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“Built Ford Tough.” “Like a Rock.” “America’s Longest-Lasting Pickup.” Sound familiar? For generations, automakers have been marketing pickup trucks as reliable, durable options for vehicle ownership. Pickup owners are a fickle bunch and fiercely brand loyal. Poor quality may be the only thing that pushes them towards a different brand, and automakers know that. With the introduction of extremely expensive battery-electric pickups, quality should be better, but is it? We decided to look at the data, and what we found is not kind to any of the EV pickups.
EV Pickup Truck Reliability – Limited Data Due To Minuscule Sales
High-volume vehicle models that have been in the market the longest have the best data available of all types, and that is certainly true with reliability. Pickups are among the top-selling vehicles in America, so there is no lack of data on pickups. However, EV pickups sell in ridiculously low volumes.
Consumer Reports relies on owner-reported survey results to do its reliability reporting. If the group has insufficient data, it doesn’t guess; it simply says, “Insufficient data is available to provide a score.” We like that. The group also has two distinct reliability scores. Actual, and predicted. Actual is from the survey results, and it can lag behind by a model year or two. Predicted means the group looked at prior data, factored in design changes, and then offers its expert opinion on what the reliability will be for a model year presently for sale new.
We will summarize Consumer Reports data for you in this story, and we’ll give you a link to the group’s landing page. You need to be a member to dig deeply into the data, and we encourage you to grab a digital membership. I’ve been in the automotive media for two decades, and I trust Consumer Reports more than any other group to offer honesty and insights on reliability.
Ford Makes The Most Reliable Pickup
The Ford F-150, with its conventional powertrain, is one of the most reliable vehicles built in America. The F-150 earned a stellar 91 out of 100 for reliability in 2024. That tops the Toyota Tundra, and is neck and neck with any vehicle of any type in terms of high reliability.
The F-150 Lighting’s score is a bit different. The year for which data is available is 2023, and the Lightning earns just a 19/100. Problem areas are the powertrain and battery. Ford also makes an electrified hybrid F-150. Its reliability score is the lowest we have ever seen. Just 5/100. The smaller Maverick Hybrid earns a respectable 48/100 by contrast.
Rivian R1T – Longest-Running EV Truck – One of the Lowest Reliability Scores
Scoring lower than the Lightning, the Rivian R1T for the model year 2023 was scored at 13/100. The 2022 model year received a score of 21/100. Both have troubles with powertrains and batteries. The other model years have insufficient data due to the low volume of sales for a reliability rating.
GM’s Silverado and Sierra EVs
The Silverado ranks a bit below average with its conventional powertrain. Depending on the model year, its reliability score is from 30/100 to 57/100. Consumer Reports predicts the Silverado and Sierra EVs will have a 30/100 reliability score for 2025.
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Cybertruck and GMC Hummer
Consumer Reports did not have enough data to rank either the Tesla Cybertruck or the GMC Hummer EV.
Owner Satisfaction Does Not Equal Reliability
Owner satisfaction is very high for most EVs and hybrids. The Rivian R1T is a great example. It earns a whopping 5/5 for owner satisfaction. Owners LOVE this truck. They report that it is fun to drive, offers high performance, and they like that it is a green alternative to a gas, or heaven forbid, a diesel truck.
The Ford F-150 lighting also earns a very respectable owner satisfaction score of ⅗. I’ve tested the Lightning over a period of more than five weeks (one week or less at a time). In fact, I am testing a 2025 Lightning Lariat this week. This is a very satisfying truck to live with day to day. It is supremely quiet inside, smooth in all regards, and boasts a great list of features. It feels shockingly fast – even compared to the RAM TRX and F-150 Raptors I have been lucky enough to drive. I find it to be much better for practical living due to its frunk. Our top-of-the-page image gives you a sense of just how huge the frunk is.
I have a colleague who was an early adopter of the GMC Hummer. He is in love with this truck, and he even brings it to our media events. When he does so, it outshines the other media-supplied vehicles. Crowds gather to see it.
Poor Reliability Does Not Necessarily Mean High Repair Costs
Many of the reliability issues with EVs of any type, pickups included, are handled by the manufacturer at no cost to owners. Automakers know that they need to support these vehicles 110% to have them catch on. Many of the trucks we have discussed in this story are still under their powertrain and battery warranties, since the trucks are only one to five years old at most. Couple that with the fact that up to 80% of EV models are leased, and you end up with a vehicle that most EV pickup owners will never pay to repair. Small issues can often be resolved with software patches over the air or firmware patches on-site.
The Opinion of the Author
My opinion is that battery-electric pickups will remain a small niche in the overall pickup market. With an ATP of “just” $65K for pickups overall, and all of the EV trucks I’ve tested close to $100K, there is a huge disparity in pricing between the pickups homeowners and contractors generally purchase and the pricey EV trims. It is worrisome that the sales numbers are so low, and in Rivian’s case, declining at last check. I cannot predict if EV trucks will eventually catch on, but if they do, I think it will be Ford that finds the right formula. Ford has dedicated a lot of resources to creating a low-cost EV truck by 2027, and Ford already has a lot of Lightnings serving in police and municipality fleets. Ford is by far the most enthusiastic supporter of the media when it comes to EV trucks, has put four of them in my driveway, has them at virtually every media event I attend, and the Ford PR team is gung-ho for electrification. The dealers in New England were the first to install DC chargers, and I use them regularly now to charge all brands, not just Fords. By contrast, I’ve never been offered the chance to drive or test a GM, Rivian, or Tesla EV pickup. Ford will be the bellwether EV pickup brand to watch.
Do you think reliability is a factor holding back EV trucks? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
John Goreham is the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John’s by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools.
Images by John Goreham
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Source: torquenews.com
