Ask TFLTruck: Are HD Trucks More Reliable than Half-tons?

2015, ford, f-150, f150, ecoboost, towing, video, comparison

What is the most reliable pickup truck on the market today? All manufacturers are dealing with multiple recalls and safety investigations. Many issues and lawsuits get more media exposure now than ever before. Are heavy duty pickups more reliable than half-tons? Josh brings up some great questions.

TFLtruck recently received this question from Josh B.

I am currently in the market for a new pickup. My issue is with all the past problems lingering with: Ram’s transmissions, Chevy’s safety lawsuit, new changes in so many vehicles like Ford’s Electronic Assisted Power Steering, etc. What can I trust to be reliable beyond the warranty? Please help. Every half-ton suits my needs, but I feel like I need to go with a heavy duty for some semblance of reliability, but and HD is more truck than I need.

We, at TFLtruck, only test trucks, SUVs, and all vehicles for about a week. We are not able to do reliability testing for the most part. We do own several trucks ourselves, and we have done several long term updates that have to do with reliability. You can watch these below.

There are other organizations, such as Consumer Reports, that are able to provide detailed reliability data.

If reliability is your primary purchase decision, then avoiding complexity is a good rule of thumb. If you do not plan on towing or hauling on a regular basis, then you should avoid a turbo-diesel. A naturally aspirated V8 or V6 are likely to last longer and be less expensive to fix over the long term.

Yes, heavy duty trucks use heavier and stronger frames, axles, and other components. These trucks tend to last longer, especially when put under stress.

What do you guys say? Please add your comments below.

Here is our long-term update on a 2014 Ford Raptor.

Here is a very long term update on a 2002 Chevy Silverado HD Duramax diesel.