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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 Locked the Keys to My 2025 Toyota Camry Rental Car In the Trunk, It Was the Worst Night of My Life, I Would Never Buy A 2025 Camry 14
Repo Expert Says, “I’m Shocked at the Number of High-Dollar Repos Now, Here Is a 2024 Chevy Tahoe With 27K Miles, It Still Smells New, They Walked Away” 9
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “My Tesla SC Refuses To Address the Excessive Wind Noise, No Matter What I Ask For Even Out of Pocket, I Get Denied” 1
I Had a Flat On My 2025 Toyota Camry, The Toyota Dealer Charged Me $400 For One Tire, and Now They Tell Me It’s Another $800 For A New Wheel 294
I Bought a 2024 Jeep Wagoneer, It’s Been To the Dealer 6 Times Since December With the Same Electrical Issues and They Can’t Fix It 7
The Insurance Co Totaled My 2021 Toyota C-HR with 29K Miles, I Only Had 2 Payments Left, and I Took the Payout, Now I’m Questioning My Decision 2
My 2025 Toyota Tundra’s Rear Diff With 1,800 Miles Is Whining, the Dealer Brushed Me Off, But Later Found Metal Shavings and Now Has To Replace It 13
Tesla Owner Says, “People Who Take The Tesla Logos Off Their Cars Are the Worst, Either Drive Your Tesla Enthusiastically and Ignore the Haters or Get Rid Of It” 10
I’m Trading My Ford Bronco Sasquatch For A Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road, I Want Better Towing, a Truck Bed, and I’m Going Deaf After a 2-Hour Road Trip 4
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “Less Than 2K Miles and My Seat Squeaks, Pillars, Door trim, and Center Dash Rattles, It’s A Rattle-and-Squeak Nightmare” 4
My 2019 Hyundai Tucson Has 60K Miles, and the Dealer Says It Needs a New Engine, It Was the Biggest Financial Mistake of My Life 145
CarMax Sold Me A 2014 Subaru Outback For $15K, Now 9 Months Later It’s Undriveable, and It Needs a New Engine and Transmission  127
My 2021 Toyota Highlander with 60K Miles Needed a New Transmission, and Now At 65K There’s a New Problem, But the Dealer Can’t Figure It Out 26
I Bought a 2009 Mercedes Instead Of a 2025 Honda Civic, I’d Rather Drive a Paid-Off Benz Than Have A $500 a Month Civic Payment 133
My Customer Just Traded in Her 2025 Chevy Tahoe With Only 98 Miles, It’s the 2nd Worst Trade I’ve Ever Seen 26
I Just Found Out My Tesla Cybertruck Insurance Almost Tripled, It Was Already Borderline Unreasonable, I’m Not Willing To Pay an Additional Truck Payment 2
I Just Went To Buy a 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid But None Are Available and There’s Only One In Production, Now I’m Worried About the Tariffs 17
EV Dealer Says, “I Just Sold a Tesla Cybertruck Owner a Model S and He Used Crypto To Buy It, This Is the Future of Auto Transactions” 4
My 2024 Toyota RAV4 XLE With 4,000 Miles Started to Shake and the Engine Just Died, the Dealer Doesn’t Know What’s Wrong 3
I Changed My 2024 Toyota Tacoma Oil at 5K Not the Recommended 10K, I Found Some Metal In the Filter, and the Oil Was Too Dark For My Liking 43
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “Ford, Rivian, and GMC’s Only Breakthrough Is Slapping a Battery Into a Few Trucks, While the Cybertruck is the Rookie MVP" 74
I’m Extremely Disappointed With My 2024 Toyota Tundra Gas Mileage, It’s Not What They Advertised, I Traded My Tacoma For This 34
Ram Truck Thief Calls Local Police and Says, “I Hurt Myself and I Can’t Get Out” After Breaking Through the Dealer’s Glass Window 0
I Had My 2024 GMC Sierra Duramax With 11K Miles Towed To the Dealer For the Second Time, the Dealer Can’t Figure It Out, I’m Ready to Take It To Ford 8
My 2020 Tesla Model 3 Battery Failed at 15K and Now There’s An Error Code Leading To Another Battery Failure at 20K Miles, I’m Questioning Tesla’s Reliability 4