Half Ton Truck Reliability Takes a Step Back

"According to the reliability study, the main culprit behind these issues is technology, unsurprisingly."

Which is one of the reasons I'm reluctant to get a new vehicle. I just need it to go reliably down the road, I don't need it to assist with my driving, park itself or have an integrated entertainment system. I also prefer knobs and switches to touch screens.

I must be old....
 
Yup, long term reliability.

Yesterday my 1995 Dodge Ram 1500, 155K miles, had it's every other year safety inspection. Passed. Fix-it issues noted. Battery measured 509 CCA, the automatic transmission spedometer housing leaking fluid, drain and flush trnasmission, one back up light out.

Not part of the safety inspection: radio doesn't work, passanger side electric door latch doesn't work.

Owned the truck for about 11 years. Check blue book value the other day. It's worth the same dollar amount I pay for it.
 
NEW = JUNK!!! --- sorry but thats the honest facts! ---best truck I ever owned was my old 65 GMC. The v-6 and 3 speed was junk in it when I got it, so I put a 283 from a 67 impala (hi-perf motor to boot) and a 4 speed out of a 2.5 ton dump truck in it and ran for 12 years problem free. Todays junk is impossible to work on, always screwing up and leaving you stranded somewhere! --- ever notice the large amount of wreckers draggin the "new" junk down the road???? --- Buddy of mine owns a towing company and just keeps adding tow trucks to his fleet to keep up with calls. He says the most calls are for newer stuff that dies on the road and brand dont matter.
 
My 2001 Toyota 4Runner has 143k and is going along just fine. If I really wanted a truck and had the funds for a new one, say 35k, I'd buy a 2000 and spend all the money rebuilding it rather than buy a new one.
 
MiCarl":vfm4lzm7 said:
"According to the reliability study, the main culprit behind these issues is technology, unsurprisingly."

Which is one of the reasons I'm reluctant to get a new vehicle. I just need it to go reliably down the road, I don't need it to assist with my driving, park itself or have an integrated entertainment system. I also prefer knobs and switches to touch screens.

I must be old....
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Our ‘07 Jeep Commander has reached its point where I’ve had lots of keep me up at night tear my hair out problems and they’ve all been computer related, 193,000 miles and nothing mechanical. :roll:
I’ve been restoring my old pickup, and love my ‘73 Rallye Charger and carbureted ‘98 Honda Valkyrie motorcycle. I prefer the old stuff too. ;)
 
2003 ford f-150 , bought her at 70,000 miles for $ 5000.00 cash . she has 210,000 miles now . other than lower ball joints , and a fuel pump , hood has not been raised except to change the oil . V-6 , auto tranny, A/C still blows cold so i'm happy . coppersmythe
 
I think we can all blame the epa for this.

They make the mandates, and the companies scramble to make something that will pass.

How about animal pee (def) or those giant dpf (diesel particulate filters) that burn up soot??? Who comes up with this stuff????

The consumer gets stuck footing the bill!!!

I bought a 1996 f150 in 2012 to use as a winter beater. 300 i6 with 5speed stick and 4x4. Previously I had heard some good reports about these trucks.

Had 76500 miles on it then, drove for a while, check engine light came on, friend helped with his snap-on scanner.
Changed the o2 sensors, ecm, never could get the problem solved, so, we chased wires trying to find something with no luck, finally just gave up!

Milage sucks!!! Never got more than 15 mpg, 10 was common!

Even with less than 80,000 miles the front axle u-joints were bad.
Since then both front coil springs broke, the front rear spring hangers rotted away, transfer case shift lever mount broke off, brake lines rotted off, gas tanks rusted to leak. But hey, the fuel lines are stainless steel and still perfect! Lol

Worst truck I ever owned! Has 90,000 miles now and is a pile of scrap!!!

Oh yea... A few years ago it started running rough in the summer when it was damp, if you opened the hood in the night it was a real show under the hood.

Plug wires and coil was throwing arcs and not one was chaffed from rubbing, in fact nothing was touching!
 
Well, you are in the rust capital of the USA, it don't get any worse than N.E. Oh. And, of course, your truck is old enough to wear historical plates.
 
Sage advice from my wife's uncle, who used to own a Chevy dealership in NC: NEVER trade a pick-up truck. Hold on to it, or if you must sell it - sell it yourself.

My 2005 Dodge Ram SLT is at 58 K and I will never sell it. Works fine.
 
My '02 Silverado was the most dependable vehicle I have ever owned up to now. I had over 300,000 miles on it before I sold it, with no major issues that required the engine or transmission to be opened up. In fact, it's still on the road, although the new owner has replaced the transmission. So far, the 2015 model that replaced it has been good, only issues has been an A/C evaporator. My wife's '09 Ford Escape is a nice vehicle and comfortable to drive, but it has had several issues, almost all electronic--ABS computer ($800) and recently an electronic throttle body ($150.) Based on my internet research the throttle body had been a major issue. Based on my non-generalizable experience, it seems that GM has their stuff together technologically speaking, better than Ford......

Al
 
Gary Dotson":rrxmbyg7 said:
Well, you are in the rust capital of the USA, it don't get any worse than N.E. Oh. And, of course, your truck is old enough to wear historical plates.
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You got my vote for salt free Ohio roads!

Ban road salt, brine, anything that would cause rust!!!
 
i wish i could remember the exact year , late 80's , early 90's , ? My dad sold me his isuzu diesel pickup at 60,000 miles ( old school , he always sold his vehicles around 60/70,000 miles ) . after 320,000 miles i sold it to a guy who was selling them to the oil companies in south america . other than a water pump every 100,000 miles like clockwork , original ,clutch, tranny, BRAKE PADS ,starter ect. top speed 65 MPH downhill , :D 36 MPG. KILLED the cost per mile with the IRS company allowance .........coppersmythe..................................I wish i had kept it !!
 
been trying to put the "squeeze" on my neighbor across the street from my shop , his dad has a "last year" square body dodge cummings diesel 3/4 ton pickup with less than 80,000 miles . looks like new . i dont think it has ever been out of louisiana . :D :shock: . i think i am 4th in line after family members :roll: coppersmythe.........................................
 
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