Is New Pickup Truck Reliability Getting Worse?
Shopping for a new car has long been a stressful process for many people. It’s a large chunk of cash, and if you aren’t into it, there can be a lot of fear in picking the wrong car. One of the biggest fears of buying a new car is buying something that isn’t reliable. Spending cash on a new car only for it to stay in the shop is enough to turn your stomach. This is why Consumer Reports is big on keeping track of the most and least reliable vehicles. Unfortunately, pickup trucks are one of the most popular segments, and according to Consumer Reports, pickup truck reliability, at large, is troubling.
Are new pickup trucks reliable?
Consumer Reports have researched every segment of the automotive industry. Of all vehicle types, CR says that pickup truck reliability is the worst. In fact, trucks have stayed lower on the reliability lists for six of the past seven years. Making matters worse, CR also reports that 7 out of the 17 models reviewed by the team have average or better reliability. Yikes.
Pick a major truck nameplate, and chances are, it falls into the poor reliability category. Cr explains the Toyota Tundra, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Nissan Frontier, and Jeep Gladiator, only to name a few, got rough scores.
On the other hand, there were a few pickup truck models that stood out as more reliable than the rest. The 2023 Toyota Tacoma, Ford Maverick, Maverick Hybrid, Ford Ranger, and Honda Ridgeline.
Which 2023 pickup trucks are worth it?
Here’s the problem, as we mentioned at the top of the article, buying new vehicles is difficult because, for most of us, buying a car is one of the most expensive purchases you’ll make. This has only gotten more true as new and used car prices have skyrocketed.
Inflation for new pickup trucks is worse than in any other segment. This is partly because all new vehicles are short of supply because of the lack of semiconductor chips. Secondly, pickup trucks are in crazy high demand due to them not only being personal vehicles but they are also popular commercial and recreational vehicles.
This increase in price also comes with an increase in vehicle deliveries, too. All that to say, picking the right truck has never been more important. That is why Consumer Reports publishes these predicted reliability ratings.
The old standbys continue to be models like the Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tacoma, and the Ford Ranger. The Toyota Tacoma is wildly popular. It needs no help from me to convince anyone to buy it. However, while the Ford Ranger continues to grow in popularity, the Honda Ridgeline is still struggling to find tons of buyers. It is one of the most consistently reliable and useable pickup trucks on the market, year after year.
Buying a pickup truck is hard
If buying a new pickup truck feels too difficult and overwhelming, it’s ok; you’re in good company. The stakes are high these days. It makes sense to want to buy the right truck the first time. Just remember to do your research, take your time (if you can), and make wise choices.
