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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.
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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 

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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
Ford F-150 Owner Asks, “What’s the Most Reliable Full-Size Truck Brand? - After 572 Owner Responses, Here Is the Answer, He Adds, “Let’s Be Real and Non-Biased” 20
2021 Toyota Highlander, 65K In, Needs a New Transmission - The Owner Adds, “We Purchased a Toyota New From the Dealer For Its Reliability, and to Have This Happen is Unacceptable” 2
Honda CR-V Owner Says She Never Used the Extended Warranty on Her 2015 CR-V, She Adds, “But I’m Getting One For My 2026 CR-V Hybrid, There’s A Lot More To Go Wrong” 9
“I Just Traded My 2021 Ford F-150 King Ranch For This 2026 Toyota Tundra, I’m a First Time Toyota Owner, I Love It So Far, But Now I’m Told There’s a Tundra Engine Recall” 2
Tesla Model 3 Owner Says, “I Just Renewed My Tesla Home Charging Plan for $15 a Month, and the Charging Window is a Massive 12 Hours, I’ll Take That All Day!” 1
2026 Ram Big Horn Owner Says His Heated Seats & Steering Wheel Don’t Get Very Warm, He Adds, “I Even Upgraded From Cloth to Leather, and the Dealer Hasn’t Been Any Help” 22
“I Put 395K Miles On My 1994 Chevy Silverado, My 2019 With 128K Already Had Engine Failure, I’m Staying Away From Anything New, and Walking Away From GM” 17
Honda Master Tech Says He Sees Many 2016-2025 1.5L Cars In the Shop Daily, But Few 2.0 Hybrids, He Adds, “Don’t Buy a 1.5L, Get a Hybrid or V6 Model Instead” 0
2023 Toyota Tundra Owner 44K In, Heard a Loud Bang and the Back Tires Locked Up, He Adds, “My Engine Went Kaboom, I Know I Should’ve Kept My 2018 Tundra” 0
“I Thought About Buying a 2025 Ford F-150 STX Until I Test Drove It and Floored It - It’s Gear Changes Are Smooth, But I’ll Keep My 2020 5.0L, It’s Much Quicker” 78
“I Traded My 2016 Dodge Challenger SXT In For My 2021 Tesla Model 3 SR Plus and Have Almost the Same Coverages, But My Insurance Only Went Up $10 Per Month” 1
2026 Toyota Prius Nightshade Owner Just Got His Car and Wants to Keep It In Good Shape, He Says, “So, I Went To Get My First Oil Change at 1,000 Miles, But Toyota Said No” 4
2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime Owner Has a Terrifying Brake Failure, He Adds, “Toyota Denied Liability, But When I Took It In, They Quickly Took It To Do a Recall Related To a Cable” 1
Ford F-150 Owner Says, “Here’s the Proof For All You Crybabies, I Just Put In 38 Gallons Into My Truck’s 36 Gallon Tank” 4
2026 Chevy Silverado Owner Paid $60K For His Truck and Didn’t Get an Owner’s Manual, He Adds, It’ll Be a Cold Day In... You Know Where, Before I Pay the Dealer $90 For One” 2
“I Traded My 2022 Ram For This 2025 Ram Laramie, Paid $77K, and 325 Miles In, the AC Is On, Fan Is On Max, and My AC Doesn’t Work - Ram Has To Do Better Than This” 0
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Who’s Paid $5,848 For Out Of Warranty Work Says, “100K Miles, and It Still Looks Awesome, Zero Oil Changes, Zero Brake Pads, Zero Range Anxiety... Well Maybe a Little” 1
2025 Highlander Owner’s Roof Is Leaking First Time In the Rain, She Adds, “I’ve Heard Toyota’s Known About This Issue Since 2020, You’d Think They’d Have Fixed It By Now” 1
A Honda Owner Is Ditching His CR-V For a Subaru Forester, Because It’s the Last Car He Buys, He Adds, “I Know CR Loves Subarus, and Ranks Them 10 Points Higher Than Honda” 4
“I Drove My Friends 4th-Gen Toyota Tacoma, and It Felt Like I Was Driving a Corolla Everytime I Gassed It, Think I’ll Keep My 3rd-Gen Forever, Or Until They Bring Back the V6” 3
“My 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime Died In Traffic, Turns Out the Open Grille Allowed a Rock to Come Through Destroying the Radiator, and $1,100 in Damage, Bad Design Toyota!” 0
2022 Chevy Silverado Owner Is Quoted $1,400 For a 45K Transmission Service By the Dealer, He Adds,“I Called Around and Most Shops Won’t Even Touch It” 18
Nissan Titan PRO-4X Owner Trades His Truck For a Ford F-150 Lariat, He Adds, “It Has 29k Miles On It and I Paid $42,500, I Definitely Stole This From the Ford Dealer” 1
2005 Toyota Tacoma With 500K Miles, the Original Owner Says “My Neighbors From Florida Wrecked It With Their Cadillac", He Adds, “Ugg - They Don’t Make Em Like This Anymore” 4
A Man Buys 2024 Toyota Prius, Says 48 Hrs Later He Is Pulled Over For Speeding, He Adds, “The Officer Looked at My Dashboard’s Reading of 75 and Thought It Was For MPH, Not MPG!” 9