Reliability has always mattered to truck buyers — but never more than now. With pickup prices climbing steadily and more Americans depending on their trucks for everything from daily commutes to weekend adventures, choosing a model that won’t let you down is as important as any horsepower figure or tow rating. To help you make a smarter purchase decision, CarBuzz dug into the data on the most reliable mid-size and full-size pickup trucks from the past decade, ranking them by their J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score.
2020 GMC Sierra 1500
2020 GMC Sierra front off roadingGMC
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score: 85
- Number of recalls: 10
- Number of NHTSA complaints per 1,000 units sold: 0.57
The GMC-badged, mechanically identical sibling of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the 2020 Sierra is part of the model’s fifth generation and boasts the highest J.D. Power reliability score for this nameplate over the past decade. The 2020 model year has been affected by ten recalls, most of which are related to issues with the tires or seatbelts. There is also one open investigation associated with the 2020 Sierra, regarding potential airbag malfunction and non-deployment in the event of a crash. A total of 145 complaints have been filed with the NHTSA about this truck, with the most common problem areas being the electrical system, engine, and braking system.
2015 Toyota Tacoma
2015 Toyota Tacoma Black Front Angled View on DirtToyota
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score: 85
- Number of recalls: 4
- Number of NHTSA complaints per 1,000 units sold: 0.49
The 2015 Toyota Tacoma marked the end of the model’s second generation, with the third-gen Tacoma being introduced in September 2015 for the 2016 model year. Having benefited from a decade’s worth of development and refinement — the second generation had arrived in 2005 — the 2015 Tacoma carries a strong reliability record, with only four recalls to its name.
All recalls concern relatively minor issues such as incorrect labeling, with none marked as urgent. There is, however, one open investigation associated with the model, regarding a faulty electrical component in the airbags that could potentially result in non-deployment. Of the 88 complaints filed with the NHTSA, most relate to cosmetic issues such as peeling paint, or speed control problems such as unexpected loss of power.
2021 Ram 2500
Ram HD 2500Ram
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score: 86
- Number of recalls: 7
- Number of NHTSA complaints per 1,000 units sold: N/A
The Ram 2500 is the smallest member of Ram’s Heavy Duty lineup, slotting above the Ram 1500 in the broader Ram family. The 2021 model belongs to the fifth generation, which first launched in 2019. Despite its overall strong reliability record, the 2021 Ram 2500 does carry two urgent safety recalls, both stemming from a potential fire risk caused by an electrical short. A total of 76 complaints were filed with the NHTSA for this model year, most related to the electrical system and engine. There are no open investigations associated with this model.
2022 Ford F-150
Ford F-150Ford
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score: 86
- Number of recalls: 13
- Number of NHTSA complaints per 1,000 units sold: 0.68
The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the US for decades. Among the model years covered here, the 2022 F-150 — part of the truck’s fourteenth generation — earns the highest reliability rating. Of the 13 associated recalls, transmission problems are the most frequently occurring issue. One open investigation is also linked to the model, related to loss of power. A total of 446 complaints were filed with the NHTSA, with the electrical system and the infotainment system’s speakers drawing the most attention.
2021 Toyota Tundra
toyota tundra off road drivingToyota
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score: 86
- Number of recalls: 3
- Number of NHTSA complaints per 1,000 units sold: 0.20
The 2021 Toyota Tundra was the final model year of the Tundra’s second generation, which had been on sale since 2007 and received a facelift in 2014. The 2021 model carries only three recalls: two are related to a potential loss of power steering caused by an oil leak, while the third concerns an elevated fire risk due to an overheating electrical connector. Just 16 consumer complaints were filed with the NHTSA, with electrical problems and malfunctioning windshield wipers cited most often. The 2021 Tundra has no investigations associated with it.
2023 Jeep Gladiator
2024 Jeep Gladiator Mojave X Gray Front Angle Sand DrivingJeep
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score: 87
- Number of recalls: 4
- Number of NHTSA complaints per 1,000 units sold: 0.38
The Jeep Gladiator was first introduced for the 2020 model year, reviving a nameplate that had last appeared in 1988. The last pickup truck Jeep produced before the new Gladiator, the Comanche, was discontinued in 1992 — leaving a gap of nearly 30 years without a Jeep truck in the lineup. The 2023 model year has proven to be the Gladiator’s strongest on the reliability front, with only four recalls and 21 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported issues involve the electrical system and the fuel tank. There are no investigations associated with the 2023 Gladiator.
2019 Nissan Frontier
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score: 87
- Number of recalls: 1
- Number of NHTSA complaints per 1,000 units sold: 0.23
While the Nissan Frontier has been a standalone model in the US market since 2021, trucks carrying the Frontier nameplate in North America before then were rebadged versions of the Navara. The 2019 Frontier was based on the second-generation D40 Navara, which was on the market from 2005 to 2021. Its reliability record is exceptionally strong, with only one recall — concerning the absence of a rearview camera image — and the second-lowest complaint rate on this list, trailing only the Toyota Tundra. Most complaints on record are related to airbag or electrical system concerns.
The all-new 2025 Frontier recently made its debut, and while it’s more reliable than the Tacoma, it has never been able to match it in the sales race.
2024/2023 Ford Ranger
2024 Ford Ranger Silver Front View Off-Road DrivingFord
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score: 87
- Number of recalls: 1 (2024) / 2 (2023)
- Number of NHTSA complaints per 1,000 units sold: 0.00 (2024) / 0.34 (2023)
The Ranger nameplate returned to the American market in 2019 after an eight-year absence, in the form of a compact truck slotting below the F-Series in the lineup. The 2024 model year has just one recall to its name — relating to faulty power windows — and zero NHTSA complaints. The 2023 Ranger, which shares the same J.D. Power reliability score, is affected by two recalls. The first involves an incorrect label displaying the wrong load-carrying capacity, while the second is an urgent safety recall: loose lug nuts could lead to wheel detachment and increase the risk of a crash. Eleven NHTSA complaints were filed for the 2023 Ranger, most concerning transmission problems.
2024/2023 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
Chevrolet Silverado 2500Chevrolet
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score: 88
- Number of recalls: 2 (2024) / 1 (2023)
- Number of NHTSA complaints per 1,000 units sold: N/A
One of two models sharing the top spot, the Silverado 2500 is the middle child of the Silverado lineup, sitting between the 1500 and 3500. The Silverado is currently in its fourth generation; while the 1500 launched for the 2019 model year, the 2500 and 3500 didn’t arrive until 2020. The 2024 Silverado 2500 has two recalls associated with it, covering a faulty tailgate latch and a steering gear concern. A total of 47 complaints were filed, mainly related to electrical issues and braking system problems. The 2023 model, meanwhile, carries only one recall — the same faulty tailgate issue found in the 2024 — and just nine NHTSA complaints, with electrical problems again being the primary concern.
2024/2023 Nissan Titan
2022 Nissan Titan Maroon Front Angle Parked in DesertNissan
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score: 88
- Number of recalls: 2 (2024/2023)
- Number of NHTSA complaints per 1,000 units sold: 0.37 (2024) / 0.26 (2023)
The 2024 and 2023 Nissan Titan share the top spot with the equivalent model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. The Titan’s second generation debuted in 2016 and remained in production through the 2024 model year, though the model has since been discontinued for 2025. Both the 2024 and 2023 Titan have two recalls each. The 2023 model’s recalls involve tires and transmission, while both of the 2024’s recalls are airbag-related. Complaint totals are low for both years — five for the 2023 and just three for the 2024 — with powertrain issues cited most often in both cases.
Sources: NHTSA, J.D. Power
