Skip to main content

Denis Flierl

Denis Flierl

Member for

13 years 11 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.

Books Published

Work Experience & Education

  • 2012–Present: Senior Reporter at Torque News.
  • 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 extreme environments.

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.

Connect with Denis

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
2022 Chevy Silverado Owner Is Quoted $1,400 For a 45K Transmission Service By the Dealer, He Adds,“I Called Around and Most Shops Won’t Even Touch It” 18
Nissan Titan PRO-4X Owner Trades His Truck For a Ford F-150 Lariat, He Adds, “It Has 29k Miles On It and I Paid $42,500, I Definitely Stole This From the Ford Dealer” 1
2005 Toyota Tacoma With 500K Miles, the Original Owner Says “My Neighbors From Florida Wrecked It With Their Cadillac", He Adds, “Ugg - They Don’t Make Em Like This Anymore” 4
A Man Buys 2024 Toyota Prius, Says 48 Hrs Later He Is Pulled Over For Speeding, He Adds, “The Officer Looked at My Dashboard’s Reading of 75 and Thought It Was For MPH, Not MPG!” 9
2022 Toyota Tundra Owner’s Engine Blew Up, Then the Dealer Gave Him a Corolla Loaner, He Adds, “The Service Was Great, and My Truck Is Running Better Than Before” 2
2025 Chevy Silverado Duramax Owner Says His 3.0L Crapped-Out 5K In, and Is On National Back Order, He Adds, “Except My Payments Are Not On Back Order” 13
A 2025 Subaru Forester Owner Bought a Base Trim and Now He Regrets It - He Says, “The Salesperson Must Have Seen Me Coming a Mile Away, Guess I’m Too New To the Brand To Know Better” 18
Ford F-150 Owner Says He’s “Done With Ford,” at 83K Miles With Too Many Issues, He Adds, “I’m Making the Jump To a 2026 Ram Hemi With a 100k 10-Year Warranty” 14
2022 Ram Owner Says the Dealer Claims Her Truck Needs a $400 Fuel Injection Service, She Adds, “But I Only Have 33K Miles On It, Is That Why They Call Them Stealerships?” 3
2025 Toyota Tundra Owner Strapped With a $825 Per Month Payment, Says, “This Is the Most I’ve Ever Had to Pay On a Car Payment, and I’ve Heard That I’ve Got It Good” 1
2019 Silverado Owner Just Paid Chevrolet $13K For a New Engine, He Adds, “I’ve Been Team GM My Whole Life, But These New Silverados May Scare Me Away From GM” 28
“I Traded My 2021 Toyota RAV4 For a 2025 Hybrid and I Intended To Keep My 2021 Forever, But I Regret Not Getting the Hybrid AWD From the Jump, Now I Couldn’t Be Happier” 3
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “I Must Live In an Alternate Universe, One Month In, and No Hate, Everyone Loves Elon, Hates Biden, Loves Tesla and My CT” 0
Ram 1500 Owner Says 2025 Rams Have a Parasitic Drain, and a Software Update Fixed It, He Adds, “The Dealer Didn’t Have a Clue, and I Was the First To Pinpoint It” 2
EV Dealer Says He Paid $151K for a Tesla Model S Plaid, and Now It's Only Worth $50K - He Adds “That’s $2,000 a Month Loss, This Is the Most Depreciating Car I’ve Ever Owned” 0
2026 Toyota Prius Owner Wants an Actual Spare Tire For His New Nightshade - He Adds, “I Can’t Believe the Dealer Wants Another $900 Just For Parts, and That Doesn’t Include Installation” 1
“My 2017 Highlander Had the Infamous Grinding, Whining, Slipping Transmission: Luckily It Qualified for Toyota’s ZJC Warranty, But My ‘Free’ Trans. Cost Me $2K” 1
2017 Ford F-150 Owner Dumps His Pennzoil Out for Valvoline Restore & Protect at 140K: Says, “I Can't Wait to Hear What the Critics Have To Say” 1
2023 RAV4 Prime Owner Says Her Dashboard Went Dark, and Toyota’s Recall Doesn’t Fix It - She Adds, “It’s Unsafe To Drive, They’ve Had It 2 Weeks, and I’m In a Camry Loaner” 3
2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Owner Says His SUV Blew a Head Gasket at Just 65K Miles - He Adds, “I Thought I Was Buying Ultra-Reliable, What Happened to Honda Reliability?” 2
“I Bought My 2021 Toyota Tacoma New, and 63K In, the Engine Blew On the Highway, 3K Over Warranty, $14K For a New Engine, and Toyota Will Only Cover Half” 15
Ram 1500 Owner Says, “Ram Has the Worst Wheels, I See All These Lifted Trucks, But I Won’t Ever Lift One Again, Too Many Problems, But These Puny Rims Have To Go” 3
2025 GMC Sierra Transmission Fails at 12,500 Miles; This Owner Is Furious Over the Dealer’s 'Weak Fix' 1
Tesla Model 3 Owner Says, “At First, I Hated Tesla, Until I Drove This MP3, Then It Was Game Over, I Just Got Rid of a Nightmare 2024 Hyundai Elantra N That Was a Lemon Buy-Back” 0
2023 Toyota Tundra Owner Says, “24K and I’m Getting a New Engine, No Issues With Toyota, They Loaned Me a 2025 TRD, and I’ll Get Mine Back in 3 Months” 19