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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 Bought a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, It’s a $60,000 Car and My Navigation Doesn’t Work, Now Toyota Says I Have To Pay More For Their App For It To Work 33
Tesla Model X Owner Says, People Say It Must Be Bad In the Snow, and Hard to Charge, I Laugh and Say I Don't Have to Go Out Of My Way to Pump Gas in Sub-Zero Temps 1
I Have A New Chevy Silverado, and This Thing Says ‘Buckle to Shift,’ I Have to Buckle My Seat Belt in Order to Shift Out of Park 53
I Found a Weird Black Box On My Toyota Tacoma, and I Think It’s a Tracking Device, I’m Not the Only One Finding These 14
Update - 2025 Subaru Forester Owner Says, “Most People Who Want Heated Seats, Especially In the Winter, Are Going To Be Very Disappointed” 7
I Brought My Toyota Highlander Into the Dealer For the 10th Time To Get My Moonroof Leak Fixed, They Made Me Pay $2,500 and It’s Still Not Fixed 53
Cadillac Dealer Says, “She Test Drove a New Escalade, Stabbed Our Salesperson Who Was Able To Escape, and Then She Stole the SUV” 1
I Have a 2025 Subaru Forester Sport, I Am Very Disappointed In the Heated Seats, Only Heats to 90 Degrees, So Disappointed, I Can Barely Feel the Heat On High! 118
My Son Needed a Car, So Grandma Buys Him a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, Only Problem, Grandma Loves It More Than Her Toyota Camry and Takes It Back 6
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says It’s An Expensive Brick After Washing His Truck, “I’m Only Two Months In With 3,400 Miles, My Screen Is Blank and Won’t Reset" 12
Selling My Toyota Tacoma Was a Nightmare, I Was Scammed, They Distracted Me, He Opened Up the Oil-Filler Cap and Poured a Bottle of Water in the Oil, Then Replaced the Cap 3
I Traded In My 2019 Crosstrek Limited For a 2024 Outback Wilderness, and I Couldn’t Be Happier With the Decision 7
I Flew To Houston to Buy a Ford F-150, It Was An Elaborate Facebook Marketplace Scam Says Sheriff’s Office, I’m Out Thousands of Dollars and the Truck 2
I Was Excited, My Grandparents Gifted Me a 2024 Subaru Outback - As I Lay On My Side After a Huge Crash, I Screamed Because of My Anguish For Losing My Car I Loved So Much 6
I Wanted a Subaru WRX Because STIs Are Expensive To Maintain, After Two Honda Civic Sis, I Bought a 2019 STI and Disaster Struck, My Engine Failed 14
I Paid $391 For Brakes On My Mercedes At A Brake Shop, As I'm Driving, the Car Starts Shaking and I’m Swerving, They Were Installed Wrong, I Paid Another $500 To the MB Dealer To Fix It Right 1
Man Crashes His Subaru Outback Which He Called a "Lemon" Through the Front Door of a Mazda Dealer After They Told Him It Was Sold “As Is” 12
“You Hear That?” Michael Says Over the Sound Of a Rattling Engine, “That’s Another Dead 2024 Toyota Tundra, Owners Are Selling Before the Warranty Expires” 56
I Sold My Honda Pilot After 6 Months, It’s Not Young Family Friendly, It Looked Great At the Dealer, But I Quickly Realized the Space Here Is Not Going To Cut It 35
Why Are Buyers Walking Away From the New 2025 Subaru Forester? 144
I Bought A Jeep Wrangler But I Can’t Drive It, the Dealer Won’t Give Me a Title Making It Impossible To Get License Plates, He Laughed In My Face 7
I Bought a $70,000 Fisker Ocean, But Immediately Regretted It, The Issues Started and 11 Months In and Only 7,000 Miles, It’s Time to Jump Ship 2
GA SWAT Lieutenant Slaps Ford Dealer Employee Saying “Gonna Be Repercussions” Over a Missing Garage Door Opener After Trading In His F-150 62
Subaru Crosstrek Is on Fire, and No One Can Extinguish the Flames 23
Thomas Says “The Ford Mustang Mach-E Has To Be the Worst New Car You Can Buy Today, To Lose $20,000 In the First Year Is Mind-Blowing” 23