A pickup truck represents the perfect vehicle for people who live in mountain areas, who love off-roading adventures and trips, who need to carry large things every day and for those who want a big and reliable ride. It is not the most comfortable vehicle for daily drives, but it gets the job done every time. Despite the good reputation of a pickup truck, it is a known fact that it can rust badly. None of them are perfect, and all of them will rust at some point, but it pretty much depends on the area in which they are used / owned. Even if some of them rust less than others, all of them have got this problem. There are also new pickups that have already got rust underneath and they are still in the dealership.

It is very important to know how to maintain a pickup truck, and how to treat and prevent rust. People that love these vehicles should be aware of this situation and start gathering info about it. If the owner does not take care of his or her car, the damages can become unrepairable. Even if rust starts from a tiny spot on the fender or on the chassis, it spreads fast and eats everything in its way. The main advice is to check the truck once in a while and treat the rust with special products that can be found in stores before something bad happens.

20 Rust: 1997 – 1999 Ford F250

In 2011, Ford had recalled almost 1.2 million pickups from the US and Canada because the bands that sustained the fuel tanks in place were known to rust and break. This recall was addressed to Ford F150 models and F250 ones from 1997 until 1999 with less than 8,500 pounds.

After one of the bands or both of them were eaten by rust and eventually broke, the fuel tank would fall to the ground.

The fuel lines could also lead to a fuel leak or even worse, a fire. According to Reuters, the owners were advised to contact a dealership and solve the issue.

19 Rust: 2006 Dodge Ram 1500

The main problem of the 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 was clearly noted as excessive rust, according to Car Complaints. One owner was complaining that his car had rusted overnight. He had a rear bumper with holes in it, rear fenders with a lot of rust, large spots of rust on the frame and rust problems between the front and back doors. It seems that the producer has got it wrong with this model because there are rust problems that shod be fixed under a recall and not by the owners. The year 2006 was not a good one for Dodge.

18 Rust: 1997 Chevrolet K2500

In 2012, a 1997 Chevrolet K2500 owner had posted on Plow Site a rare rust problem that he had found on his car, the front cross member that goes under the driver and the passenger side. It already had a nice crack in it due to rust.

It is a known fact that 1997 Chevys had weak frames and a lot of problems with corrosion, but this is quite bad when one thinks of his or her own safety.

A rusted frame can lead to dangerous situations and it should be treated immediately. Rust is not something to mess with, especially when the owner lives in an area with a lot of snow and salt on the roads.

17 Rust: 2005 – 2015 Mitsubishi L200

The 2011 Mitsubishi L200 that was described on the Car Buyer website had common rust problems that were solved under warranty: the foot rails were replaced being rusted completely. At 25,000 miles and 11 months from the production date, the pickup truck had a lot of rust under it and the new owner was disappointed completely. It seems that the producer did not think outside the box at these weather conditions consequences that would determine rust to appear. The car was still a 2011 one, almost one year old, it should not have been eaten by rust at that point.

16 Rust: 2005 - 2008 Nissan Navara D40

According to the Honest John website, the truth about the Nissan Navara D40 came out eventually. The D40 models built from 2005 until 2008 had a bad chassis rust problem. The producer admitted the mistake, but not at its true level unfortunately. A recall should be made because the issue is quite serious.

The corrosion on the chassis leads to the cracking of the underpinnings of the vehicle and the vehicle breaks in two in the end if the problem is not solved.

With approximately 35,000 D40 models already on the road towing and carrying heavy stuff, the producer should be worried.

15 Rust: 2005 - 2010 Toyota Tacoma

Toyota had a major issue to deal with in 2016. There was a lawsuit against the automotive producer because of 225,000 steel frames under two types of pickups and an SUV that needed to be replaced due to severe corrosion, according to Auto Week. All those frames were supplied by another manufacturer, Dana Holding Corp. from Maumee, Ohio, and they were not treated correctly from the beginning. The mainly damaged areas of the frame were in the rear, where the suspension leaf spring were mounted on it. Toyota should have paid $3.4 billion for all the repairs needed on the 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma and the other two models.

14 Rust: 2007 - 2008 Toyota Tundra

As mentioned above, the 2007-2008 Toyota Tundra is one of the two pickup models with bad frame corrosion issues. Having in mind that the rust problems were located on the back of the vehicle, where it can be loaded with heavy stuff, this model was surely not safe to be driven on the street until it was mended. According to Auto Week, the labor-intensive and expensive repair process required two service bays and four technicians and it could take between two days and a week, depending on the dealership. The proposed settlement made after the lawsuit mentioned that if the frame had its strength compromised by rust, Toyota will support the frame replacement.

13 Rust: 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71

According to Car Problem Zoo, the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 owners were very disappointed of their cars due to severe rust issues. In 2017, a person had bought this model with only 77,000 miles on the dashboard. The former owner mentioned that the pickup truck had no signs of rust, but that was not true.

The frame cross members and the frame itself were full of rust, not to mention that the fuel tank is attached to one of the cross members and it could fall at any time.

This issue is a known fact for all GM vehicles produced between 1999 and 2007.

12 Rust: 2014 GMC Sierra SLT

It is not a great thing to find out that a 2014 GMC Sierra SLT has a lot of rust issues after only three years and a protectant sprayed over the entire frame. According to GM-Trucks, a person had bought from a dealership a GMC Sierra with only 5,000 miles on the dashboard and being only a few months old. He was offered a great warranty package with a protective spray coating for the suspension components and the frame. After only 3 years, the frame was a mess, all rusted and destroyed. What spray did they use for the metal components if it was gone in three years?

11 Rust: 2005 Ford F150

In 2018, a 2005 Ford F150 owner had posted a complaint on Car Problem Zoo in which he mentioned severe rust issues on the rear half of the frame. He was informed by his mechanic that the corrosion was so bad that it would not be long until the frame will not be able to sustain the weight of the vehicle and it will break. The rust had made longitudinal cracks and holes on the side and bottom frame surfaces, more exactly at the stress point situated in front of the rear wheel bend. The owner had also mentioned that he had been taking care of the pickup truck, keeping it in the garage and so on. It was not safe to drive anymore.

10 No Rust: 2013 - 2018 Dodge Ram 3500

From what the Ram Forum website states, the 4th generation of Dodge Ram 3500 did not inherit the bed rust problems that the 3rd generation was known to have. So, the models produced from 2013 until now are safe to be bought. However, if the owner wants to install Mopar mud flaps on his or her Dodge Ram 3500, the screws will chip the paint and there will be rust.

Another place to keep under observation is the damping panel from the back of the fenders that seems to be holding water and creates a perfect environment for rust.

If these spots are taken care of, there should be no corrosion issue on the pickup truck.

9 No Rust: 2012 Mazda BT-50

The only minor rust issues that the 2012 Mazda BT-50 has are under the hood. According to Thai Visa, an owner described the problems he had encountered with his pickup truck and this should be a perfect opportunity for others to learn how to prevent them. He had noticed the fact that some water was accumulating on the top of the engine, in the injectors area, because of the top cover design. Some silicone can fix the injector rust issue. There are also some bolts and a few engine block parts that had some tiny spots of rust, but that was all.

8 No Rust: 2014 Isuzu D-Max

According to the New D-Max website, the only rust issues that come with the 2014 Isuzu D-Max were noticed on the white painted models. It seems that the paint is too thin on all models, but the only one with rust stated problems is the white one. Owners have also noticed that, because of the thin paint, the scratches cannot be polished. This is not that great after all. Even if this is a cheaper pickup truck that is used to carry heavy stuff, the owners would like their cars to look good. However, no major issues were reported so far and the Isuzu D-Max can be bought safely as being rust resistant.

7 No Rust: 2017 Honda Ridgeline

According to Car Complaints, the only issues that were noticed by the 2017 Honda Ridgeline owners were linked to paint peeling and tailgate problems.

Not a single word about rust so far and that is a good thing.

It is still a 2017 pickup truck and it still has got enough time to make a wrong turn, but having in mind that technology has evolved quite a lot in the past few years, one may think that rust should not be an issue for the latest models. Just to be sure and safe, every owner should check his or her truck and choose to apply some rust treatments to prevent it from appearing.

6 No Rust: 2016 - 2018 Fiat Toro

The 2016 Fiat Toro is a cute little pickup truck that has no major issues reported so far. The Italian car maker has got the job done perfectly. This unibody four-door truck is the most wanted pickup in Latin America and the most affordable one in the same time. Having in mind that it is a 2016 vehicle, rust issues could have appeared until now, but no one complained about this type of problem. All in one, Fiat Toro is considered an interesting pickup truck, but Fiat has stated for The Truth About Cars that it will not be the only pickup present in the future offer.

5 No Rust: 2012 Chevrolet Colorado

According to Car Complaints, the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado has got only one rust reported issue from an owner that had some bad luck. He mentions that he had taken his truck for inspection to a dealership after GM told him to do so. He was told that the rust is not that bad and it will not cause major issues. The dealer also mentioned that they had new trucks with rust spots on the frames. If the problem is at the beginning, it can be stopped and treated before it gets any worse. However, this was the only rust problem found for the 2012 Silverado and this can only mean one thing: this pickup truck is great.

4 No Rust: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado

The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado has got an amazing list of four different techniques that prevent corrosion and rust issues, according to McGrath Auto Blog. At first there is the Zinc Coating or Galvanizing, a procedure done on the body panel and the roof during the manufacturing process. Second comes the Hem Flange Sealing that represents the hood and door areas sealing with a special material to minimize the moisture presence in those areas. Third is the Underbody Flange Sealing that resembles the second one, but it takes place in the underbody area. The last, but not least, it the Anti-Chip Coating in which the lower body side is treated with a coating in order to prevent damage done by stones, gravel or anything of that sort.

3 No Rust: 2017 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura

Being a 2017 pickup truck is kind of early to have rust issues, but it is known that Volkswagen is paying a lot of attention to such details. The new 2017 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura is a perfect truck with a lot of space and a highly responsive automatic gearbox, according to The Guardian.

It is an amazing pickup truck for off-roading trips and for people that live in mountain areas with a lot of snow and low temperatures.

It has an agile and stable cornering and it has a permanent four-wheel drive system. No problems were reported about this car until now.

2 No Rust: 2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class is the first pickup truck made by the German automaker. As mentioned above, rust cannot be brought into this discussion because it is a 2018 vehicle. However, even if Mercedes cars are known to have rust issues, this one surely has some treatments applied that prevent corrosion. According to Top Gear, the new truck was built based on the Nissan Navara model with the same engine made by Renault, the same switchable four-wheel drive system and the same ladder frame chassis. It should be noted that it still looks like a Mercedes-Benz and acts like one.

1 No Rust: 2015 Ford F150

It seems that Ford has gone to the next level in 2015 with the aluminum truck bodies that never rust. Making the trucks lighter with this new technology, the fuel consumption will also be reduced. The 2015 Ford F150 was subjected to 10 torture tests to prove the efficiency of the new aluminum body, according to Equipment World. The vehicle had to endure a drum barrel drop, a torture rack and an acid bath. The vehicle is as perfect as the producer says it is, but if this type of body becomes the norm, the repair shops will have to invest a lot of money on tools and training to keep up with this technology.

References: CarComplaints.com, CarByuer.co.uk, HonestJohn.co.uk