The top three vehicles sold last year were all pickup trucks. These trucks have such a strong following that it seems there shouldn’t be bad models, ever. While we wish that were true, some trucks did not meet the standards we set. We need these vehicles to haul, carry, pull, push, and generally work hard, so we don’t have to. Unfortunately, some trucks make us wonder what the manufacturer thought when they hit the streets.
The 2005 Dodge Ram Daytona looks good but has one serious flaw
2005 Dodge Ram Daytona | Dodge
The sporty design of the Ram Daytona captures your attention right away. This pickup truck looks fun with its unique bed spoiler and sporty wheels. According to MotorsTell, you can enjoy good fuel mileage, plenty of horsepower, and impressive hauling power with the Ram Daytona. Unfortunately, Dodge didn’t think that owners would want to remove the wing at the rear. This wing prevents loading anything larger than the opening between the bed and the wing into the truck.
Lincoln shouldn’t have made the Blackwood
2002 Lincoln Blackwood | Cars.com
Do you remember the 2002 Lincoln Blackwood? This truck was stylish, it had the Lincoln posh qualities backed in, but it barely had a bed for carrying gear. According to Autos101, the cabin was comfortable, filled with modern features for the time, and the ride was smooth, but the lack of hauling power seriously hampered this truck. Toss in the fact that the rear was only suitable for carrying luggage for a weekend getaway, and this truck shouldn’t have ever made it to market.
Why was the Hummer H2 SUT released?
Hummer H2 SUT | Car and Driver
Some vehicles are better left on the design table, or in the trash can. The Hummer H2 SUT was one of those vehicles. The Hummer H1 was one of the most impressive 4WD vehicles in the early 2000s. This big SUV resembled the military models with size, toughness, and an attitude to match. The H2 SUT was not the H1. The size of the H2 was fine, but when the SUT model with its small bed couldn’t pull its own weight, this truck had to go.
The 1964 Ford Thames Trader wasn’t strong enough
1964 Ford Thames Trader | Flickr
The Ford Thames Trader is an attractive truck that turns heads at car shows to this day. Unfortunately, nothing on this truck was strong enough to make it useful. The frame, body, and bed were too weak to support what trucks need to do, especially at a time when trucks had to work in the fields alongside their owners. The utility didn’t fit the Ford name, but the Thames Trader could turn some heads.
Chevy was grabbing at straws with the SSR
Purple Chevy SSR | Chevrolet
The reputation of the classic El Camino inspired Chevrolet to try and replicate that success by building the SSR. Unfortunately, this truck/car combo was a swing and a miss. The SSR sat low to the ground, wore a convertible top, and was more of a question mark than an answer. The “bed” was nothing more than a small trunk area covered in a body-colored shell, and the vehicle lacked any hauling power. What was the Chevy SSR capable of doing? It is a pickup truck that could reach high speeds; maybe that was the answer.
The Ford Courier shows the 1970s weren’t kind to Ford
1972 Ford Courier | Barrett-Jackson
Before the fiery inferno of the Pinto ever made it to market, Ford faced production challenges with other vehicles. The 1972 Ford Courier was one of them. This truck was flimsy from the factory and only got worse with time. Anyone driving this truck reported it was falling apart both inside and out. Imagine pressing the brakes and seeing the electrical systems failing; that was the scary experience many found in the Courier.
Keyword: 6 Historically Bad Pickup Trucks – What Were They Thinking