Used trucks are some of the most popular vehicles for sale across the country. People love these rigs because they can handle the toughest work and stay in excellent condition for years. Pickup trucks are more than just workhorses; they are also lifestyle vehicles that help define their drivers.
While there are plenty of amazing used trucks on the market, not every preowned pickup is equal. To help you determine which used trucks, you should avoid and which ones should be on your wish list, here are three unreliable and three ultra-reliable used trucks available today.
Unreliable: 2004-2005 GMC Envoy SUV
While plenty of trucks from the early 2000s are still kicking today, the GMC Envoy is not a great option. In fact, GMC only sold this pickup truck for two years before realizing it needed to go. The goal was to create a pickup-SUV combo, but it ended up being more of a mixture of quality issues that never gave this rig a chance.
Reliable: 2015 Toyota Tacoma
2015 was one of the best years for the off-road-ready Toyota Tacoma. This rig continues to earn perfect scores from Consumer Reports reliability ratings. This pickup can easily break the 250,000-mile mark with the proper maintenance.
Unreliable: 2005-2009 Nissan Frontier
When the first generation of the Nissan Frontier hit the market in 1997, it became an instant hit. Sadly, the same can’t be said for the second generation. This pickup truck is plagued with transmission issues, radiator problems, and other challenges that make it the last truck you’d want to buy used.
Reliable: 2017 Honda Ridgeline
Unlike other pickup trucks, the Ridgeline relies on a unibody design instead of a body-on-frame build. That means this truck has more in common with a Honda SUV or Minivan than with a pickup truck. Don’t be confused, though; this beast is all truck. Some drivers have reported breaking 300,000 miles with a Ridgeline, which isn’t surprising for a Honda.
Unreliable: 2000-era Chevy Silverado
While the Chevy Silverado is usually a great purchase, some of the early 2000s models didn’t quite live up to this truck’s reputation. This rig continues to run into problems from rusted brake lines to oil consumption. In fact, the infamous “clunking” noise that is associated with older trucks can be attributed to this era of Silverados.
Reliable: 2015 Chevy Silverado
Clearly, Chevrolet figured out what it was doing wrong with earlier versions of the Silverado and made a ton of improvements. 2015 is one of the best years to explore used trucks with this nameplate. With property maintenance, drivers are enjoying this ride well past 300,000 miles.
