alazar14
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
I realize that this has been discussed in other posts before, but I don't believe we have a post specifically discussing owner's perspectives/beliefs regarding the truck's long-term durability. Granted, much of this will be speculation, as the only real way to test this is to let time take its toll on our trucks. Still, I would like to share my own thoughts/experiences, and then see where the community falls.
I realize that my own post might prime some responses one way or the other. I want to preface by saying this: I do not dislike this truck, but I do have some concerns about its durability, in particular, the body/paint after almost 2 years of ownership.
I picked up my truck in summer of 2019, and at the time, I was satisfied with my purchase (although not head over heels in love with it, it was a practical vehicle from a manufacturer that I had never personally dealt with before). It took about 4 weeks for me to start to notice some of the issues with the truck, all things that are (to this day) not deal breakers, but make me concerned for the long-term durability of the vehicle (or at least certain components).
The very first thing I noticed was that the paint on these trucks is quite thin and easily scratched. Even with only highway driving, keeping my distance, I've managed to get a few clearcoat scratches on the front and sides of the truck. Granted, most of the significant clearcoat scratches have come from door dings (I'll get back to this next), but even on the front of the hood, there are very evident scratches, and I have no idea how they got there. I hand wash/Spray on wax my truck once per month, I only drive on the highway, and only drive about 400 miles per month. I can't, for the life of me, figure out where the front scratches are coming from.
The second thing I noticed about the truck was the thin body panels used. In fact, when I first noticed these, It was about 2 months after buying it, as I noticed a small door ding caused by my neighbors car (a late 90s or early 2000s, Chevy cavalier). I had always noticed that the doors felt light, but I assumed that didn't translate with the metal quality used on the body. Well, now I think it did. This truck dings so easily, much easier than other vehicles I have owned (I have owned a 1995 Camaro, 2002 Camaro, and my father owned a 1988 Camaro, and 1998 Ranger).
After just lightly knocking on the metal panels on the door of the 2019 Ranger, then doing the same on the doors of my 1995 and 2002 Camaro (which I still have), I was shocked to feel/hear the difference. Further, after only just barely putting any pressure on the door, I can see the metal flexing. The same goes for the roof. I have never been less confident in the thickness/durability of the external materials in a vehicle.
Just for a fair comparison, I went to my local Nissan dealership (about 3 months after buying the Ranger) and knocked on the doors of the Frontier, and even went to a Chevy dealership to do the same to the Colorado (yes, the sales people were wondering what the hell I was doing). Both of those truck's metal felt a bit more substantive, or at least the doors felt a bit less hollow. I am kicking myself for not checking out the roof of those trucks as well, so that I could have a comparison point there.
The third and final thing I noticed that made me question the quality /durability was the fact that I recently (like 2 weeks ago), noticed the window trim around my truck coming lose (both driver/passenger windows). I don't just mean a bit lose, I mean I could push it back in, but it pops back out, over 4 inches of it on the driver's side, and 2 inches on the passenger. I can hear a bit of wind when I drive at high speeds getting caught in the lose trim. I am wondering if this is even covered under warranty, if it should have adhesive (doesn't seem to have any), and if I should go to the dealership to get this taken care of before my 3 years are up.
Finally, the internal plastic components. I did not buy the fanciest version of the Ranger, I bought an XL, with the 101A appearance package. Still, I am shocked at how much the door grip area crack and creek when I grasp them. I am not a very strong person. I don't lift, or do much exercise beyond daily walks and carrying furniture in and out of the truck bed a few times a month. Still, I feel as though I could easily shatter the plastic grip area of the inside of the door (I don't want to call it a door handle, because that's the part that opens the truck, but I can't think of the word for the grip area).
Anyhow, that's the "body" and "paint" of it, but I must say, the CORE of the truck. The engine, transmission, they feel FANTASTIC! I am, so far, utterly impressed by the smoothness of the ride, the ease of the shifting, and the overall driving experience. I have every confidence in the engine of this truck (the one component that I was most worried about when buying it), and, paradoxically, I have lost all confidence in exterior components.
That has been my experience after almost 2 years of owning this truck. My overall feelings for this truck are, thus, a bit mixed. I believe the truck is moderately durable. I think the engine, frame, and even the transmission are going to hold up fine for years and years. With that said, I think the truck is going to look like a mess after only a few years of daily use, even with washing/waxing every month, and mostly highway driving, and pretty soft work use. I do not think that the body/paint comes anywhere close in quality to other vehicles I have owned, and from my very superficial and limited examination of the competition, I feel that these components are inferior.
I don't work the truck too hard. I don't tow, but I do drive 50-60 miles per week with the bed full of furniture (mostly sofas, mattresses, and the occasional bookshelf or desk). The truck has served my purposes well, and I'm sure it will serve me for at least a few more years.
But what have been your experiences? Do you think this truck will hold up? How would you rate the truck's durability so far based on your own experiences?
I realize that my own post might prime some responses one way or the other. I want to preface by saying this: I do not dislike this truck, but I do have some concerns about its durability, in particular, the body/paint after almost 2 years of ownership.
I picked up my truck in summer of 2019, and at the time, I was satisfied with my purchase (although not head over heels in love with it, it was a practical vehicle from a manufacturer that I had never personally dealt with before). It took about 4 weeks for me to start to notice some of the issues with the truck, all things that are (to this day) not deal breakers, but make me concerned for the long-term durability of the vehicle (or at least certain components).
The very first thing I noticed was that the paint on these trucks is quite thin and easily scratched. Even with only highway driving, keeping my distance, I've managed to get a few clearcoat scratches on the front and sides of the truck. Granted, most of the significant clearcoat scratches have come from door dings (I'll get back to this next), but even on the front of the hood, there are very evident scratches, and I have no idea how they got there. I hand wash/Spray on wax my truck once per month, I only drive on the highway, and only drive about 400 miles per month. I can't, for the life of me, figure out where the front scratches are coming from.
The second thing I noticed about the truck was the thin body panels used. In fact, when I first noticed these, It was about 2 months after buying it, as I noticed a small door ding caused by my neighbors car (a late 90s or early 2000s, Chevy cavalier). I had always noticed that the doors felt light, but I assumed that didn't translate with the metal quality used on the body. Well, now I think it did. This truck dings so easily, much easier than other vehicles I have owned (I have owned a 1995 Camaro, 2002 Camaro, and my father owned a 1988 Camaro, and 1998 Ranger).
After just lightly knocking on the metal panels on the door of the 2019 Ranger, then doing the same on the doors of my 1995 and 2002 Camaro (which I still have), I was shocked to feel/hear the difference. Further, after only just barely putting any pressure on the door, I can see the metal flexing. The same goes for the roof. I have never been less confident in the thickness/durability of the external materials in a vehicle.
Just for a fair comparison, I went to my local Nissan dealership (about 3 months after buying the Ranger) and knocked on the doors of the Frontier, and even went to a Chevy dealership to do the same to the Colorado (yes, the sales people were wondering what the hell I was doing). Both of those truck's metal felt a bit more substantive, or at least the doors felt a bit less hollow. I am kicking myself for not checking out the roof of those trucks as well, so that I could have a comparison point there.
The third and final thing I noticed that made me question the quality /durability was the fact that I recently (like 2 weeks ago), noticed the window trim around my truck coming lose (both driver/passenger windows). I don't just mean a bit lose, I mean I could push it back in, but it pops back out, over 4 inches of it on the driver's side, and 2 inches on the passenger. I can hear a bit of wind when I drive at high speeds getting caught in the lose trim. I am wondering if this is even covered under warranty, if it should have adhesive (doesn't seem to have any), and if I should go to the dealership to get this taken care of before my 3 years are up.
Finally, the internal plastic components. I did not buy the fanciest version of the Ranger, I bought an XL, with the 101A appearance package. Still, I am shocked at how much the door grip area crack and creek when I grasp them. I am not a very strong person. I don't lift, or do much exercise beyond daily walks and carrying furniture in and out of the truck bed a few times a month. Still, I feel as though I could easily shatter the plastic grip area of the inside of the door (I don't want to call it a door handle, because that's the part that opens the truck, but I can't think of the word for the grip area).
Anyhow, that's the "body" and "paint" of it, but I must say, the CORE of the truck. The engine, transmission, they feel FANTASTIC! I am, so far, utterly impressed by the smoothness of the ride, the ease of the shifting, and the overall driving experience. I have every confidence in the engine of this truck (the one component that I was most worried about when buying it), and, paradoxically, I have lost all confidence in exterior components.
That has been my experience after almost 2 years of owning this truck. My overall feelings for this truck are, thus, a bit mixed. I believe the truck is moderately durable. I think the engine, frame, and even the transmission are going to hold up fine for years and years. With that said, I think the truck is going to look like a mess after only a few years of daily use, even with washing/waxing every month, and mostly highway driving, and pretty soft work use. I do not think that the body/paint comes anywhere close in quality to other vehicles I have owned, and from my very superficial and limited examination of the competition, I feel that these components are inferior.
I don't work the truck too hard. I don't tow, but I do drive 50-60 miles per week with the bed full of furniture (mostly sofas, mattresses, and the occasional bookshelf or desk). The truck has served my purposes well, and I'm sure it will serve me for at least a few more years.
But what have been your experiences? Do you think this truck will hold up? How would you rate the truck's durability so far based on your own experiences?
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