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Ram is walking back one of its biggest selling points. In this Truck News Recap, Tim Esterdahl breaks down the end of Ram’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty for 2027, what that means for shoppers considering a 2026 truck, and the differences in diesel coverage across Ram, Ford, Chevrolet and GMC.

Then we dig into the 2027 Ford F-150’s engine changes, GM’s latest diesel and gas-engine news, and what Tim learned about engine development and testing. There’s also a practical discussion of trailer-brake setup and the reliability and transmission questions truck owners still want answered.

Recorded October 2, 2026.

IN THIS EPISODE
00:00 Ram’s 10-year warranty is ending
00:26 This week’s truck news recap
00:57 New vehicle research tools
02:07 What changes for 2027 Ram buyers
03:41 Comparing diesel warranties
04:47 Why the longer warranty is going away
05:25 ScreenProTech giveaway and screen protection
06:33 2027 Ford F-150 engine changes
08:45 GM coverage and trailer-brake setup
10:00 Duramax and HD gas V8 news
11:00 How GM develops and tests engines
13:19 Reliability and transmission questions
15:13 Becoming better-informed truck buyers

READ MORE
Ram warranty story: https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/10/2027-ram-trucks-lose-one-of-their-biggest-selling-points-the-10-year-100k-mile-warranty/
Truck news and vehicle research: https://pickuptrucktalk.com
Cars and unibody SUVs: https://wetalkcars.com

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Tim Esterdahl answers questions about the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra in this replay of Tuesday’s livestream, “2027 Silverado & Sierra: I Asked GM—Now Ask Me Anything.”

Truck news, owner stories and buying advice: https://pickuptrucktalk.com/
More car and SUV coverage: https://wetalkcars.com/

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GM’s new V8 engines bring more power—and plenty of questions. Fresh from GM’s powertrain event in Flint, Tim Esterdahl breaks down what engineers told him, what remains unanswered, and what it means for truck owners.

In this week’s Truck News Recap:
• Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM), lifter concerns and the revised oiling system
• Why GM is dropping the physical oil dipstick
• Direct injection, port injection and intake-valve carbon buildup
• Why the 6.6L V8’s towing rating surprised Tim
• 2027 Chevrolet Silverado pricing and the High Country price increase
• GM’s use of manufacturing data and AI to improve engine quality
• Ram news, a 323,000-mile Hemi owner story, and a Ram truck dealership in Germany

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Watch this recap on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2c2jWjOONZ4
Watch the GM powertrain video: https://youtu.be/wdTGZ_QoLlI
Watch the RTR Ram Truck Ranch interview: https://youtu.be/iRBxqhF3PI0

Truck news, owner stories and buying advice: https://pickuptrucktalk.com/
More car and SUV coverage: https://wetalkcars.com/

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I ordered my next truck: a 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country. In this episode, I explain why I chose Chevy over GMC and Toyota, why timing pushed me into the High Country trim, and the exact engine, color and towing configuration I ordered.

CHAPTERS
0:00 I ordered a new truck
0:45 The trucks I considered
2:10 Why Chevrolet instead of GMC
3:20 The new Silverado V8 decision
4:10 Ordering through Kelley Chevrolet
5:20 Why I chose High Country
7:05 Pacific Blue and the 6.6L V8
8:25 Max Trailering availability
9:10 The 3.23 rear axle explained
11:05 Delivery timing and estimated price
13:25 Screen ProTech giveaway and PUTT updates
15:25 This week in truck news
20:30 Germany programming note

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NHTSA has escalated its investigation into GM’s 6.2-liter L87 V8, moving the case into an engineering analysis that could affect nearly one million Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac trucks and SUVs.

Tim Esterdahl explains what the expanded federal investigation means for GM owners and whether the current recall remedy is resolving the engine problems. This week’s truck news also covers Toyota technicians using a hammer test on recalled Tundra engines, Ford Super Duty engine changes, GM’s updated 8-speed transmission repair procedure, proposed California tire-efficiency rules, new recalls and other important pickup truck and SUV stories.

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More truck and SUV news: https://pickuptrucktalk.com

#GMRecall #TruckNews #PickupTrucks

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Toyota has a new way to inspect certain 2022-2024 Tundra engines, and yes, it involves a plastic hammer. Tim breaks down Toyota’s V35A crank bearing inspection, why the automaker is testing these engines, how an accelerometer and software are used to analyze the results, and why this unusual-sounding procedure is actually based on established engineering principles.

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Ford has revealed the Fathom, a new electric pickup expected to start around $30,000. But who is this truck actually for, and can Ford find enough buyers to make it successful?

In this Truck News Recap, Tim Esterdahl examines what we know about the Ford Fathom, its expected size and range, and how it could compete with the Slate truck and Ford Maverick. He also explains why commercial fleets and urban drivers may be the real target customers.

Other topics include Pickup Truck + SUV Talk’s first full-size truck award, changes coming to the 2027 Ford F-150 and Ram 1500, Toyota Highlander reliability problems and what Tim learned while towing a camper with the GMC Sierra EV.

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Which heavy-duty truck is the most reliable: Ford Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado HD, GMC Sierra HD or Ram HD?

Tim Esterdahl ranks today’s heavy-duty trucks using Pickup Truck + SUV Talk’s original reporting, NHTSA data, recalls, technical service bulletins and owner complaints.

The Ford Super Duty claims the top spot despite its recall history and death-wobble complaints. The GM heavy-duty trucks follow closely, while valve-body concerns prevent them from finishing first. The redesigned Ram HD comes in last, largely because its Cummins and TorqueFlite HD powertrain is still too new to have an established long-term record.

Do you agree with the rankings, and which heavy-duty truck has proved most reliable for you?

Explore the PUTT Reliability Center:
 https://pickuptrucktalk.com/truck-reliability/

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The 2020-2026 Toyota Highlander has a reputation for reliability, but owners and used-vehicle shoppers should know about recalls, transmission complaints, ECU-related stalls and several other reported problems.

Cory Fourniquet examines the Highlander’s loose second-row seats, airbag concerns, transmission whining, hybrid braking behavior, infotainment glitches and unusual fuel-tank readings. He also explains how owners can check their VIN for open recalls before buying or servicing a Highlander.

Plus, this week’s Truck News Recap covers pricing for the new Ram Rumblebee lineup, including the first 6.4-liter HEMI offered in a Ram 1500 and the nearly $100,000, 777-horsepower Rumblebee SRT. Toyota also updates the 2027 Tundra TRD Pro with front recovery hooks, adjustable Fox shocks and the new Honeycomb exterior color.

The episode also highlights the Pickup Truck + SUV Talk Reliability Center, the new We Talk Cars website and the monthly Screen ProTech giveaway.

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https://pickuptrucktalk.com/

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Which full-size truck is the most reliable today? Tim ranks the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 and Toyota Tundra using PUTT’s reliability reporting, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, failure severity and recurring problems.

Consumer Reports and J.D. Power are included for comparison, but they do not determine the final ranking. The results may surprise you, especially the trucks finishing first, second and last.

Read the full report:
 https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/07/most-reliable-full-size-trucks-ranked-surprise-winner/

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