Most Reliable Used Full-Size Trucks — Ranked by Data
8 full-size trucks ranked on complaint severity, repair costs, recall impact, and issue diversity — each one normalized by sales volume. The 2021 Toyota Tundra tops our rankings with a score of 75/100.
Last updated: 2026-10-10
Most Reliable Used Full-Size Trucks Rankings
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Tundra | 2021 | 75/100 | Good | 3 | 2.8 | 3.5 | |
| 2 | Chevrolet Silverado | 2023 | 75/100 | Good | 4 | 5.4 | 4 | |
| 3 | Ram 1500 | 2023 | 72/100 | Good | 10 | 3.6 | 3.5 | |
| 4 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 2023 | 69/100 | Good | 3 | 13.4 | 3.5 | |
| 5 | Ram ProMaster | 2018 | 68/100 | Good | 0 | 0.2 | 2 | |
| 6 | Ford F-150 | 2023 | 68/100 | Good | 10 | 8.1 | 3.5 | |
| 7 | Rivian R1T | 2023 | 65/100 | Good | 7 | 18.0 | 3 | |
| 8 | Ford F-150 Lightning | 2023 | 45/100 | Mixed | 11 | 72.4 | 1.5 |
Score Comparison
Visual comparison of reliability scores. Longer bars indicate higher reliability.
Model Highlights
1. 2021 Toyota Tundra — 75/100
Reliability standing is good, and estimated yearly repair costs run well below the full-size truck average. The 2021 is the safer used pick, while the 2022 brings sudden engine failure and a throttle that goes dead when pulling away from a stop. Owners across all years also report fuel pumps that fail and stall the truck, and pre-collision faults that can cut off trailer brakes.
Best year: 2021 (score: 75/100, 3 recalls, 23 complaints). Average score across all years: 67/100.
2. 2023 Chevrolet Silverado — 75/100
Used Silverados rate good and sit above average among full-size trucks. The weak spots are a transmission that can shift hard, shudder, or slip, and lifter failure that can end in a new engine. Skip 2019 and 2020. Look at 2023 first. The 2025 and 2026 trucks look clean mostly because they have had little time on the road.
Best year: 2023 (score: 75/100, 4 recalls, 299 complaints). Average score across all years: 69/100.
3. 2023 Ram 1500 — 72/100
Owners get a solid used truck here, with yearly repair costs below the full-size truck average. The 2024 is the pick and the 2019 is the year to avoid. Watch for a touchscreen that registers ghost touches and electric power steering that cuts out without warning, since those two problems show up across many model years.
Best year: 2023 (score: 72/100, 10 recalls, 145 complaints). Average score across all years: 64/100.
4. 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 — 69/100
Failed valve lifters are the big risk with used Sierra 1500 trucks, and they can wreck an engine with little warning. Reliability rates good and close to average among full-size trucks. Skip 2019 and 2020, favor 2024, and test drive any truck for hard, lunging shifts from the automatic.
Best year: 2023 (score: 69/100, 3 recalls, 318 complaints). Average score across all years: 64/100.
5. 2018 Ram ProMaster — 68/100
Used Promaster vans hold up well, though they rate below average against other trucks on the site. Transmission trouble is the big worry: delayed or harsh shifts, no reverse, and vans waiting weeks or months on back-ordered parts. Rainwater leaking past the windshield cowl can soak wiring and sensors and stall the engine. The 2018 is the year to favor, while 2019 and 2021 draw the most complaints.
Best year: 2018 (score: 68/100, 0 recalls, 1 complaints). Average score across all years: 62/100.
Found Your Next Car? Check Its History
Before you buy, a VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the most reliable used full-size trucks?
- Based on our data, the 2021 Toyota Tundra is the most reliable with a score of 75/100 ("Good"). It has 3 recalls and 23 owner complaints.
- How many full-size trucks did we analyze?
- We analyzed 8 models in this category. The average reliability score is 67/100.
- How are reliability scores calculated?
- Every 0–100 score blends complaint severity (35%), repair costs (30%), recall impact (20%), and issue diversity (15%). Complaints are weighted by component type — powertrain and safety issues count more than cosmetic ones — and normalized by sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases via vehicles.dev. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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