A truck that costs $55,000 on the dealer lot should not need a $4,000 transmission repair before the loan is half paid off. Yet that is exactly the situation facing thousands of pickup owners whose 2022 and 2023 model-year trucks are now piling up complaints in federal safety databases, scoring poorly in dependability studies, and hemorrhaging resale value. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall and complaint database, the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, and Consumer Reports’ reliability ratings for used pickups all converge on the same group of offenders. Here are seven trucks that data suggests you will regret owning after three years.
1. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (2022–2023)
The Silverado has been one of the best-selling vehicles in America for decades, but the 2022 and 2023 model years have generated an outsized volume of NHTSA complaints. Owners report persistent transmission shudder and harsh shifting tied to the 8-speed and 10-speed automatic transmissions, along with electrical gremlins that disable the infotainment screen or cause phantom warning lights. GM issued multiple technical service bulletins addressing transmission calibration, but many owners say the problems return after dealer visits. In the J.D. Power 2025 Vehicle Dependability Study, Chevrolet as a brand landed below the industry average, and the Silverado’s complaint trajectory in federal data reflects that broader trend. Resale values on three-year-old Silverados have softened compared to segment rivals, according to used-market pricing tracked through mid-2026.
2. Ram 1500 (2022–2023)
The Ram 1500 earned praise for its refined interior and coil-spring rear suspension, but the 2022 and 2023 models have developed a reputation for eTorque mild-hybrid system failures and electrical issues. NHTSA complaints describe stalling at low speeds, unresponsive start-stop systems, and instrument cluster blackouts. The truck’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with eTorque has drawn particular scrutiny, with owners reporting that the 48-volt battery pack degrades faster than expected and triggers cascading fault codes. Stellantis, Ram’s parent company, has issued recalls covering airbag software and rearview camera malfunctions on these model years. Consumer Reports flagged the 2022 Ram 1500 with below-average predicted reliability, and owner-reported repair costs after warranty expiration frequently exceed what buyers budgeted for.
3. Ford F-150 (2021–2022)
Ford redesigned the F-150 for 2021 with an aluminum body and a new suite of technology, but early adopters have paid a reliability tax. NHTSA’s database shows a heavy concentration of complaints about windshield wiper failures, which Ford addressed with a recall affecting hundreds of thousands of trucks. Beyond that, owners of the 2.7-liter and 3.5-liter EcoBoost engines have reported oil consumption issues and turbocharger failures that surface between 40,000 and 70,000 miles. The PowerBoost hybrid variant, while fuel-efficient, has generated its own set of complaints involving the integrated electric motor and 10-speed transmission. J.D. Power’s dependability data placed Ford below the industry average in 2025, and the F-150’s three-year depreciation has been steeper than Toyota’s competing Tundra over the same period.
4. Nissan Titan (2021–2023)
The Titan has never matched its Detroit rivals in sales volume, and its reliability record helps explain why. NHTSA complaints for the 2021 through 2023 Titan center on transmission jerking, premature brake wear, and a 9-speed automatic that owners describe as confused during low-speed maneuvers. Nissan discontinued the Titan XD heavy-duty variant after 2023 and has signaled uncertainty about the nameplate’s future, which has cratered resale values. A three-year-old Titan now sells for significantly less than a comparable Tundra or F-150 on the used market. Consumer Reports has consistently rated the Titan below average for reliability, and the truck’s thin dealer network makes warranty service inconvenient for rural owners who bought it as a work vehicle.
5. GMC Sierra 1500 (2022–2023)
The Sierra shares its platform, engines, and transmissions with the Chevrolet Silverado, so it inherits many of the same mechanical complaints. But the Sierra adds a layer of its own problems tied to its more technology-heavy cabin. The 2022 and 2023 models feature GM’s large infotainment screen and a suite of driver-assistance features that owners say malfunction with frustrating regularity. NHTSA complaints describe adaptive cruise control disengaging without warning, lane-keeping assist pulling the steering wheel erratically, and the MultiPro tailgate’s motorized segments failing to latch. Because the Sierra commands a price premium over the Silverado, owners feel the sting of these issues more acutely. The truck’s higher transaction price has not translated into better dependability scores, and three-year-old Sierra Denali trims are depreciating faster than their sticker prices suggested they would.
6. Toyota Tacoma (2024 redesign, early production)
Toyota’s reputation for truck reliability took an unusual hit with the completely redesigned 2024 Tacoma, which began reaching buyers in late 2023. The new 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and 8-speed automatic transmission represent a sharp departure from the Tacoma’s famously conservative powertrain strategy, and early NHTSA complaints reflect the growing pains. Owners have reported rough idle, hesitant throttle response, and rear differential noise. Toyota issued a stop-sale order in early 2024 over a potential engine defect before resuming deliveries. While the Tacoma’s long-term track record remains stronger than most competitors, buyers who purchased early-production 2024 models are now approaching the two-year mark with more unresolved complaints than any recent Tacoma generation. Resale values remain relatively strong thanks to brand loyalty, but the gap between the new Tacoma and its predecessor’s bulletproof reputation is real and measurable in federal data as of mid-2026.
7. Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2023)
GM launched a fully redesigned Colorado and Canyon for the 2023 model year, and the trucks arrived with a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder as the sole engine option. That engine has become a lightning rod for complaints. NHTSA filings describe excessive oil consumption, rough running at cold start, and turbo lag that makes merging onto highways feel uncertain. The Canyon’s AT4X off-road trim, priced above $50,000, has drawn particular frustration from owners who expected premium durability and instead received multiple check-engine lights within the first 30,000 miles. GM has released software updates to address some drivability concerns, but owners report mixed results. Consumer Reports gave the redesigned Colorado below-average reliability marks, and the truck’s three-year resale projection has weakened as complaint volumes grow.
What the federal data actually shows
The trucks on this list did not land here because of forum gossip or a single viral breakdown video. Each one appears in NHTSA’s recall and complaint system with complaint volumes that exceed the norm for their segment and model year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s emissions recall database adds another dimension, particularly for diesel and hybrid powertrains where exhaust aftertreatment failures can trigger four-figure repair bills once factory coverage expires. When federal complaint patterns align with below-average scores in the J.D. Power 2025 Vehicle Dependability Study and poor marks from Consumer Reports owner surveys, the signal is hard to dismiss.
That said, complaint databases have limits. They capture what owners report, not what independent mechanics verify. A truck with a high complaint count may include duplicate filings or problems that were resolved under warranty at no cost. Conversely, some owners never file federal complaints even after expensive repairs, meaning the true failure rate for any model could be higher than the database suggests. The strongest conclusions come from triangulating federal records, large-scale surveys, and real-world resale trends rather than relying on any single source.
How to protect yourself before buying
For anyone shopping the used truck market in mid-2026, the most valuable 15 minutes you can spend is running a VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and scanning the complaint history for that specific model and year. If the truck you are considering shares a model year with any entry on this list, ask the seller for service records and confirm that all open recalls have been completed. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is worth the $150 to $200 fee, especially when federal data flags transmission, engine, or electrical concerns for that platform.
Extended warranties can help, but read the exclusions before signing. Many aftermarket contracts exclude emissions components, turbocharger internals, and hybrid battery packs, which happen to be the exact systems failing on several of these trucks. In some cases, setting aside $2,000 to $3,000 in a dedicated repair fund gives you more flexibility than a warranty contract that fights every claim.
Lease-end decisions deserve the same scrutiny. If your 2023 truck is approaching turn-in and its model appears on reliability watchlists, think carefully before exercising a purchase option that locks you into ownership just as comprehensive warranty coverage expires. The residual value baked into your lease contract may already reflect the truck’s declining reputation, but the repair costs waiting on the other side of that warranty cliff will be yours alone.
The trucks that hold up, and why it matters
Not every truck falls apart at three years. The Toyota Tundra (2022–2023), Honda Ridgeline, and Ford Maverick have posted consistently lower complaint rates and stronger dependability scores over the same ownership window. Their presence in the market proves that durable, well-engineered trucks still exist. The difference is that buyers have to look past marketing and check the data before signing. Federal records, dependability studies, and owner surveys are all free or inexpensive to access. The cost of ignoring them is a truck that drains your bank account long after the new-vehicle excitement fades.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
