Another Tundra or Jump Ship

The new GM models are the worst. You can't even get bucket seats in the volume trims (LT or SLE) any more.

 

That's quite the change, yet another way they're trying to push people into the SLT and Denali levels. First it was only the 6.2, now if you want a big console. At this rate they'll have 2 buyers - fleet and luxury people.

 

I have been questioning GMs decisions for a while now and this is just another reason to ask why. There is a reason the Silverado lost it's Second place sales position behind Ford.

 

Good friend bought a Dodge Dually diesel brand new. 2019 with all the bells and whistles. other than the 55,000$ price tag.

$920 DEF tube replacement
$200 DEF system computer update
$1520 EGR valve replacement
$3600 PCM replacement

truck has 56K miles on it. Used if for Hotshotting, never exceeded the vehicle tow rating and religiously maintained it. Cost more $$$ in repairs than truck payments. Pretty much put him out of business with down time and cost.

 

No factory warranty on 2019 dodge?

 

My uncle had similar problems with his Cummins. You know it's bad when your Land Rover is your most reliable vehicle and you have to use that vehicle to do truck tasks because the truck is waiting on parts.

 

There are many problems with the Big 3 diesels right now due to emission components that are on the trucks. Over the years I have not heard very good diesel stories after the DEF phased in. Some have had better luck than others though.

 

Yeah man, I do mean this respectfully but:

1. I have not seen a new diesel 3500 truck that even comes close to $55k from the factory, albeit about 3 years since I looked at 1 tons.

2. Those I would imagine be overestimated under warranty.

In all fairness to Ram, sounds like there might be something missing to the story.

 

Ram has a warranty for powertrain of 100,000 miles until you read the fine print. Everything but the actual engine block and innards is called emission's and that warranty is 50,000 miles. Just about the life cycle of all the emission stuff. Who would think that fuel lines, fuel pump, egr valves, manifolds, wiring, switch's and anything else attached to the engine is "emissions"

 

$55K for the truck was the price but a lot was added. 5th Wheel tow package, Air bags, 4:10 (IIRC) rear end, Upgraded transmission with cooler and tow package? He said base was about 44-45K before he added. He wanted all the bells and whistles for extreme towing. ( usually around22,000-24,000 lbs). All the parts started to fail right after warranty expired. Ram is working with him on the PCM because it is a know issue and should not be bad at 56K miles. But still scary that at 6 months his truck is falling apart.

 

Don’t buy a Chevy Colorado was sent this by a friend as my son was looking at these Chevy apparently won’t cover this under warranty due to it being 100 lbs over towing limits they were towing 2100 lbs when it was limited to 2000 lbs.

 

Not trying to start anything about Rams, but go to the website and price some of the Diesel Duelly's. $66K and up easily. And the prices could easily be overestimated from the dealer. He has a great relationship with his dealer and customer rep in the Houston area. Problem was he broke down in the Portland area and the dealer, service rep, and customer service rep were slimy,.... I won't expand on them. He limped it home 2200 miles

 

GM is corporate scum and I will never own another of their vehicles. Grew up in the rust belt with plenty of hardworking family and friends that made their living at GM plants. I had a safety issue with a Cadillac CTS back in 2010, it was still under warranty. Wouldn't stop at very slow speeds and ran into things on it's own. Went through all the right channels at Dealership, Cadillac, GM, deny, deny, deny. All claimed they new nothing about this problem, but it was all over the internet. Turns out that in "snow states" that salted the road, the ABS sensor became corroded and the car would think it was sliding at slow speeds so ABS came on and the car wouldn't come to a complete stop. 2 months after they sent an "independent' engineer from Detroit to inspect mine and state that he couldn't find a problem and I traded it for an Infiniti G35, a recall started that had already been issued when I filed my claim. All I wanted was for them to fix it.

I will never own another GM anything. Thank you for posting this and validating my thoughts on this company a decade later.

 

Well, I’ve owned 2018 and newer Tundras in the Limited, 1794, and Platinum trims. I agree with an earlier post that the Tundra SR5 is the sweet spot for value and reliability. And I am definitely looking forward to the Tundra redesign.

In the meantime, I recently switched (for now at least) to a 2019 RAM Power Wagon. Yes, the gas mileage is bad (14.5 mpg at best on mid-grade fuel). Yet, otherwise it’s an amazing truck. Everything the TRD Pro can do and more on a 3/4 ton pickup with more comfort features. Having owned Toyota Land Cruisers and 4Runners, as well as FJ Cruisers (the most fun Toyota to drive, IMO), the Power Wagon is a truck and an FJ Cruiser combined. Great vehicle with rock solid history.

 

I traded a 2015 2500 with the 6.4 hemi on my 2020 tundra. I avg more around 11mpg. 90k with no major issues. Steering was loose as well as clunky when shifting from reverse and drive. Seemed to eat tires as well. It would pull some pavement for a truck that big. Still getting famous mopar recalls

 

With the addition of the 8 speed transmission in 2019 (I believe yours had the 6 speed) and some interior updates, plus the more durable cord replacing the cable on the WARN winch, it’s an improved ride. Great truck, Mopar or not.

 

As I stated, I’ve owned three newer (2018-2019) Tundras. I liked them. I’m also a Toyota loyalist as I think it’s the best brand (along with Lexus; I’ve owned several of them too). They just need a significant overhaul as, unless we are talking the SR5, I don’t think there is outstanding value in the upper trim levels. And reliability / resell is pretty good, but not great. Lastly, I wouldn’t have bought a 2015-2018 Power Wagon either over a new Tundra. The 2019 2500 Power Wagon with the updates and 8 speed? I obviously would have and did. Maybe I’m back in a Tundra in three years (sorta hope so as I want Toyota to be back in the conversation for me per their pickup trucks.) In the meantime, I’ll hope to continue to enjoy the Power Wagon; thanks!

 

My 1500 had that transmission and I liked it with the Hemi and 3.92s they worked very well together.

 

My son has a 16 Ram 2500 no real complaints with it the only problem he has is all the recalls he’s had about 10 recalls so far it will pull a house though if needed.

 

i hope you continue to enjoy it too. End of day that’s all that matters.

 

I had a 99 F150 that served me well, but was having electrical issues. Being retired, I needed something reliable foremost. My 18 Tundra limited has been great, and seemed higher tech than my old truck for sure. It does not have the high tech my BMWs, but that is just fine for my purpose.

I found this on another post for the 2020 consumer report:

 

Yes, that’s from Consumer Reports Jan 2020 issue and a predicted reliability rating based on the last three years of vehicles. Updates - esp new tech, can make for more issues. We all know Toyota doesn’t venture out quickly in such areas based on their business model founded on reliability. It’s also why the Tundra / Sequoia, though they finish on top in reliability, finish last or next to last in overall, all-things-considered ratings (including sales). The 1500 RAM, with its nearly complete redesign certainly has problem areas, yet its interior fit and finish and comfort is first by far. I still didn’t want one. The 2500 Power Wagon is built much better and like a tank (more like a Land Cruiser; and I say that having owned a few of those). Anyway, I’m looking forward to Toyota’s Tundra upgrade, when every other rating will likely catch up with their reliability rating.

 

Although I'm not currently in the market, I'm looking at the new Ford Ranger and I really like the ZR2 Colorado with the diesel...

 

It would be cool to see reliability break downs based on trim. Was always curious which trim for each manufacturer was the most reliable. EDIT: Besides the complete bare bones trims.

 

Ford's are definitely sucking wind reliability-wise. And, for me that's near the top. My 20 year old Tundra was flawless, until it was hit while parked.

 

The only thing I can say I am not too proud of with the Tundra is it's new crash test ratings, specifically the small overlap test with it showing a poor rating to the leg/feet area. When compared to the other manufacturers, the results and pictures are pretty obvious. It's definitely something I never really realized prior to purchasing the Tundra, and safety of me and my family is important. That being said, weighing everything I still prefer the Tundra.

 

I don't think the others will catch up though. It'll be 4 years since their overhauls so they'll have all new stuff to lower their ratings again, and Toyota is ridiculously thorough in testing. At the point the test mules are at now for a 2022 model year, the domestics would be launching for an early 2021 launch. I have far more faith in a totally re-designed Tundra than a 2-3 year old generation of the domestics. I can see the Tundra rating going down, but I can't see the others going up, they rather put out flashy new tech over perfecting required parts.

 

My cousin bought a Duramax Colorado as a work truck and ended up trading it in for a Honda Ridgeline due to the issues he had. I think the biggest one was the 8 speed transmission. If they end up putting the 10 speed in it, I think it would be a good buy.

 

Ah man I know a guy at work who overpaid for one of those and has had such a depressing time with it. Come to find out that the "Duramax" in those small trucks is not part of the GM/Isuzu partnership like the big one is, it's some other company.

Poor guy has had the worst time with that thing but he keeps saying how great it is.