Mechanical Reality Is Catching Up To ICE Pickups - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica discusses the declining mechanical reliability of modern light-duty internal combustion engine (ICE) pickup trucks, particularly half-ton models, in contrast to older trucks and heavier-duty variants. The author, drawing from personal experience towing travel trailers and involvement in the RV community, highlights a troubling trend: newer half-ton pickups are becoming less durable and more prone to failure despite rising costs. Data shows that trucks likely to reach 250,000 miles are mostly heavy-duty models or hybrids, with popular half-ton trucks like the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 less likely to endure long-term use compared to older models such as the 2001 Suburban. The Toyota Tundra is an exception, but overall, modern light-duty trucks struggle under daily work and towing demands. This reliability decline is attributed to stringent fuel economy regulations targeting half-ton trucks, which have driven manufacturers to implement complex and fragile engineering solutions on aging engine platforms. Examples include displacement on demand systems that shut down cylinders to