Skip to main content
Denis Flierl - Senior Reporter and specialized automotive journalist

Member for

14 years 2 months
Bio

Denis Flierl | Senior Reporter

Denis Flierl is a Senior Reporter at Torque News and a specialized automotive journalist with over three decades of industry expertise. Since 2012, Denis has been a mainstay of the Torque News editorial team, drawing on a deep background in high-level consulting for major global automotive brands. This unique "behind-the-scenes" experience allows him to provide readers with a wealth of insider knowledge that extends far beyond the standard spec sheet.

Based in Parker, Colorado, Denis is a prominent member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP). He utilizes the region's high-altitude terrain as a rigorous testing ground to provide "boots-on-the-ground" analysis for readers across North America. He specializes in breaking automotive news, exclusive owner perspectives, and technical deep-dives into vehicle reliability and maintenance.

Technical Specialization & Authority

  • Truck & 4WD Technology: With a focus on long-term reliability, he frequently reports on Toyota, GM, Ram, and Ford truck platforms, analyzing mechanical faults, drivetrain durability, and the transition to EV technology.
  • Data-Driven Reporting: Prioritizing a "Technical-First" structure, Denis anchors his reports in Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), official manufacturer recall data, and technical specifications to empower consumers with factual, actionable information.

Work Experience & Education

  • 2012–Present: Senior Reporter and regular contributor on Torque News, hundreds of automotive reviews on Automoblog, and a contributor to JC Whitney. 
  • Automotive Consultant: Over 13 years providing strategic, technical, and market consulting for major global car brands (Ford, GM, Ram, Toyota, Tesla).
  • Professional Test Driver: Years of hands-on vehicle evaluation, verifying real-world performance against engineering claims in Colorado's extreme high altitude environment.
Advertising


Technical Philosophy & Reporting Standards

In an era of automotive reporting often clouded by marketing hype, I adhere to a strict objective standard. My goal is to respect your time and intelligence by delivering neutral, reporting-style language. Whether I am investigating machining debris issues in a new V6 engine or detailing a Starlink software update, I prioritize technical descriptors such as "critical fault" or "thermal limit" over emotional narratives.

I see myself as a bridge between the factory's technical world and the driver's everyday world. My "education" in this industry was forged by three decades of collaborating with the engineers who build these machines and the technicians who keep them on the road.

Personal & Other Works 

Advertising


Outside of the automotive world, Denis is an accomplished writer and the author of the novel "Kingdom Runner," available on Amazon.

Connect with Denis

Visit DenisFlierl.com for technical deep-dives, vehicle testing archives, and full investigative reports.

Do you have a technical news tip, a specific DTC question, or an automotive query? Follow Denis for the latest data-backed insights:

About Torque News

Since 2010, Torque News has served as a dedicated, independent voice in the automotive world. For over 15 years, our team has focused on providing expert analysis and honest, "boots on the ground" vehicle reviews. Driven by a commitment to transparency and technical accuracy, we prioritize the reader’s needs over marketing hype to help you navigate a rapidly changing industry.

Article Published Comments
I Analyzed Why This Owner’s 2023 Silverado Transmission Failed at 65K While His Son’s 2008 Hits 244K Miles: He Warns, “I Won’t Be Buying Chevy Again” 0
"It’s My Turn To Be Dead On The Road” - Why This 2024 Tundra Owner’s Engine Failure Proves Toyota’s Short Block Fix Isn't Enough 3
“I Feel Every Bump”: Why This 2026 Honda CR-V Sport-L Owner Sounds the Alarm After Dumping Her “Jerky” Mazda CX-70 0
“I Paid $65K For My 2026 Ram Hurricane Only To Have It Overheat At 800 Miles,” Says Bighorn Owner, He Adds, “Stellantis Has An Engine Nightmare On Their Hands” 4
“I’m Done Chasing New Car Tech: My 2016 Toyota Highlander is ‘Perfectly Broken,’ and Buying a $52,000 Replacement is a Math Mistake I Won’t Make” 1
I Looked Into Why This 245K-Mile F-150 Owner Is “Done” With Ford: “We’re Getting the Shaft” On $50K Engine Failures 3
I’ve Seen This Before: This 2026 Chevy Silverado Buyer Is Right To Be "Scared" Of V8 Lifter Issues - But The TurboMax Transmission Is The Real Hidden Trap 1
“I’m Stunned: My 2025 Toyota 4Runner 5K Service Turned Nightmare Reveals Damage the Dealer Tried to Hide” 1
“I’m Terrified of That Tundra V6”: Why a Former 245,000-Mile Toyota Tundra Owner Says His 2021 Ram Reliability Has Him “Heading Back to Toyota” 24
“I’m Unimpressed and Done: I Swapped My 2021 Toyota RAV4 for a 2025 Hybrid Loaner and It’s a Massive Step Backward” 3
“I’m Done Defending Them”: Why This 2026 Chevy Silverado Owner Says Ford’s Recall Disaster Is “The Only Reason I’m Still Driving a GM” 101
Tesla Cybertruck Owner: “I Preach Its Superiority, But Tonight’s FSD Performance In Snow Was A Scary Wake-Up Call: It Just Gave Up” 2
“I’m Driving 400 Miles A Week In My Tesla Model 3 And My First Electric Bill Just Arrived: At $73 A Month, I’m Stunned At How Much Gas Owners Are Overpaying,” Says This High-Mileage Commuter. 0
“I Love the 2026 Ram Hurricane’s Power, But the ‘Vacuum Cleaner’ Sound is a Dealbreaker,” Says Owner: The One Mod That Restores the Hemi Bark 13
“I Would Never Put a Synthetic Blend in My EcoBoost”, Says This 2025 Ford F-150 Owner: Why He’s 100% Right to Question the Dealer’s Advice 5
2025 Honda CR-V Owner Says, “I Thought Honda Was Reliable, But My CR-V Hybrid Is Already Leaking Oil At 4K Miles: I’m Ready To Trade It In” 1
Toyota Master Tech Says, “I’ve Been Seeing a Lot of Tundra Radiator Failures Due To Fan Shroud Rubbing, All Just Out Of Warranty” - Here’s the Cheap Fix 3
“Toyota Got Me”: 2024 Prius Owner Joins The ‘Dead 12V Club’ At 900 Miles; “Now I’m Forced To Carry A Jump Box Just To Be Safe” 0
2026 Chevy Silverado Owner Scans VIN and Finds A ‘Holy Grail’ Discovery; He Says, “GM Officially Deleted DFM Because They Knew The Lifter Issues Were Killing The Brand” 9
"I Thought Toyota Was Bulletproof, But My 2024 Tacoma Transmission Just ‘Took a Dump’ at 10k Miles and I’m Losing Faith" 1
“Built Ford Tough” No More? F-150 Transmission Failures Drive Owner to Chevy: “I Upgraded to This Silverado Single Cab Unicorn” 0
“I Just Bought This 2019 Toyota Highlander 60K Miles, I’m Super Happy With the Car, But the Dealer Pushed Me Into A 4-Yr $2,700 Warranty, Now I’m Not So Happy About It” 0
2021 Ram 1500 Owner Says, “I Went To Get My Transmission Fluid Changed and the Dealer Says No, It’s Lifetime Fluid, No Need To Change It, But an Independent Shop Says Do It” 0
“I Had Zero Issues With My Ford,” Says an F-250 Owner, But Switches to a 2026 Toyota Tundra and Immediately Regrets One Thing 6
2022 Honda Owner Says Her CR-V Has Gremlins, “All My Windows Went Down, the Sunroof Opened With the Car Off, and the Trunk Opened By Itself Twice,” She Adds, “The Dealer Claims They Can’t Find Anything Wrong” 0