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Denis Flierl - Senior Reporter and specialized automotive journalist

Member for

14 years 3 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 2010 Toyota Highlander with 240K Runs Better Than My 2021 Highlander with 75K, the Transmission Failed and It’s 6-9 Months Before the Dealer Can Fix It 10
Tesla Model Y Owner Says, “Man, I’ve Never Had So Many Compliments On a Car, All I Did Was Add A Few Touches and These Wheels" 6
2024 Toyota Tacoma Owner Says, "I Put On a 2-Inch Level Kit with 285s, Now My Speedometer Is 5 MPH Over, and My Tires Are Rubbing Badly" 23
I Sold My GMC Sierra Denali 6.2L and Got This 2025 Chevy Colorado, I Was Worried I Would Miss That V8, But I Don’t At All 16
How Stupid Would I Be to Trade My 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD PRO for a 2025 Tacoma Trailhunter? But I’ve Had More Issues With the Tundra Than Any Toyota I’ve Owned 0
I Went To Pick Up My 2025 Tesla Cybertruck Today But Ended Up Rejecting It, Panel Gaps Seemed Way Off, Did I Make the Right Choice, Or Are They All Like This? 2
I Just Bought a 2025 Toyota Tacoma SR5 RWD For a Daily, Got My Windows Tinted, and My Windshield With 40 Percent Tint, Is It Too Dark? 25
I Used to Bash EVs, ICE for life, But After Driving One, I Fell In Love, So I Bought This Tesla Model 3, But I’ll Continue To Bash the Cybertruck, the Thing is Ugly 1
I Had Nothing But Issue After Issue With My 2023 Chevy Silverado ZL1, So I Traded It For a 2025 ZR2, and 9K In, Got a Check Engine Light For the Infamous DEF System 0
I Bought a 2024 Toyota Tundra with 5K Miles, Did My 2nd Oil Change at 12K, and Now I See Lots of Fine Metal Shavings, and 1mm Chunks in the Pan 0
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “Lately When I Drive My CT I Get This Strange Combo of Fatigue, Lightheadedness, and Almost Like Everything’s Moving in Slow Motion” 1
My 2022 Honda CR-V AC Wasn’t Blowing as Cold As Usual, the Dealer Said It’s a Known Issue With the 2022, Now I Have a Brand New AC and 10 Yr Warranty 12
After 2 Failed Transmissions, I Said Goodbye To My Toyota Highlander and Got a Nice Ford Explorer, I’m Glad I’m Off That Crazy Train 0
I Replaced My Tesla Cybertruck’s Windshield and Now I Have Pretty Bad Wind Noise Over 45 MPH, Tesla Says It’s Normal, But I Disagree 2
My 2019 Toyota Tacoma Is at the Dealer For Defective White Paint, But They Gave Me a Corolla Loaner, So If You See Me in My Wife’s Minivan, Mind Yo Business 1
I Want to Trade My 2022 Ram TRX For A 2025 Toyota 4Runner, and the Dealer Tried To Rip Me Off, $14K Over MSRP and These Crazy Interest Rates 0
I Just Got Back From a 10,000 Mile U.S. Road Trip In My Tesla Model Y, and I Loved It 0
My 2025 Toyota Tacoma Looked Scrawny With a 6-Ft Bed, So, I Had To Add 1.5-Inch Spacers To Improve the Stance, Now I’m Happy With the Look 17
My Chevy Silverado Had An Annoying Clunk/Squeak in the Rear, Dealer Said Tighten the U-Bolts, But That Didn’t Work, So, I Found a Super Easy 10 Min Fix 4
I Have a 2023 Chevy Silverado RST Duramax With a Blown Transmission, It’s Been Sitting 90 Days at the Dealer All Because Of a Stupid Backordered Part 1
Toyota Tundra Owner Says, “Oh, No, Not Another Tundra Engine Fail, But This One Might Actually Be Helpful To Identify Signs Of Impending Doom” 0
I Put a Bike Carrier on My 2022 Toyota Highlander, and Now My Rear Suspension Sags So Much It Bottoms Out On a Small Bump 3
So, I Rented a Tesla Cybertruck and This Thing? It's Not a Truck, At Best, It's a Toy, At Worst, It Feels Like a Rushed Prototype 2
My 2025 Tacoma SR5 With 2,000 Miles Just Up and Died On the Highway, I Had It Towed to the Dealer, and 4 Weeks Later, They Finally Diagnosed the Problem  0
Well, Here We Go, 37K In, My 2022 Toyota Tundra Just Died, The Dealer Gave Me a Corolla Loaner, But It’s Unacceptable, I Need a Tundra For Work 0