Every pickup nameplate has a rough patch somewhere in its history, even the ones with loyal followings. Owner complaint records show which model years drew the most trouble, what the repairs cost and how many miles had piled up when problems surfaced. Here are twelve pickups, from full-size workhorses to midsize favorites, along with the year that earned the harshest reputation.
Tech news worth reading: Get Techpresso, the daily email with the most interesting tech news and insights, read by 400,000+ professionals from Google, Apple and OpenAI.
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
1. Ford F-150: Oil Burner With a Rattle
According to CarComplaints data on the F-150, 2018 is the truck’s worst year. Excessive oil consumption and a rattling noise led the complaints, averaging $10,300 to fix at about 28,000 miles. The F-150 has drawn 6,067 complaints overall, a large pile that reflects how many of these trucks are on the road.
Shoppers eyeing a 2018 should ask for service records covering oil consumption and any engine noise. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is cheap insurance against a repair bill in five figures.
2. Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Surging and Jerking
The Silverado 1500 has 1,285 complaints on the CarComplaints Silverado page, and 2017 is rated its worst year. Surging and jerking in that model year averages $4,100 to repair at 22,000 miles, which is early enough that many owners may still have been inside the factory warranty.
Anyone considering a 2017 should test-drive it at varied speeds and pay attention to how smoothly it accelerates. Documented dealer visits for drivability complaints are worth asking the seller about.
3. Ram 1500: Jumping at Stops
Ram 1500 owners have filed 1,562 complaints, per the CarComplaints Ram 1500 listing. The worst year by count is 2014, with 387. A separate 2016 problem, trucks that jump at a stop, averages $10,000 to fix at 35,000 miles, while 2016 engine failure averages $7,100 at 78,000.
The gap between the two worst years means a used Ram deserves a close look at its specific model year. Cold starts and slow-speed stops during a test drive can reveal trouble.
4. Toyota Tundra: Early Transmission Trouble
The Tundra has 547 complaints, and CarComplaints rates 2012 worst. Transmission failures that year averaged $5,500 at just 9,000 miles. Another listed problem, an air induction pump, averages $2,900 at 78,000 miles.
The Tundra’s overall complaint count is modest next to the big-volume pickups, so the 2012 trouble stands out. A buyer should confirm what transmission work a 2012 has already received, and check recall status by VIN at NHTSA.
5. Toyota Tacoma: Peeling Paint
The Tacoma has 1,174 complaints, and CarComplaints names 2005 worst. Paint peeling is the headline problem for that year, averaging $3,300 to address at 101,000 miles. That is a cosmetic issue rather than a mechanical failure, though a repaint is hardly cheap.
Condition of the paint, along with the frame and underbody, is worth a careful inspection on any older Tacoma. Photos of past repainting work can help a buyer judge how the truck was treated.
6. Chevrolet Colorado: The Gear That Won’t Shift
The Colorado has 875 complaints, and its 2016 model year is rated worst on the CarComplaints Colorado page. The headline problem is a transmission that will not shift, averaging $3,500 to fix at only 13,000 miles. Trouble that early in a truck’s life tends to land on the first owner.
A used 2016 should get a test drive that includes repeated acceleration through the gears. Checking whether any transmission work was done under warranty can reveal whether the problem has already been addressed.
7. Ford Ranger: Sensors That Keep Failing
The Ranger has 856 complaints. CarComplaints rates the 2019 Ranger worst because of sensors that fail repeatedly, a $6,000 average repair at 26,000 miles. That is a steep bill for a truck with so few miles on it.
Sensor trouble often shows up as warning lights, so a buyer should look for any dashboard messages on a test drive. Ask whether repairs were completed and whether the truck has open recalls at NHTSA.
8. Nissan Frontier: Coolant in the Gearbox
The Frontier has 1,070 complaints. On the CarComplaints Frontier page, the 2005 model year is worst with 284 of them. The leading problem is radiator coolant leaking into the transmission, which averages $3,700 at 103,000 miles.
A leak like that can be hard to spot from the outside, so a buyer of a 2005 should have the transmission fluid inspected for contamination. Documented radiator replacement or a transmission service is a good sign on a truck this old.
9. Honda Ridgeline: A Surprise Stall
The Ridgeline has 363 complaints, a relatively small total. CarComplaints data on the Ridgeline puts the worst year at 2006 with 92 of them. A more recent problem, a 2022 stall, averages $7,600 to repair at 51,000 miles.
Those two entries point to different concerns for different shoppers, one for old trucks and one for newer ones. Checking recall and service history by VIN is sensible with either age, and a mechanic’s inspection adds a useful second opinion.
10. Dodge Dakota: Oil Pressure Woes
The Dakota has 921 complaints, and CarComplaints rates 2000 worst. Oil pressure problems that year average $5,600 to fix at 89,000 miles, which is near the end of a typical ownership stretch for a truck of that age.
An older Dakota should be checked for oil leaks, gauge behaviour and consistent oil pressure at idle. A buyer who finds records of regular oil changes has at least one point in the truck’s favor.
11. GMC Canyon: Shudders and Slips
The Canyon has 242 complaints across its 2004 to 2026 run, and 2017 is its worst model year, with 18, according to the CarComplaints Canyon page. Jerks, shudders, chugs and slips that year average $6,000 to fix at 29,000 miles.
The complaint total is small, so the figures rest on limited reports. Still, a 2017 shopper should test the transmission carefully and ask about any related dealer repairs. Paperwork showing that transmission work was done, and by whom, helps.
12. Chevrolet Avalanche: Oil Consumption Again
The Avalanche has 713 complaints. For the CarComplaints Avalanche listing, 2007 is the worst year with 215. Excessive oil consumption led the way, averaging $2,100 to fix at 70,000 miles.
Owners and buyers of a 2007 should keep an eye on oil level between changes. Records showing how often oil was added can say a lot about the engine’s condition. A truck that has gone long between top-ups is a better bet than one that needed a quart every few weeks, and a compression or leak-down check can add detail.
Tech news worth reading: Get Techpresso →
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
More from Morning Overview
- A handful of car transmissions are so tough that mechanics say they almost never die
- Two Kentucky residents died when a small plane crashed at Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, and the NTSB is investigating
- 11 engines built to run well past 200,000 miles
- Melting permafrost is setting off a newly identified kind of catastrophic landslide, scientists say
