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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 Chevy Silverado is Garbage, Left Me On the Side Of the Road, Not Even 30K, A Loud Clunk and Then the Engine Shut Down, This Truck Is Straight Trash 2
Tesla Model 3 Owner Says, “Please Tell Me I Can Do My Own Brakes at Home, Tesla Quoted Me $1,041, Help!” 1
Toyota Highlander Owner Says, “My 2024 Highlander With Only 1,600 Miles, Driver’s Door Paint Is Already Wearing Off,” He Asks, “Will Toyota Take Care Of This?” 0
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “My $100K Steel Brute Raised a White Flag In Front Of a Bucket of Soap, What Happened Next With Tesla Support Was Even More Absurd” 0
Toyota RAV4 Owner Says, “After I Get Gas I See Warning Lights and It Shuts Down, Dealer Blames My 28 Cent Overfill, Am I Crazy For Thinking They Are Full Of It?” 0
CR-V Owner Says, “Honda Changed My Oil, Didn’t Fasten the Shield, I Hear a Loud Scraping, I Take It Back, and They Just Take It Off and Throw It In the Trunk” 7
Chevy Silverado Owner Says, “100K In I’ve Replaced the Top End, Transmission, and Now There’s Suspension Issues, I Drove a Cyberbeast and Now I’m Obsessed" 0
2024 Toyota Highlander Owner Says, “The Dealer Just Hit Me With a $480 Diff Fluid Change At My 30K Service,” He Asks, “Is This For Real or a Dealer Scam?” 5
Tesla Model 3 Owner Says, “I Made a Big Mistake Taking My Wife’s Telluride To the Airport, and Letting Her Drive My M3P, Now She Won’t Drive the Kia” 0
Nissan Frontier Owner Says, “I Just Got a Surprise 7-Year/70K Warranty For My 2020 Frontier.” He Asks, “Is There A Problem With the In-Tank Fuel Pump?” 0
Tesla Model 3 Owner Says, “I Just Fell Into the Tesla Loaner Trap. I Dropped Mine Off, and I Get This Model X Loaner With 700 Miles On It, They Can Keep My Model 3” 0
Tacoma Owner Says, “Why the Poor 4th-Gen Taco Resale Values?" Another Says, "I’d Say the Market Realizes It’s a Throwaway Truck, Not a Longterm Keeper Expected to Go 400K Without Major Issues” 22
I’m Ready To Sell This 2012 Toyota Tacoma, Not Even the Japanese Specialists Can Figure It Out 15
Well I Started My 2024 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Up At Home Depot, and the Truck Let Me Know it Wasn’t Able to Shift. I Had To Get Her Towed an Hour and a Half Away 0
I Bought a 2016 Toyota Highlander with 129K, and the Prior Owner Must Have Been a Toyota Dealer’s Nightmare, Or Maybe I’m Dreaming? 8
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “It’s a Futuristic Chrome-Plated Dumpster Designed On an Apple II By a Stoned Elon Musk, But Requires Less Maintenance Than a Goldfish” 133
2020 Honda CR-V Owner Says, “The Dealer Is Threatening Me With a $175 Inspection Fee For An AC Leak That Is Caused By a Recall Issue” 1
Tesla Buyer Says, “I Was Supposed To Take Delivery of This Model 3 and the Dealer Said It Got Sent Back, I Think They Lied To Me and Sold It To Someone Else" 0
My 1998 Toyota 4Runner Has 330K Miles On It, I Always Said I Would Drive It Until the Wheels Fell Off, Pretty Sure That’s Not Gonna Happen 28
2023 Chevy Tahoe Owner Says, "I’m Ditching My Twice-Failed Tahoe, I’m Not Willing To Risk My Family While They Figure It Out. I’m Getting a Lexus GX 550" 0
I Thought I Scored a Great Deal On This 2000 Toyota Tacoma, I Drove Home From MD to NJ, No Issues, and Then Did a Simple Valve Gasket, How Cooked Am I? 0
I Sold My Cybertruck and Got This 2025 Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss, If Tesla Made A Truck Like This, Their Cybertruck Sales Would Be Off the Rails 1
2024 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Owner Says, “I’m Pulling a 26-ft Trailer, and All Of a Sudden I Lost Steering, I Limped In, and Now I Need the Dreaded L79 Inspection" 0
My 2017 Prius 228K Miles In, Mileage Dropped to 40 MPG, No Warning Lights, Now Toyota Says I Have to Replace the Hybrid Battery Pack 0
My 2022 Tesla Model 3 Has Lost So Much Value, I’m Trading It In For a 2025 Rivian R1S Tri, I’m About To Pull the Trigger, But I’m Scared 0