mechanic pickup truck shopper:

1. Find a used truck model with proven relatively reasonable reliability and capable of DIY repairs.
2. Follow the advice of a recent Consumer Reports rating of used pickup truck models that should have plenty of life left in them.

DIY That Older Model Truck

In an earlier article this year, I discussed that if you are dissatisfied with the price and performance of modern trucks today, one option is to look for an older model that you can actually work on and solve many of its problems while maintaining it as a perfectly good daily driver with the assistance of one useful new resource: The Haynes automotive manual.

Related article: Best Tools for the DIY Home Mechanic

However, this is not the same maintenance and repair manual your father had for working on his truck. Rather, there is a new format that is easier to read and follow and offers much more information for fixing many older models of Ford trucks.

According to the Haynes website, it is a new and improved online DIY Manual that will "…help you take full control of your car's repair and maintenance tasks with 10-times more coverage than a printed book and thousands of tasks covered. "

How far back? You ask.

For example, the new digital-style Haynes manuals cover a range of Ford truck models from 2015 to 2023.

Currently, the Ford truck model manuals offered include the following five models:

1. Ford F-150 2015-2020
2. Ford F-250 2017-2022
3. Ford F-350 2017-2022
4. Ford F-350 Super Duty 2023 to present
5. Ford Ranger 2019-2023

To find the manual that is right for you, here is the link to Haynes' offer for their new online manual, which is a game-changer for Ford enthusiasts and DIY mechanics.

Buy Rather Than DIY That Older Model Truck

In a recent Consumer Reports rating on pickup trucks, they determined that finding a used truck to fit your needs and your budget should not be a search for the most popular truck models:

"Detroit's trio of full-sized pickup trucks—the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-Series, and Ram—have been the top-selling vehicles in the U.S. for a few years. But despite their popularity, the lumbering darlings of American automakers' bottom line haven't proved to be the most reliable options among used vehicles."

"On top of that, new pickup trucks—full-sized trucks in particular—tend to be expensive. Although the newest ones usually have the most safety equipment and luxury trappings, some late-model trucks can offer similar features along with traditional truck capability for much less money.

As such, CR analysts dug into their consumer survey data and produced a new list of used pickup truck models and years they recommend as the ones you should be looking for that although not always the most popular, are affordable, reliable, and available today in the used pickup truck market.

Most Reliable Used Pickup Trucks

Here are the models and the years they recommend buying used:

1. Ford Maverick 2022

Price Range: $21,075 - $29,625

Owner Reported MPG: 27 mpg

Other Recommended Model Years: 2023-2024

2. Honda Ridgeline 2021

Price Range: $25,825 - $31,075

Owner Reported MPG: 22 mpg

Other Recommended Model Years: 2013-2014, 2020-2021, 2024

3. Toyota Tacoma 2020

Price Range: $20,100 - $39,375

Owner Reported MPG: 20 mpg

Other Recommended Model Years: 2010-2015, 2017-2023

4. Toyota Tundra 2018

Price Range: $21,650 - $33,225

Owner Reported MPG: 16 mpg

Other Recommended Model Years: 2012, 2014-2021

For additional articles related to used truck recommendations, here are three for your consideration:

1. Most Reliable Used Pickup Trucks Consumer Reports Recommends
2. Chevy Trucks to Buy and Not Buy Explained by a Chevrolet Mechanic
3. Nissan Frontier Warning for Used Truck Shoppers

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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