Don't waste your money on these trucks.

Pickup trucks are the kings of the roads in the USA. After the mpg scare ended at the turn of the century, the popularity of these mighty beasts is back. However, this does not mean that every truck produced is good. The truth is that the more popular a product becomes, the faster automakers will try to release similar products to make a quick buck. Throughout history, this has made buying a pickup truck a high-risk, high-reward affair. Here are the worst of the worst pickup trucks you should avoid at all costs.

Dodge Ram Daytona goes into production

Dodge had big plans for 2005 when they released the Ram Daytona pickup. The evil monster was supposed to bring an entirely new consumer base to the longtime automotive brand. They never expected it to actually make consumers run.

Like the Mazda B-Series, Dodge made one big mistake; they focused on looks rather than strength. Sure, the Daytona looked like it could handle whatever load you had to haul, but if you looked under the hood, you'd be pretty disappointed.

1999 Chevy Silverado was a bad dream

Before getting upset with us, let's be clear; The Chevy Silverado is one of the greatest pickup trucks of all time and a symbol of the market. However, the 1999 version was a nightmare that could easily ruin the automakers' reputation.

For some reason, Chevy deliberately chose to put one of the worst engines on the market in its flagship truck. This made the Silverado sluggish and unaffordable for their target demographic. Luckily, Chevy quickly realized their mistake and corrected the problem in later years.

2002 Lincoln Blackwood was too small

We're not entirely sure what Lincoln was thinking in 2002 when they released the Blackwood pickup. An attempt by luxury car manufacturers to break into the pickup market failed as quickly as it began.

To begin with, "Blackwood" was undersized; especially the bed. This made it very unattractive to consumers who would use it to transport goods. Secondly, he quickly gained a reputation for being unreliable. After the first generation, Lincoln abandoned its experiment, returning to the production of luxury city cars.

1997 Ford Ranger had a bad transmission

Ford made a pretty big mistake with the 1997 Ranger pickup. Generally known for making some of the best trucks on the market, Ford failed to fit a reliable transmission into its 1997 model, causing many customers to question their brand loyalty.

Some of the most common transmission problems in the 1997 Ford Ranger were as follows: upshift failure, gear loss, gear slippage, reverse gear loss, solenoid failure, and shift response delay.

1972 Ford Courier was unfinished

The 1972 Ford Courier was a Ford in name only. When the company decided to bring the truck back after a 12-year absence, they took the easy route by paying Mazda to use their B-series.

Essentially, what would have been sold in the United States as a Mazda B-Series pickup was rebranded as Ford instead. Consumers were able to see Ford's deception and sales plummeted. After four years on the market, Ford ended its strange experiment with Mazda.

2006 Nissan Frontier was a real nightmare

The 2006 Nissan Frontier is the car we're still trying to forget about. The pickup had several transmission problems, as well as seven recalls from the factory. What's the point of even buying a truck if it's always going to be in the store?

Three of the seven recalls created a huge challenge for Nissan. Its fuel system, suspension and engine were all recalled following reports of malfunctions leading to accidents. If you are looking for a new truck in the used car market, you should avoid it!

2013 Toyota Tacoma falls short of expectations

In 2013, the Toyota Tacoma pickup began to age. The new model does not offer many improvements over the previous generation. The utility car was ideal for the working person, but not the technological consumer.

There were also six Tacoma recalls, all due to faulty parts that increased the risk of an accident. In 2016, Tacoma finally got a well-deserved tech makeover, turning this pickup truck from unattractive junk to a flawless nail.

1976 Dodge Ramcharger ran out of gas

First released in 1974, the Dodge Ramcharger we'll be focusing on was a 1976 model. Originally known as the Rhino, the Ramcharger had several features. The most interesting thing was that the passenger seat was optional.

The driver's seat came standard, of course, but then you could choose whether or not you wanted your truck to be passenger-friendly. We suggest that if you're hauling large loads, you may need extra space, especially if you're working alone. While it was an interesting feature, the pickup truck simply didn't have the necessary power to make it a bargain.

The 2009 Hummer nearly bankrupted the company

There was a time when the Hummer was one of the most popular trucks on the road. Created for the military, the iconic vehicle was eventually redesigned for public consumption. After years of unrivaled success, the 2009 model almost bankrupted the manufacturer.

The 2009 Hummer was expensive and had a terrible mpg rating. The huge car became an eyesore at a time when people needed smaller cars with high fuel efficiency, not power and muscle.

The 1978 Subaru BRAT was just a car in disguise

While Subaru is generally known for kicking their cars out of the park, the same cannot be said for their trucks. The 1978 Subaru BRAT is a great example of this. Subaru created a compact truck that consumers quickly learned was just a glorified car.

To turn the car into a truck, Subaru added a flatbed to the rear of the sedan. Surprisingly, the BRAT has been in production for 16 years. President Ronald Reagan owned a 1978 model for 20 years, adding to the car's market value.

2006 Dodge Dakota was a maintenance nightmare

The 2006 Dodge Dakota has been completely redesigned for the truck. And if Dodge could do it again, we guess they would. After five years on the market, the automaker stopped making cars altogether.

But what was so bad about Dakota? The truck kept breaking down, turning a modest initial investment into a real bank robber. Only 2011 Dakotas were sold in 12,000, which was a signal to Dodge that their fan base was fed up.

The 1957 Ford Ranchero Wasn't Actually a Truck

Before Subaru released the BRAT, Ford created the Ranchero as a sheep in a wolf's clothing. Released in 1957, the car was just that; automobile. However, Ford advertised and marketed the Ranchero as a truck, which did not impress their fans.

By 1960, Ford had wised up with a new version of the Ranchero that was smaller and sold to consumers like a car. They created a new model based on their Falcon and renamed it the Falcon Ranchero.

1976 Cadillac Mirage was real

While we would all like to think it was just a dream, the Cadillac Mirage was 100 percent real. The coupe-truck hybrid essentially removed the rear seats and added a long platform. The high price combined with low functionality made the Mirage unpopular with consumers.

The car was so unpopular that only a few hundred were reported to have been built. Cadillac quickly realized that the market for the Mirage was small and did everything they could to make it disappear.

2005 Toyota Tundra engine was out of order

The Toyota Tundra has been firmly established in the truck market ever since it entered the scene with a lot of problems. Originally released in 2000, the 2005 Tundra was one of the worst.

Compared to competitors, Toyota was unable to deliver and the Tundra was noted as the least powerful full-size truck at the time. In 2007, a major overhaul was carried out, which significantly improved the performance of the truck and turned it into one of the most popular in the country.

2002 Subaru Baja didn't win many fans

Subaru tried again to enter the pickup market in 2002 with the Baja. The compact pickup was designed to appeal to adventurers, not workers. Upon release, the Baja received high praise from the automotive industry.

However, Subaru's customers were not so easily impressed. For four years, Baja struggled to meet sales projections, which eventually led to its demise in 2006. Today, he is remembered more as an oddity in Subaru's history; a forced dune buggy that so desperately wanted to be a pickup truck.

Ford dealer Thames became a black mark in the history of the company

When it comes to pickup trucks, Ford has a reputation for making quality vehicles, so it's strange to see them on this list again. However, the Thames Trader has definitely earned its place as one of the worst pickup trucks ever made.

In 1965, Ford stopped production of the eight year old Trader, which they sold almost entirely in England. The most popular and well-known version was the double-decker buses ordered by London Transport. Because this version isn't technically a truck, it didn't earn Trader a pass on our list.

What is a Chevy SSR?

We're not sure Chevy really knows what they were aiming for when they created SSR. Another hybrid between a pickup truck and a sedan, the automaker has also given it a retro look to really grab attention.

The SSR definitely caught people's attention. They just didn't know what to do with it. Although the car looked good enough on the outside, it lacked the power under the hood to impress. After three years on the market, Chevy switched off.

Nissan Titan not worth it

One of the best things about the Nissan Titan is that it's often sold at a discounted price - and that's probably because of how badly it performs as a truck. At the same time, he has a spacious cabin and can carry a fair amount of cargo. However, this is not enough to compete with its main rivals.

The truck's belts, pulleys, and mounts were the most problematic for owners, who also experienced leaks and cracks in the bodywork. Ultimately, the Nissan Titan just isn't worth it.

Canyon GMC has a fuel leak

The GMC Canyon looks like it was built to last, but most owners have probably decided they don't even want to keep it that long. Although it was built as a high-end truck, people had problems with its transmission, fuel system, and cab electronics.

It comes in different sizes, but cannot compete with its main rivals. To add to the injury, Canyon was recalled at least once due to a damaged fuel line that could have caused fuel to leak, eventually starting a fire.

Smaller Chevrolet Colorado

The Chevrolet Colorado was built as a compact pickup, so it has a smaller body than most people would like. Despite the economical diesel engine and ease of handling, this truck has a low reliability rating due to the climate system, suspension and fuel system.

That doesn't mean the Colorado is necessarily a bad buy. After all, these problems were with later models. But so far, the outlook for the 2019 model is good.

What is the meaning of Explorer Sport Trac?

There may be a reason the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was only in production for four years. While many people liked the truck, others didn't see the point in it. After all, why take an SUV and turn it into a truck? Someone at Ford thought replacing the Explorer's cargo area with a bed was a good idea, and it worked for a while.

Despite the small bed, the Explorer Sport Trac was still incredibly expensive, and consumers were better off spending that money on a roomier, more reliable F-150.

The reason they don't do avalanche no more

Chevrolet Avalanche was produced only from 2001 to 2013 and during this time it went through two generations. While it seemed like a promising truck, there may be a reason why you can only buy used models these days. However, you may not want to buy a used model at all.

Avalanche owners cited speedometer malfunctions that caused people to be pulled over for speeding when they didn't intend to. During its early years, the Avalanche also experienced transmission failures and excessive oil consumption.

RAM 1500 should be avoided

Just as you'd like to avoid the RAM 3500, you might as well stay away from its predecessor, the RAM 1500. This is especially true for used cars if that's what you wanted to buy.

The owners of this unfortunate truck have experienced transmission failures, oil sludge buildup and engine failures. The mechanics of this truck are not the only area where it has failed. People have also experienced cracked dashboards in their RAM 1500s! To make matters worse, this truck has a lot of electronic problems.

The Ford F-150 also has problems

The Ford F-150 may be the most popular car in America overall, but even the best pickup trucks have their problems. The owners who bought the 2004 and 2005 models obviously had a worse batch. People have experienced blown spark plugs, loud engine noise, and engine failures.

Oddly enough, there was something strange going on with the glasses on these models, in addition to faulty transmissions. All of these issues led to a series of recalls that have left people disillusioned with the truck ever since.

F-250 and F-350 aren't that good either

We hate to disappoint you, but the F-150 isn't the only truck in the Ford family to have problems. Painful spots are also the F-250 and F-350, especially in 2006, 2008 and 2011.

In 2006, both trucks suffered repeated engine failures. In 2008, Ford dealers saw customers returning with their F-250s due to strange suspension shaking. In particular, the F-250 was also known for premature braking and unintentional acceleration.

Chevrolet K2500 has a rusty history

The Chevrolet C/K was a reliable model from 1959 until 2000, but it would probably have been better to have one of these cars when they were made in their prime. For example, a 1997 Chevy K2500 has been rusted repeatedly. One owner of this model reported rust along the cross member under the driver and passenger seats.

It's definitely not ideal when it comes to security. As such, you'll probably want to avoid these models when it comes to buying a used car.

Mitsubishi L200 is not afraid of water

Mitsubishi Triton is a compact pickup truck of the Japanese automobile company. It was originally sold in 1978 in Japan as the Mitsubishi Forte but is commonly known in America as the L200. It was clearly a small-works pickup truck, and honestly, it's no wonder it's so small considering it was made by a company that hails from a minimalist-focused country.

This is another truck that has experienced a cacophony of rust problems. One owner found tons of it under the car in less than a year from the release date.

It's good that there is no Navara in the USA

The Nissan Navara, also known as the D22, D40 or D23, was a pickup truck sold in Asia, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. It's probably a good thing these trucks didn't make a splash in the US, because apparently a lot of people had a problem with this car that Nissan took a while to acknowledge.

The Navara had rust issues on the chassis, obviously a major safety hazard. This causes the truck's legs to crack so badly that it eventually splits in two.