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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
I Want To Take My Tesla Cybertruck on a Fishing Trip, Towing My Boat Like I Do With My Ram, But I Don’t Want My CT To Brick On Me In the Middle of Nowhere 0
My Hyundai Sonata Has Been at the Dealer For 7 Months Waiting For a New Engine, They Say They’re Waiting On Parts, I Think They Are Just Stalling 1
My 2024 Toyota Tacoma's One-Hour Tire Rotation Turned Into an 8-Hour Brake Line Replacement, Now the Dealer Says There’s a Brake Fluid Leak Issue 1
My Roommate Incredibly Escaped the Tightest NY City Parking Spot Ever In a Subaru Outback, Houdini Couldn’t Have Pulled This Off 0
I Just Sold a Custom, Blacked-Out Tesla Cybertruck to My Oldest Customer Ever, Imagine What the Grandkids Will Say When He Pulls Up In This Thing 7
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Says,”My Chevy Dealer Is Trying To Sell Me Snake Oil, Said If I Buy This Oil Additive They Will Warranty My Engine For Life” 9
I’m Selling My Unreliable Honda CR-V and Buying A Toyota, My CR-V With Only 68K Miles Already Needs New Injectors at a Cost of $2,000 101
I Have Zero Confidence In My 2024 Toyota Tundra. It Suddenly Shut Down Going 80 MPH, I Finally Got It Started, But Now, the Dealer Will Think I’m Crazy 9
My 2024 GMC Sierra Is Acting Crazy, It Sprays Washer Fluid When I Press the Horn, But the Horn Doesn’t Work 0
2025 Toyota Tacoma Owner Says, “I Would Rather Push-Mow a Hill In 105 Degree Heat with 2 Broken Legs, Than to Ever Install Seat Covers Again” 137
I Think My 2025 Toyota Tundra Platinum TRD With a 3-inch Lift Looks Like A Cartoon Truck, and That It Skipped Leg Day 18
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “I Regret Spending $130K On a Cybertruck, It Had a Critical Failure, I Can’t Drive It, and Tesla Can’t Get Me In for 39 Days" 1
My Toyota Highlander Hybrid With 2,800 Miles Started Making a Horrible Noise When It’s in Reverse, the Dealer Says, “They All Do It, Don’t Worry” 0
I Can’t Get My Tesla Model 3’s AC To Cool In This Heat, the Temp Was 135 Degrees Inside, and After Driving 25 Minutes it Was Still 85 Degrees 3
This Is Weird, My Tesla Cybertruck’s Alarm Woke Us Up, the Door Was Slightly Open, the Window Dropped For No Reason, and No One Was Around It 2
Ford Dealer Says, “The Ford F-150 Auto Stop-Start Is Killing Your Engine,” Then He Reveals Why and Shows You How To Disable It 29
My 2025 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss 231 Miles In, Lost Power Steering and Brakes, the Dealer Replaced the PS Unit Twice, and it Still Has Metal In the Fluid 3
I Can’t Believe the Toyota Dealer’s Wild Claim about My 2024 Tacoma’s Chipped Paint. I Said, WHAT? and I’m Still Shaking My Head 5
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “I Will Be Waiting By the Curb, and My Cybertruck Will Drive Itself To Pick Me Up, It’s Not Science Fiction, It Starts Now” 0
Only 148 Miles In, My 2024 Toyota Tacoma Blew a Front Tire, the Dealer In a Rush, Didn’t Check the Tire Pressure Off the Transport Truck 156
My 2025 Tesla Cybertruck Ordering Experience Was a Nightmare, It Was So Bad, I Canceled My Order and Asked For a Refund 1
I Traded My Old Honda Element, a Brick Phone on Wheels, for a High-Tech Toyota 4Runner, But It's Stealing My Personal Data With Tracking Technology 2
Tesla Killed My Plans To Pull An RV With My Cybertruck, It Doesn’t Have Enough Range To Do the Job, So I’m Selling It 3
My 2023 Toyota RAV4 Is the Most Frustrating Car I’ve Ever Owned, 14K Miles In, A New Transfer Case, 2 Weeks at the Dealer, and It’s Doing It Again 16
My 3 Day Old 2025 Chevy Suburban Is a Nightmare, the Brakes Went Out In the Middle Of The Road, and The Dealer Sold It To Me With an Open Recall 1