Every pickup has a year that owners wish had never left the factory. CarComplaints tracks owner reports by model year, and each truck below has one standout year with a costly, specific failure. Here are twelve pickups, each paired with the model year that earned the worst rating and the repair bill attached to it.
1. 2018 Ford F-150: Shifting Hard and Expensive
CarComplaints rates 2018 as the worst year for the F-150, going by F-150 complaint listings for the pickup. Hard shifting is the headline problem, with repairs averaging $7,200 and showing up at around 35,000 miles.
A bill that size arriving that early lands well before most loans are paid off. Buyers considering a used 2018 would be wise to ask for transmission service records and to test-drive it through several gear changes under both gentle and hard throttle before agreeing to a price.
2. 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Surging at 22,000 Miles
Owners and Silverado 1500 complaint data point to 2017 as the weakest year for the Silverado 1500. The leading complaint is surging and jerking, which averages $4,100 to repair and appears at just 22,000 miles.
Trouble that early suggests affected trucks had barely left the showroom era. Shoppers eyeing a 2017 would do well to check whether the work was already done, and to watch for any lurching during a test drive at steady city speeds.
3. 2014 Ram 1500: Steering That Quits
The worst year for the Ram 1500 is 2014, according to Ram 1500 complaint records, which logs 387 complaints for it. Power-steering failure is the problem that stands out, with an average repair cost of $3,100 at about 82,000 miles.
Losing assist at that mileage turns a high-mileage bargain into a safety concern and a surprise expense. Anyone shopping for a used 2014 should test the steering at parking-lot speeds and ask whether the system has ever been repaired or replaced.
4. 2005 Toyota Tacoma: Paint That Peels Away
Peeling paint puts 2005 at the top of the list of troubled Tacoma years in Tacoma complaint listings. The average fix runs $3,300 and typically surfaces around 101,000 miles, so the damage tends to show up late.
Cosmetic failure still carries a hefty price when whole panels need refinishing. Used-truck shoppers could inspect the roof, hood and tailgate in daylight for flaking or bubbling, and use any visible damage as leverage when negotiating a 2005 example.
5. 2012 Toyota Tundra: Transmission Gone at 9,000 Miles
Premature transmission failure defines the worst Tundra year, which Tundra complaint data identifies as 2012. Reported repairs average $5,500, and the failures arrive after only about 9,000 miles.
Such a short odometer reading suggests the trouble hits almost from new, so an affected truck could already have been fixed once. Prospective owners of a 2012 would want paperwork showing whether the transmission was replaced, plus a clean test drive with smooth shifts.
6. 2005 Nissan Frontier: Radiator Trouble Downstream
A radiator failure that contaminates the transmission makes 2005 the worst Frontier year, with 284 complaints recorded in Frontier complaint listings. The average repair costs $3,700 at roughly 103,000 miles.
Because one failed part damages a second, the bill grows beyond a simple radiator swap. Shoppers considering a 2005 may want proof that the radiator has been replaced, and fluid that looks clean rather than milky, before treating the truck as a safe buy.
7. 2018 Nissan Titan: Vibration at Highway Speed
Severe vibration at highway speeds earns 2018 the label of worst Titan year in Titan complaint data. The reported fix averages $7,000, a figure that rivals the biggest repair bills for any truck here.
A shake that appears only once the truck is at cruising speed can be missed on a short drive around the block. Buyers looking at a used 2018 should plan a stretch of freeway driving, and ask a seller directly whether the problem was ever diagnosed or repaired.
8. 2016 Chevrolet Colorado: A Transmission That Hesitates
Among Colorado model years, 2016 draws the worst rating in Colorado complaint listings. The complaint centers on a transmission that fails to shift properly, averaging $3,500 to correct and appearing at only 13,000 miles.
Showing up that soon, the issue may well have been addressed by a previous owner. Anyone weighing a 2016 should request service history and pay attention to delayed or harsh gear changes during an extended test drive.
9. 2019 Ford Ranger: Sensors That Keep Failing
Repeat sensor failures make 2019 the worst Ranger year, as Ranger complaint data rates it. The average repair is $6,000 and appears at about 26,000 miles, a steep sum for such a young truck.
The word repeatedly matters here, since a single replacement may not end the trouble. Used shoppers might check for open warning lights, ask how many times sensors have been replaced, and confirm that any dealer repairs are documented in writing.
10. 2015 GMC Sierra 1500: Air Conditioning Gives Out
The cheapest repair on this list belongs to the Sierra 1500, whose worst year is 2015 in Sierra 1500 complaint listings. A dead A/C averages $1,300 and turns up at about 61,000 miles.
A smaller bill, yet it can arrive just as summer heat does, and cooling work can be labor-heavy. Buyers inspecting a used 2015 could run the air conditioning for a full test drive, checking that the cabin cools quickly and the system does not cycle off.
11. 2006 Honda Ridgeline: Cylinder Number Four Fails
Honda’s Ridgeline hit its low point in 2006, logging 92 complaints in Ridgeline complaint data. A failed No. 4 cylinder is the specific fault, averaging $2,900 to repair at around 107,000 miles.
The complaint count is modest, but a single dead cylinder is still an expensive failure. Shoppers could ask for compression-test results, engine repair records and a cold-start demonstration before committing to any 2006 example that has high mileage on the odometer.
12. 2000 Dodge Dakota: Oil Pressure Disappears
Loss of oil pressure marks 2000 as the worst Dakota year, based on Dakota complaint listings. The average repair comes to $5,600 and typically strikes near 89,000 miles.
A drop in oil pressure is a serious warning for an engine, and the bill reflects that. Anyone considering a 2000 would be wise to check the oil gauge behavior at idle and under load, and to review maintenance records for regular oil changes before agreeing on a price.
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