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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
“My 2022 Toyota Highlander FWD, In 5 Inches Of Snow, Won’t Even Make It Up the Driveway, It Can’t Be the Tires, For the First Time I’m Thinking of Getting Rid of It” 1
You Won’t Find This On Any GMC Dealer’s Lot - 2026 Sierra Owner Says, “I Just Got a Sand Dune, Short Bed, Regular Cab, This Unicorn Is Not For Everyone” 3
"My 2026 Toyota Tundra Taillight Broke For No Reason, and They’re Not Online, I’m Not Paying the Dealer $1,000 For Something I Can Do Myself" 0
2024 Prius Owner On 2nd 12V Battery At 60K Miles Warns: “Toyota Says They Only Last 30K, the Cost Is A Kick In The Teeth" 2
I Wanted a 2026 Toyota Tundra Until I Test Drove One, and I Wasn’t Impressed At All By It, I’ll Keep My Del & Tuned Ram 2500 Cummins With 210K Miles 0
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says “Holy Smoke, My CT Is Mad Max, Cutting People Off and Passing on the Right Shoulder at 80 MPH, It Feels Like My 'Ex' Is Chasing Me” 1
I Always Thought Ford Meant "Found On Road Dead" But I Bought An F-150: Ram And GM Have ‘Too Many Horror Stories,’ I Hope Ford Is the Lesser Headache 5
I’m Stuck Between Buying a Ram 1500 and a Ford F-150, But I’m Leaning Ram Because Ford’s 10-Speed Pretty Much Sucks 0
I Waited 4 Hours At Toyota For an Oil Change On My 2023 Tacoma, Then I Pop the Hood and Notice This, They Didn’t Even Put the Oil Filler Cap Back On, Never Again 0
I Ordered 295/65 R20 Tires For My Ford F-150, Level, No Spacers, Now the Tire Guy Says They Will Rub, But I’ve Seen a Lot Of People That Say They Won’t 3
Today Was the Day, 301K Miles On My 2008 Toyota Highlander, But Letting This Family Member Go Is Sad, I Just Hope This New 2026 Highlander Performs As Well 1
I Just Bought a 2026 Chevy Silverado ZR1 and the Rear Bumper Is Crooked, Makes Me Wonder What Else Is Wrong With It Before the Factory Warranty Is Over 8
My Sister’s Toyota Prius Gets 35 Miles On a 6 Hour Charge, That’s All? Then, I See the ’25 RAV4 Hybrids Getting 42, and ‘26s Get 52 Miles, What Am I Missing? 1
My First Ram 5.7L Hemi, and Probably My Last, This Thing Drinks Fuel Like There’s No Tomorrow, and I Don’t Step On It, This HOG Only Gets 220 Miles Per Tank 1
2024 Chevy Silverado Owner Says, “Man, This Is Why I Don’t Trust Tire Shops Anymore,” After His Wheel Falls Off, Shoots Into the Road, Damaging His Truck 0
I’m At the Toyota Dealer Getting My 2025 Tundra Oil Changed, and I See Dozens of Crates With New Engines Waiting, They Can’t Swap Them Out Fast Enough 5
Honda Tech Warns CR-V 1.5L Owners, “Honda Designed a Garbage Engine, They Like To Eat Head Gaskets,” and Says, “Don't Use Honda Parts, Or You’ll Be Back To See Me” 16
I’m Looking For a Post 2017 Ford F-150 Owner Who’s Never Asked, “Why Did I Buy This Truck?” Junk 5.0s, Junk 10-Speeds, Elec. Problems, and Seal Leaks at 20K 1
My 2021 Model 3 Battery Failed Out Of Warranty, and Tesla Quoted $17K, I Found an EV Shop That Did It For $8K, I’m Not Going Back To Tesla For Anything 2
Toyota Refused To Change My 2025 RAV4’s Oil, They Had It 5 Minutes and Said They Won’t Do It Until 5K, I Made Them Take It Back, Totally Unlike My Infiniti Dealer 2
I Just Had My 2022 Tundra SR5 Engine Replaced With Toyota’s Recall, Now 6K Miles Later Here We Are, Broken Down, Intense Knocking, Smoke, and It’s DOA 4
So, It Finally Happened, My Chevy Silverado Which Has Been Meticulously Maintained Since New, Has Crapped the Bed, Dealer Says I Threw a Rod 1
Cybertruck Has Ruined Me, I Used To Enjoy My Model Y, Now It Feels Like Riding In a Bathtub Feeling Every Little Bump, My CT Feels Like Driving On Clouds 1
My 2024 GMC Sierra 21k Miles In, Dash Lights Up, Check Engine, Transmission Shifts Hard, NO Reverse, My Vacation Finished On the End Of a Tow Truck 1
It’s the Third Time My 2024 Tacoma TRD Sport Won’t Start, 6 Months In and 3,500 Miles, the Toyota Dealer Told Me ‘Just Buy a Jump Pack’ 0