Complaints about Pickup Trucks: The Big Three
The three best-selling, and perhaps most problematic, pickup trucks on the market today are the Ford F150, the Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram Trucks. We take a look at some of the recent issues facing our pickup truck owner clients.
Pickup trucks are a stalwart of American life. The top three best selling vehicles in North America are pickup trucks – the Ford F150, Ram Trucks, and the Chevy Silverado. Whether hauling dirt on the farm, taking kayaks for a weekend trip to the river, or transporting the backdrop for your kid’s school play, pickup trucks are versatile and powerful. And in today’s automotive industry, they are packed with features that make them a practical and comfortable everyday vehicle, not just a workhorse. Unfortunately, the most popular pickup trucks in the country are also some of the vehicles that generate the most complaints for our lemon law team at Timothy Abeel & Associates.
1. Ford F150
The Ford F150 is the best-selling vehicle in North America. It recently fell to second place in the Kelley Blue Book category of most considered truck in the U.S., losing out to the Chevy Silverado. However, the F150 is still listed by KBB as the best full size pickup truck, and at the end of 2021 was “the most-shopped vehicle for eight consecutive quarters.”
We get frequent complaints from Ford F150 owners telling us that their new F150 pickup truck has been causing them problems. Some of the issues that we have seen recently with the F150 are:
Excessive oil consumption: F150s are using oil at such abnormal rates that it has led to a class action lawsuit on some models.
Wipers do not work: F150 owners complain that their wipers simply do not work and that it is not safe to drive their truck in the rain. Ford finally issued not one but two recalls for this in March and April 2022.
Engine problems: We hear about a lot of engine problems in the F150 including stall outs and complete engine replacement after just a few thousand miles.
Driveshafts breaking off: This is a common problem and led to a recent recall of the F150. A fractured driveshaft can cause loss of control of the pickup truck while driving or the truck inadvertently moving while in park.
Faulty transmission: Jolting, jerking, slipping, and vibrations are all reported in the F150 transmission, with some clients requiring a full transmission replacement in their new truck.
2. Ram Trucks
The family of Ram Trucks are the second best selling pick up trucks in the U.S., behind the Ford F150. They are hugely popular but generate a lot of problems for our lemon law clients.
Electrical issues: Clients complain about various problems with the electrics on the Ram Truck. For some, it is issues with sensors and with the CEL coming on without explanation. For many, the rear camera goes blue, only comes on intermittently, or does not work at all.
Defective sunroof: Leaks, shattering glass, and a sunroof that will not open are just some problems we hear about the Ram Truck sunroof.
Fuel tank fill up problems: The Ram Truck fuel tank neck has created major problems for owners. The gas nozzle often will not fit in the truck, or will get stuck. We wrote in more detail about this here, and it is still a problem in newer model Ram Trucks.
Transmission defects: The Ram transmission is the reason for many trips to the repair shop. For some owners, they not only have transmission problems in their brand new Ram Truck but the dealer cannot get the parts for the repair, and the truck ends up sitting on the lot for weeks.
3. Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevy Silverado took first place in Kelley Blue Book’s most considered pickup truck category for Q1 2022. Ranking third place in sales behind the F150 and Ram Trucks, it is a very popular American pickup truck with a lot of problems. When we hear about the Chevy Silverado, it is often for one of these issues:
Transmission problems: Problems with the transmission are, by far, the most common complaint we receive about the Silverado. Clients report that it overheats, slips, jerks, causes clunking noises, and some owners have had to replace the entire transmission on a new pickup truck.
Engine issues: The Silverado engine also causes problems. For some clients, it has failed or blown out and had to be repaired or replaced in the first few months of ownership.
Steering wheel locks up: This is a known issue with the Silverado, which we discussed in a recent blog. Silverado steering can completely lock up without warning, at any speed. Some drivers report hearing a rattling or grinding noise immediately before it happens.
DEF emission system issues: Problems with the Diesel Exhaust Fluid system are reportedly known to Chevy but, as yet, they have not issued a fix. Some trucks require a new DEF tank or pump, but problems getting parts are causing Silverado owners even more delays.
Electrical problems: Issues with electrics in the Silverado that we have heard about include defective brake sensors and problems with the rear parking assist. So many systems in any vehicle now rely on electrics, and when there are issues, they can cause the truck to be completely inoperable or unsafe to drive.
If you have recently purchased a Ford F150, Ram Truck, or Chevy Silverado, and you are experiencing problems with your new pickup truck, you may be protected by lemon laws in your state. Lemon laws give owners of new, defective vehicles the right to have their vehicle bought back by the auto manufacturer, or be reimbursed by the auto manufacturer for their vehicle purchase price. In addition, lemon laws make the auto manufacturer pay ALL the legal fees of the consumer in a successful lemon law claim.
Contact the lemon law attorneys at Timothy Abeel & Associates for a free case review and to find out more about how lemon laws in your state protect you.