Last updated: 2026-10-10
Most Reliable Used Trucks — Ranked by Data
Trucks live harder lives than most vehicles, so the ones that last earn it. Trucks are ranked across complaint severity, repair costs, recall impact, and issue diversity — normalized by sales volume. The ones at the top have the lowest rate of owner-reported trouble. The 2021 Nissan Frontier leads the rankings with a score of 84/100.
Top 10 Most Reliable Trucks
Found Your Next Truck? Check Its History
Before you buy, a VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Truck Reliability Rankings
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Frontier | 2021 | 84/100 | Excellent | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | |
| 2 | Chevrolet Colorado | 2020 | 81/100 | Excellent | 0 | 7.4 | 4 | |
| 3 | Honda Ridgeline | 2022 | 78/100 | Good | 2 | 24.8 | 5 | |
| 4 | GMC Canyon | 2019 | 76/100 | Good | 0 | — | 3 | |
| 5 | Toyota Tundra | 2021 | 75/100 | Good | 3 | 2.8 | 3.5 | |
| 6 | Chevrolet Silverado | 2023 | 75/100 | Good | 4 | 5.4 | 4 | |
| 7 | Ford Ranger | 2022 | 75/100 | Good | 5 | 6.0 | 4 | |
| 8 | Ram 1500 | 2023 | 72/100 | Good | 10 | 3.6 | 3.5 | |
| 9 | Toyota Tacoma | 2021 | 70/100 | Good | 0 | 36.6 | 3.5 | |
| 10 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 2023 | 69/100 | Good | 3 | 13.4 | 3.5 |
Truck Reliability Score Comparison
Visual comparison of reliability scores across all trucks in our database. Longer bars indicate higher reliability.
Trucks by Category
Most Reliable Used Midsize Trucks
See all 8→Most Reliable Used Full-Size Trucks
See all 8→Browse Truck Rankings by Type
Best Budget Trucks by Price
Used trucks hold their value well, but deals exist for buyers who know where to look. Prices are based on current dealer listings.
Best Budget Trucks Under $30,000
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet Colorado | 2022 | 81/100 | Excellent | 1 | 4.4 | 4 | |
| 2 | Honda Ridgeline | 2022 | 78/100 | Good | 2 | 24.8 | 5 | |
| 3 | Ford Ranger | 2022 | 75/100 | Good | 5 | 6.0 | 4 | |
| 4 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 2018 | 66/100 | Good | 5 | 16.0 | 3.5 | |
| 5 | Ford Maverick | 2023 | 60/100 | Good | 20 | 32.7 | 4 | |
| 6 | Toyota Tacoma | 2019 | 55/100 | Mixed | 4 | 120.5 | 3.5 |
2022 Chevrolet Colorado (estimated ~$26,242) — scored 81/100 (Excellent) in our reliability analysis. Average score across all years: 78/100. View years to avoid →
2022 Honda Ridgeline (estimated ~$29,316) — scored 78/100 (Good) in our reliability analysis. Average score across all years: 73/100. View years to avoid →
2022 Ford Ranger (estimated ~$24,995) — scored 75/100 (Good) in our reliability analysis. Average score across all years: 71/100. View years to avoid →
2018 GMC Sierra 1500 (estimated ~$26,900) — scored 66/100 (Good) in our reliability analysis. Average score across all years: 64/100. View years to avoid →
2023 Ford Maverick (estimated ~$24,499) — scored 60/100 (Good) in our reliability analysis. Average score across all years: 57/100. View years to avoid →
2019 Toyota Tacoma (estimated ~$29,999) — scored 55/100 (Mixed) in our reliability analysis. Average score across all years: 63/100. View years to avoid →
Model Highlights
1. 2021 Nissan Frontier — 84/100
Used buyers get a solid midsize truck here, with repair costs below the midsize average and a good overall record. The main thing to watch is power train trouble, where trucks suddenly stop accelerating and dealers find no fault code. Model year 2021 is the pick, with no complaints or recalls on file. Most power train reports come from 2019 and 2020.
- Best year
- 2021
- Best-year score
- 84/100
- Avg across years
- 80/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 0 / 0
2. 2020 Chevrolet Colorado — 81/100
Used Colorados rate well above other trucks, with repair costs close to the midsize average. The 2022 is the year to favor, while the 2023 redesign is the one to avoid because of false automatic emergency braking and blank screens. Across all years, watch for transmission shudder under acceleration and ignition keys that will not come out.
- Best year
- 2020
- Best-year score
- 81/100
- Avg across years
- 78/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 0 / 71
3. 2022 Honda Ridgeline — 78/100
Good overall and above average among trucks, this midsize pickup is a solid used buy, with 2024 the pick and 2019 the year to skip. The most serious complaints are engine failure from connecting rod bearings, which starts as a knock at startup, and a backup camera that goes black when the tailgate wiring frays. Transmission judder shows up most in 2019.
- Best year
- 2022
- Best-year score
- 78/100
- Avg across years
- 73/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 2 / 106
4. 2019 GMC Canyon — 76/100
Rated good overall and above average among trucks, the Canyon is a reasonable used buy with repair costs in line with other midsize trucks. The 2024 is the pick, though its headlights can flicker off and on by themselves. Skip the 2023, where the forward collision system brakes hard with nothing ahead, and watch for 8-speed automatic shudder in any year.
- Best year
- 2019
- Best-year score
- 76/100
- Avg across years
- 71/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 0 / 14
5. 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
- Best-year score
- 75/100
- Avg across years
- 67/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 3 / 23
6. 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
- Best-year score
- 75/100
- Avg across years
- 69/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 4 / 299
7. 2022 Ford Ranger — 75/100
Used Rangers hold up well and rank above average among trucks. The 2019 model year is the one to skip, mostly for a transmission that shifts hard, slips, or skips gears. The 2022 is the better buy, with far fewer owner complaints. Across all years, power train and electrical faults draw the most reports, including a climate system that blows hot on one side and cold on the other.
- Best year
- 2022
- Best-year score
- 75/100
- Avg across years
- 71/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 5 / 34
8. 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
- Best-year score
- 72/100
- Avg across years
- 64/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 10 / 145
9. 2021 Toyota Tacoma — 70/100
Low repair costs and a good reliability standing make the Tacoma a sound used truck, though it ranks below average against other trucks on the site. Favor the 2021 and avoid 2018 and 2019. Watch for an automatic transmission that shudders and hunts for gears at light throttle, and for brake fluid that leaks into the cab.
- Best year
- 2021
- Best-year score
- 70/100
- Avg across years
- 63/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 0 / 69
10. 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
- Best-year score
- 69/100
- Avg across years
- 64/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 3 / 318
11. 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
- Best-year score
- 68/100
- Avg across years
- 62/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 0 / 1
12. 2023 Ford F-150 — 68/100
Ford's full-size pickup holds a good reliability standing as a used buy, sits close to average among trucks, and costs less than the class norm to keep running. Favor the 2024 and approach the 2018 and 2021 model years with caution, since they draw the most trouble. Owners say the 10-speed automatic slips, shifts hard, or drops gears at highway speed, and some trucks roll away while the shifter and dash both read Park.
- Best year
- 2023
- Best-year score
- 68/100
- Avg across years
- 63/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 10 / 383
13. 2023 Rivian R1T — 65/100
Reliability is good, though below average among trucks on the site. The 2024 model year is the pick, with the fewest owner complaints per vehicle sold. The 2023 year drew the most complaints, mostly a passenger airbag that switches itself off for lighter adults. Electrical faults, including sudden warnings and loss of power, are the other area to check before buying.
- Best year
- 2023
- Best-year score
- 65/100
- Avg across years
- 65/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 7 / 35
14. 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz — 64/100
Reliability for the Santa-Cruz rates good and sits close to the truck average, but the 2022 is the year to skip. Its owners report sudden power loss while merging onto a highway, and some trucks needed a new transmission before 20,000 miles. The 2024 is the better buy, though its reports include a transmission that slips into neutral when pulling away from a stop.
- Best year
- 2023
- Best-year score
- 64/100
- Avg across years
- 61/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 2 / 73
15. 2023 Ford Maverick — 60/100
Reliability is good, but it depends heavily on the year. Early trucks from 2022 and 2023 draw the most owner complaints, mainly front CV axles that wear out and shake the truck under acceleration, and a 12-volt battery that drains and leaves it dead. The 2024 model year is the safer used buy. Hybrid owners also report brakes that grab at parking speeds.
- Best year
- 2023
- Best-year score
- 60/100
- Avg across years
- 57/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 20 / 308
16. 2023 Jeep Gladiator — 51/100
Used Gladiators rate well below other trucks, and the trouble sits mostly in the early years. Steering is the big one: loose, wandering steering and a violent front-end shake called death wobble. Dash screens that go black come next. Favor 2024 over 2020 and 2021, which drew the most complaints. The 2025 and 2026 trucks look clean mainly because they have had little time on the road.
- Best year
- 2023
- Best-year score
- 51/100
- Avg across years
- 50/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 5 / 46
17. 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning — 45/100
Used F-150 Lightning trucks are a mixed buy, and the model year matters a great deal. The 2022 and 2023 trucks draw the most complaints, led by sheared rear axle bolts and speakers that blast static at startup. The 2024 is the better pick, with far fewer complaints, though owners still report a sticking shifter and unexpected surging.
- Best year
- 2023
- Best-year score
- 45/100
- Avg across years
- 42/100
- Recalls / complaints
- 11 / 175
Also Compare
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the most reliable used truck?
- Based on our data, the 2021 Nissan Frontier is the most reliable used truck with a score of 84/100 ("Excellent"). It has 0 recalls and 0 owner complaints.
- Are used trucks reliable?
- Reliability varies by make, model, and year. Full-size trucks are complex vehicles with powerful engines and heavy-duty components, which means more potential failure points. However, well-maintained trucks from reliable manufacturers can last well over 200,000 miles.
- What truck engine is the most reliable?
- Naturally aspirated V8 engines generally have fewer issues than turbocharged options, though modern turbo engines have improved significantly. Check our model-year reports for engine-specific reliability data.
- Should I buy a first-year redesign truck?
- First-year redesigns typically have more issues as manufacturers work out production kinks. Our data shows that the final year of a generation often scores higher than the first year of a new generation. When possible, consider a model year that has had time for refinement.
- What is the most reliable used truck on a budget?
- For budget buyers, the 2019 Ford F-150 offers the best reliability in the under-$20,000 price range, scoring 65/100.
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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