Last Updated on March 21, 2023
What qualities do you want in a truck? Depending on end use, many truck drivers prefer space to put larger items, durability, and reliability. Next, they look for qualities such as purchase cost, operating costs, and fuel efficiency. Comfort, interior cabin space, and amenities also rank high on the wants list. Then there’s color, style, and overall appearance, but these qualities can’t be argued. That brings us to what you may be wondering. What are the best truck brands for 2023? Let’s discuss.
Total US 2022 sales for the top five models is nearly 2.1 million or about 78 percent of all domestic truck sales. They rank as follows:
- Toyota Tacoma (fifth) represented 8.0 percent (215,853 units) of all domestic truck sales.
- GMC Sierra (fourth) was slightly higher at 8.9 percent (241,521 units).
- Ram Pickup (third) accounted for 17.3 percent (468,344 units).
- Chevrolet Silverado (second) composed 19.3 percent (520,936 units).
- The Ford F-Series (first) accounted for 24.2 percent (653,957 units) of all trucks in the US.
The top three brands—the Ford F Series, Ram Pickup, and Chevrolet Silverado are popular, but are their trucks that much better?
Best truck brands for reliability
By using vehicle complaint data (model years 2017-2021) provided by the NHTSA, we can see that the most popular trucks aren’t the most reliable.
Truck Brand and Model | # of Complaints |
GMC Canyon | 63 |
Toyota Tundra | 139 |
Honda Ridgeline | 215 |
Chevy Silverado | 271 |
GMC Sierra | 485 |
Ram 2500 | 844 |
Ram 1500 | 988 |
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 1506 |
Ford F-150 | 2139 |
Ford F-250 | 2382 |
The JD Power Consumer Reliability Score each truck received (as an average over the same five-year period) almost mirrors the number of complaints, with a few notable exceptions.
Truck Brand and Model | Reliability Score |
GMC Sierra | 86.2 |
Toyota Tundra | 84 |
Chevy Silverado | 83.4 |
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 | 82.6 |
Ford F-150 | 81.6 |
Ram 1500 | 81.6 |
Honda Ridgeline | 80.4 |
Ram 2500 | 80 |
GMC Canyon | 79.4 |
Ford F-250 | 78.8 |
Toyota Tundra, Ram 1500, and the Ford F-250 appear in the exact position on both lists. The two biggest drops are the GMC Canyon (from first to ninth) and the Honda Ridgeline (from third to seventh). The two Silverados, the Ford F-150, and the GMC Sierra ranked much higher on their JD Power Consumer Reliability Score, which reveals a disconnect between consumer happiness and the number of complaints.
Total recalls
Below is a list of the top recalls for the 10 most reliable trucks (listed in order of the aforementioned five-year NHTSA scores).
GMC Canyon recalls:
- incorrect bolts used to attach seat belts
- fuel-pump flange that fractured
Toyota Tundra recalls:
- fuel pump failure
- dim turn signals
- load capacity label text rubbed off easily
- incorrect load information
Honda Ridgeline recalls:
- tonneau cover panel that detached from vehicle
- cracked fuel-pump feed port
- timing-belt that separates
- wrong-sized pillar mounting holes
- SRS becoming disabled due to a manufacturing error
- Water leaking into the wiring harness
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 recalls:
- no recalls experienced during this timeframe, according to cars.com
GMC Sierra recalls:
- incorrect bolts used to attach seat belts (just like the GMC Canyon)
- center seat belts not securing properly
- a passenger airbag module damaged upon assembly
- driveshaft separates
- poor alternator connection that causes fire or crash
- brake-caliper bolts that break
Ram 1500 recalls:
- rearview camera not displaying properly
- windshield wipers not working properly
- floor mats interfering with pedals
- seat-belt retractor not slowing movement
- cracked EGR cooler that caused fires
- vehicle potentially rolling away
- incorrect TPMS installed
- improperly installed transfer case
Ram 2500 recalls:
- windshield wipers and side mirrors that detached
- bed step failed during use
- electrical shorts caused vehicle fires
- High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) failure caused engine stalling
- front seat belt retractor improperly slowing occupant’s forward movement during crash
- electrical short in the heater grid relay whether ignition was on or off
- electrical short in the relay caused fire whether ignition was on or off
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls:
- seat belt issues
- Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software malfunctions
- overcured Continental tires
- incompatible spare tire
- improperly welded driveshaft joints
- hot gas escaping from the pretensioner bracket, potentially igniting the carpet
Ford F-150 recalls:
- front windshield wiper arm failure
- intermittent blank or distorted image on rearview camera
- daytime running lamps that don’t power down
- loose seat back due to a missing piece
- tailgate that unlatches while driving
- brake master cylinder leaked brake fluid into the brake booster
- incorrect fasteners used and sparks exiting the seat belt pretensioner bracket, igniting the carpet
Ford F-250 recalls:
- no recalls experienced during this timeframe, according to cars.com
By comparing total recalls to customer satisfaction, we see little similarities between the two lists. That means there’s a disconnect between driver’s experiences and their satisfaction rates. Despite the potential and the reasons for recalls, there are certain traits truck drivers look for, appreciate, and expect from these vehicles, traits such as hauling.
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Best truck brands for hauling
Below are lists of the 2023 truck models with the highest towing capacities, along with engine, horsepower (hp) and torque (lb-ft) information.
Light-Duty
The light-duty trucks with the highest towing capacities are as follows:
Chevrolet Colorado (turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-4 engine – 310-hp, 430 lb-ft of torque)
7,700 pounds
GMC Canyon (turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-4 engine – 310-hp, 430 lb-ft of torque)
7,700 pounds
Jeep Gladiator (3.6-liter V-6 engine – 285 hp, 260 lb-ft of torque)
7,650 pounds
Ford Ranger (turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-4 engine – 270 hp, 310 lb-ft of torque)
7,500 pounds
Toyota Tacoma (3.5-liter V-6 engine – 278-hp, 265 lb-ft of torque)
6,800 pounds
Medium-Duty
The medium-duty trucks with the highest towing capacities are the following:
Ford F150 (400-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine – hp lb-ft)
14,000 pounds
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (achieved by both the 6.2-liter V8 and the Diesel six engines—hp lb-ft)
13,300 pounds
GMC Sierra (with optional 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel inline-six engine, which now offers 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque compared to 277 and 460 lb-ft of torque on previous years’ models)
13,200 pounds
Ram 1500 (3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 – 260-hp, 480 lb-ft of torque)
12,750 pounds
Toyota Tundra (3.5-liter twin-turbo i-Force V6 – 389-hp and 479 lb-ft)
12,000 pounds
Heavy-Duty
The highest towing capacities among heavy-duty trucks is as follows:
Ford F-350 Super Duty (turbocharged 6.7-liter diesel V-8 engine – 475-hp,1050 lb-ft of torque)
24,200 pounds
Ram 3500 4×2 Regular Cab Tradesman (turbocharged 6.7-liter diesel inline-6 – 400-hp, 1075 lb-ft of torque)
23,000 pounds
Chevrolet Silverado HD 3500 (turbocharged 6.6-liter diesel V-8 engine – 445 hp, 910 lb-ft of torque)
20,000 pounds
GMC Sierra HD (turbocharged 6.6-liter diesel V-8 engine – 445-hp, 910 lb-ft of torque)
20,000 pounds
Ford F-250 Super Duty (turbocharged 6.7-liter diesel V-8 engine – 475-hp,1,050 lb-ft of torque)
20,000 pounds
Maximum capacities are for conventional trailers only. Gooseneck trailers and fifth wheel options increase towing capacities by about 15,000 pounds on all heavy-duty trucks, but does not change truck order.
In the end—Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram—are the top three among heavy-duty truck towing. Ram drops to fourth in the medium-duty category and Ford drops to fourth in the light-duty category.
Conclusion
Though today’s truck market is very competitive, the top three truck manufacturers enjoy a century-old domestic advantage (compared to foreign models), along with crossover brand loyalty from other vehicle types. If you regularly buy Ford cars and need to buy a truck, you’re more likely to buy a Ford truck. However, this doesn’t stop them from constantly innovating, monitoring, and rethinking their trucks and their marketing strategies to keep buyers attention.
Now that you are more acquainted with the best truck brands, there’s no time like the present to place a bid for your own. With Municibid, buying used means quality at an affordable price. Shop trucks, cars, or other things automotive with us today.