The 5 Most Common Problems with Cheap Used Trucks

When you're looking at cheap used trucks, you have a lot to think about in terms of choosing a reliable ride that won't conk out a few thousand miles down the road. Here are some of the top reported problems with used trucks that buyers bought for a song, and later regretted.

Oil Leaking and Burning
This is a very common problem with older trucks. As the engine gets older, it may develop leaks, and drivers have to continually add motor oil that drips onto the road or the driveway. This gets expensive, it's a hassle, and it's also bad for the environment. Other engines simply tend to burn away oil. Both of these problems can lead to a run-dry situation where the engine seizes up for good. You may not be able to spot an oil leak at deal time, since it's easy for the seller to put down cardboard to catch the leaking oil and take it up before sale presentation.

Rust on the Body
Rust spots on the truck body may indicate rust on the frame. Rust actually eats away and weakens the metal, and this can be dangerous. The new owner will have to shell out for body repairs. If you can't do it yourself, you may pay a fortune every year for a shop to patch up your truck.

Faulty Fuel Line and Sealing Situations
Any kind of bad seal on the engine block can cause chronic problems on the road, and so can undiagnosed fuel line/exhaust issues, which can become a nightmare on some pre owned truck models. Both of these may be hard to catch when you're test driving, and both can lead to frequent break down situations.

Transmission Issues
Any large vehicle is relatively hard on its transmission. Professional fixes are terribly expensive, partly because the shop often has to take the transmission apart to repair it. Think of the transmission as a "second engine" in terms of liability. If you can't drive the used truck because of a faulty transmission, it may not be worth fixing, just like a head gasket replacement for an engine block may not be worth the cost, especially if the vehicle itself isn't worth more than a couple of thousand dollars.

Chronic Warning Light Problems
If you got a used truck that's new enough to have an engine computer, you're not necessarily ahead of the game. Depending on the deal, the previous owner may have gotten tired of trying to diagnose warning light issues and put the vehicle up for sale. A computer reset can turn the lights off temporarily. If your check engine light comes on a few hundred miles down the road, and stays that way, you may have a problem on your hands.