I have been searching for a diesel truck to pull a to be purchased fifth wheel.After reading all of the nightmares and maintenance problems I'm concerned about future costs and down time. Do most diesel owners experience a multitude of problems or am I just seeing a small percentage that are venting? Seems to be mostly injector and fuel pump problems however, shelling out 60K for a truck that is going to need constant repairs is concerning, I hope this is the exception and not the rule. Any experiences will be appreciated.

People post to complain about problems, rarely to praise their trucks. I think most all of us who have diesels say that serious problems are actually rare.

brnzbk wrote:I have been searching for a diesel truck to pull a to be purchased fifth wheel.After reading all of the nightmares and maintenance problems I'm concerned about future costs and down time. Do most diesel owners experience a multitude of problems or am I just seeing a small percentage that are venting? Seems to be mostly injector and fuel pump problems however, shelling out 60K for a truck that is going to need constant repairs is concerning, I hope this is the exception and not the rule. Any experiences will be appreciated.The diesels have been struggling with the emissions regulations, but with latest generation trucks with DEF seam to be doing pretty well overall.My '12 diesel truck is almost 3 years old and 64k miles and hasn't required a repair to date and I don't expect it to either. At this point I plan on keeping it to around the 200k mile mark. I would like to pass it on to my son once he gets his drivers license, but I fear this truck has too much power for a starter. :E

What problems? I've had one hose go bad on my truck. I don't know what the higher maintenance costs are either. You do need more oil when you change it but that's about it.

Had a few teething issues with my diesel, a few seal leaks. Nothing wrong with the emissions to date (27k miles so far). The people you typically see post have a problem that they need resolved. So they're going to be loud as they need a resolution to a problem. I remember a presentation I sat through long ago that basically said for every 10 complainers, you only have 1 person that talks up the good experience they have for a given product. That was many years ago though and I wonder if that stat still holds up today.

Becoming diesel gunshy | Good Sam Community

87 Replies

Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Mar 26, 2015
There are some good diesel engines and there are some bad diesel engines. You just have to know the difference. :)
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Mar 26, 2015
My 2013 F350 was the first diesel I've ever owned. It's a great truck with plenty of power to pull my 36' FW up the steepest grades, and control it coming down the other side. 11.7 average MPG towing 13,500 pounds. It hasn't let me down at all.
jus2shy
Explorer
Mar 26, 2015
Had a few teething issues with my diesel, a few seal leaks. Nothing wrong with the emissions to date (27k miles so far). The people you typically see post have a problem that they need resolved. So they're going to be loud as they need a resolution to a problem. I remember a presentation I sat through long ago that basically said for every 10 complainers, you only have 1 person that talks up the good experience they have for a given product. That was many years ago though and I wonder if that stat still holds up today.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Mar 26, 2015
What problems? I've had one hose go bad on my truck. I don't know what the higher maintenance costs are either. You do need more oil when you change it but that's about it.
FishOnOne
Nomad
Mar 26, 2015
brnzbk wrote:
I have been searching for a diesel truck to pull a to be purchased fifth wheel.
After reading all of the nightmares and maintenance problems I'm concerned about future costs and down time. Do most diesel owners experience a multitude of problems or am I just seeing a small percentage that are venting? Seems to be mostly injector and fuel pump problems however, shelling out 60K for a truck that is going to need constant repairs is concerning, I hope this is the exception and not the rule.
Any experiences will be appreciated.

The diesels have been struggling with the emissions regulations, but with latest generation trucks with DEF seam to be doing pretty well overall.

My '12 diesel truck is almost 3 years old and 64k miles and hasn't required a repair to date and I don't expect it to either. At this point I plan on keeping it to around the 200k mile mark. I would like to pass it on to my son once he gets his drivers license, but I fear this truck has too much power for a starter. :E
ArmyColonel
Explorer
Mar 26, 2015
X2
BB_TX
Nomad
Mar 26, 2015
People post to complain about problems, rarely to praise their trucks. I think most all of us who have diesels say that serious problems are actually rare.

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Becoming diesel gunshy

87 Replies

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