Pickup Truck +SUV Talk

Send us Fan Mail Are GM’s 6.2L V8 engine failures affecting truck resale value? I compare Kelley Blue Book estimates for 2023, 2024 and 2025 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate trucks, explain the recall and investigation context, and look at what the numbers can—and cannot—tell us. Then we catch up on this week’s truck news, diesel technology and upcoming reviews. Sponsored by ScreenProTech. Save 15% with...

Send us Fan Mail What will EPA 2027 mean for the engines that keep freight moving? Aaron Turpen talks with Dan Potter, head of emissions compliance at Daimler Truck North America, about Detroit Gen 6, emissions warranties, DEF derates and the uncertainty around EPA’s proposed changes. This discussion concerns heavy-duty commercial engines. It should not be read as a blanket description of pickup-t...

Send us Fan Mail Could Ford introduce an 8.0L Power Stroke by 2029? Tim Esterdahl walks through four clues behind his prediction: Power Stroke history, GM’s new Duramax, information from Shell’s technology center, and changing diesel emissions requirements. The 8.0L displacement, 550 horsepower and 1,400 lb-ft of torque discussed here are PUTT predictions—not specifications confirmed by Ford. This...

Send us Fan Mail Is red-dyed diesel a worthwhile option for your pickup? In this Truck News Recap, Tim Esterdahl explains why fuel compatibility, taxes, state permission and warranty coverage are separate questions. Hear the practical concerns behind the headlines, including fuel specifications, contamination, deferred taxes and the different owner-manual warnings for Ford, GM and Ram. We also cat...

Send us Fan Mail Ram is walking back one of its biggest selling points. In this Truck News Recap, Tim Esterdahl breaks down the end of Ram’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty for 2027, what that means for shoppers considering a 2026 truck, and the differences in diesel coverage across Ram, Ford, Chevrolet and GMC. Then we dig into the 2027 Ford F-150’s engine changes, GM’s latest diesel and...

Send us Fan Mail Tim Esterdahl answers questions about the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra in this replay of Tuesday’s livestream, “2027 Silverado & Sierra: I Asked GM—Now Ask Me Anything.” Truck news, owner stories and buying advice: https://pickuptrucktalk.com/ More car and SUV coverage: https://wetalkcars.com/ Support the show

Send us Fan Mail GM’s new V8 engines bring more power—and plenty of questions. Fresh from GM’s powertrain event in Flint, Tim Esterdahl breaks down what engineers told him, what remains unanswered, and what it means for truck owners. In this week’s Truck News Recap: • Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM), lifter concerns and the revised oiling system • Why GM is dropping the physical oil dipstick • Direc...

Send us Fan Mail I ordered my next truck: a 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country. In this episode, I explain why I chose Chevy over GMC and Toyota, why timing pushed me into the High Country trim, and the exact engine, color and towing configuration I ordered. CHAPTERS 0:00 I ordered a new truck 0:45 The trucks I considered 2:10 Why Chevrolet instead of GMC 3:20 The new Silverado V8 decision...

Send us Fan Mail NHTSA has escalated its investigation into GM’s 6.2-liter L87 V8, moving the case into an engineering analysis that could affect nearly one million Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac trucks and SUVs. Tim Esterdahl explains what the expanded federal investigation means for GM owners and whether the current recall remedy is resolving the engine problems. This week’s truck news also covers...

Send us Fan Mail Toyota has a new way to inspect certain 2022-2024 Tundra engines, and yes, it involves a plastic hammer. Tim breaks down Toyota’s V35A crank bearing inspection, why the automaker is testing these engines, how an accelerometer and software are used to analyze the results, and why this unusual-sounding procedure is actually based on established engineering principles. Support the sh...

Send us Fan Mail Ford has revealed the Fathom, a new electric pickup expected to start around $30,000. But who is this truck actually for, and can Ford find enough buyers to make it successful? In this Truck News Recap, Tim Esterdahl examines what we know about the Ford Fathom, its expected size and range, and how it could compete with the Slate truck and Ford Maverick. He also explains why commer...

Send us Fan Mail Which heavy-duty truck is the most reliable: Ford Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado HD, GMC Sierra HD or Ram HD? Tim Esterdahl ranks today’s heavy-duty trucks using Pickup Truck + SUV Talk’s original reporting, NHTSA data, recalls, technical service bulletins and owner complaints. The Ford Super Duty claims the top spot despite its recall history and death-wobble complaints. The GM...

Send us Fan Mail The 2020-2026 Toyota Highlander has a reputation for reliability, but owners and used-vehicle shoppers should know about recalls, transmission complaints, ECU-related stalls and several other reported problems. Cory Fourniquet examines the Highlander’s loose second-row seats, airbag concerns, transmission whining, hybrid braking behavior, infotainment glitches and unusual fuel-tan...

Send us Fan Mail Which full-size truck is the most reliable today? Tim ranks the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 and Toyota Tundra using PUTT’s reliability reporting, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, failure severity and recurring problems. Consumer Reports and J.D. Power are included for comparison, but they do not determine the final ranking. The results may surpr...

Send us Fan Mail The 2027 Toyota Tundra has arrived, and viewers have two major questions: Did Toyota finally fix the twin-turbo V-6, and why isn’t the V-8 coming back? Tim Esterdahl examines Toyota’s engine recall solution, the sharp decline in reported failures among newer trucks and whether buyers should trust the Tundra again. He also covers the revised grille, persistent remote start, recover...

Send us Fan Mail Why won’t the 2027 Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon get GM’s new 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter V8 engines right away? Tim explains GM’s rollout strategy, the engineering and investment involved, and what buyers can actually expect from the 2027 Tahoe. Also in this week’s truck news recap: Cummins hydraulic lifters versus flat tappets, a modified Silverado owner’s reliability problems, Ram’s ne...

Send us Fan Mail The EPA has released its long-awaited proposal to revise the 2027 heavy-duty diesel emissions rules, but does it mean diesel owners can finally delete their trucks? In this episode, Tim Esterdahl breaks down what the proposal actually changes, including the plan to eliminate many DEF-related engine derates, reduce warranty requirements and delay some emissions durability standards...

Send us Fan Mail Fifteen years after Ford tore down a production 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine in front of a live audience to prove its durability, truck owners are still arguing about what the test actually proved. Tim looks back at the famous Detroit Auto Show teardown, the results Ford revealed, and why debates over carbon buildup, 10,000-mile oil changes, and turbocharger reliability continue toda...

Send us Fan Mail Quarter 2 truck sales results are out, and the numbers tell an interesting story. Ram continues its impressive comeback thanks to the return of the Hemi V8, Ford F-Series sales have slipped amid production challenges, Chevrolet Silverado sales are down, GMC Sierra continues to gain ground, and the Toyota Tacoma remains the undisputed king of midsize trucks. In this episode, I brea...

Send us Fan Mail After 10 years of building Pickup Truck Plus SUV Talk, it's time for the biggest expansion in our company's history. In this episode, I share the story behind the launch of We Talk Cars —why I decided to expand beyond trucks, what we've learned from listening to our audience, and how that feedback shaped an entirely new automotive media outlet. I also explain how Pi...

Send us Fan Mail GM has finally revealed the all-new 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and in this episode I explain why I'm planning to buy one. But before I sign on the dotted line, there are several important questions I need answered. I dive into the new V8 engines, whether GM has finally addressed the lifter reliability concerns, Trail Mode versus 4-Lo, the return of the...

Send us Fan Mail Only two 2026 pickup trucks earned IIHS safety awards this year, and the top winner is probably not the truck most traditional buyers expected. The Tesla Cybertruck earned the only Top Safety Pick+ award, while the Toyota Tundra was the only pickup to earn Top Safety Pick. In this week’s Pickup Truck Talk news recap, Cory breaks down the latest IIHS truck safety results, where For...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Truck News Recap, Tim discusses the biggest traffic day in Pickup Truck Talk history and the surprising story behind it. A two-year-old interview with the chief engineer of the Ram Hurricane inline-six engine exploded online, reigniting the debate over whether Ram made the right decision replacing the legendary Hemi V8. Why are truck buyers still arguing about Hemi ve...

Send us Fan Mail The 2027 Ford Bronco Filson looks like a premium outdoor collaboration on the surface, but the bigger story may be what Ford did not say. Ford kept calling this new Bronco “premium,” not “luxury,” and that word choice could matter if the rumors about a future Lincoln off-roader based on the Bronco platform turn out to be true. In this week’s Pickup Truck Talk news recap, Cory brea...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Truck News Recap, we're diving into the biggest known problems reported by Nissan Frontier owners from the 2023-2026 model years. From transmission complaints and electrical glitches to recalls and owner concerns, here's what buyers need to know before purchasing a Nissan Frontier. Plus, Toyota has released new information about the Tundra engine replacement...