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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 Corolla's Headlight is Out, and the Dealer Wants $1,100 Just for the Part, Plus Another $400 to Replace It. So, This Is Why I Dislike New Cars 1
Thieves Stole 3 Gallons of Gas From My Ram Truck, Now the Dealer Says It’s $2,000 To Fix My Damaged Gas Tank, It’s Infuriating and Frustrating 16
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “After 3 Years of Placing an Order, I Finally Pulled the Trigger With 0% Financing, I Couldn’t Pass It Up,” But There’s a Catch 6
An Audi Dealer Scammed Me Out Of A 2025 Q5 Sportback, Then Switched Me To A Completely Different Car, So, I Immediately Left and Bought A Mercedes 1
I Dislike My 2023 Toyota Tacoma, It’s Underpowered, Uncomfortable, the Transmission is Awful, and the AC Isn’t Cold Above 80, I’m Buying A Tundra 60
I Just Sold My Kia Soul To the Kia Dealer, Because My Little State Farm Beacon Buddy, Tracks Everything That I Do In My New Kia Sorento 185
My 2023 Toyota Tundra’s Engine Started Knocking at 30K Miles, and I’m 2 Months Outside the Recall, Now the Dealer Says I Can’t Get a New Engine 0
The Toyota Dealer Wants $300 To Clean My 2022 Toyota RAV4’s Induction System, But My 30K Service Doesn’t Say I Need It, I Think It’s a Scam 1
I Learned a Few Things Towing With My Tesla Cybertruck, It Would Have Been Cheaper and Faster With My Ford F-350 Diesel Truck 5
I Initially Thought My 2024 RAV4 Hybrid Was Perfect, But 10 Months In, Toyota's Quality and Reliability Are Not What They Were 5-10 Years Ago 44
2024 Chevrolet Traverse Owner Says, “Please, Chevy, Not My Brand New Car, It’s Twice In 3 Months, Don’t Let Me Down Again” 15
My 2024 Toyota Tacoma Transmission Died 15K Miles In, I’ve Been Waiting Over A Month, and Zero Updates From the Dealer On When It Will Be Fixed 2
Tesla Cybertruck and All EV Trucks “Are the Worst If You Carry Loads, Trailer, Go to Worksites or On Vacation, The Limited Range and Refueling Is a Big Pain” 4
I Purchased a Brand New 2025 VW Atlas, and Within 2 Days and Only 29 Miles, It Had To Be Towed, Now, the Dealer Tells Me I Need A New Transmission 6
I Just Had My First 2025 Tundra Oil Change, They Charged Me $130, Then I Checked, and The Toyota Dealer Never Changed My Oil and Filter 18
Master Tech Says, “This $100K 2024 Cadillac Escalade Has 12K Miles and I Can Hear the 6.2L Engine Knocking, It’s Already Showing Signs of Catastrophic Failure” 1
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “It’s My Cybertruck’s First Time at the Service Center, and 6 Things Are Already Wrong With It” 1
My 2023 RAV4 Has Been To the Toyota Dealer For 3 Different Issues, They Still Don’t Know How To Fix Any Of Them 3
I Just Took Delivery Of My 2026 Tesla Model Y, After Only 200 Miles My Hub Cap Flew Off Going 60 MPH and Ruined My Door 0
I Almost Bought This 2023 Chevy Silverado Duramax For $51K, But, My Salesman Caught the Fake VIN, I Was Ready To Sign the Check 4
Is Subaru In Trouble? Sales Fall After 33 Months Of Sales Growth 13
I Traded Two Of My Favorites For a Tesla Cybertruck, a 2022 Toyota Tundra and a 2024 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid. My CT Is More Fun Multiplied Times Ten 0
I Just Had My First 2024 Tacoma 10K Oil Change Done at the Toyota Dealer, Now I Have a Massive Oil Spill on My Garage Floor 84
I Just Picked Up My Ultra Red 2026 Tesla Model Y and I Had To Reject It Due To So Many Paint Imperfections, My Second Car Isn’t Much Better 4
I Asked Reddit Users, Which Car On the Road Makes You Instantly Think, This Person Is Definitely a Big Jerk? Tesla Cybertruck Is By Far Number One 0