Ford Ranger problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 7 model years (2019–2025), NHTSA has logged 668 owner complaints and 38 safety recalls for the Ford Ranger. That averages 19.3 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.46 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize pickups segment it ranks #2 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 20.7.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across seven model years from 2019 to 2025, the Ford Ranger has logged 668 owner complaints and 38 safety recalls, averaging 19.3 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.46 against all tracked vehicles. While the 2019 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average with a rate of 34.4 complaints per year and generated the most recent reports totaling 47, newer years like 2023 show only 4.9 complaints per year. The most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain accounting for 33.7% of complaints, which are 2.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles, with recurring terms including "transmission", "gear", "shifting", "leaf" and "rear". Owners report 123 injuries and 0 deaths across all model years, though the complaint pace is rising with 204 filed in the last 12 months versus 140 previously.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 31% below the 2019 and 2020 models (25 early complaints per model year versus 36).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (34.4 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (4.9). The 2019 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. Model years 2022 and 2023 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (33.7% of complaints), followed by Engine (13.5%) and Electrical (12.7%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 2.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “transmission”, “gear”, “shifting”, “leaf” and “rear”. 38 complaints (5.7%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 123 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 204 complaints versus 140 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (47). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 39 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 38 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (15), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance” (opened 2021-08-03, still open).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Nissan Frontier; Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Years to research carefully | 264 | 34.4 | 0.82 | 50 | 0.62 | 47 | 11 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2020 | 126 | 18.9 | 0.45 | 23 | 0.4 | 31 | 7 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2021 | 112 | 19.7 | 0.47 | 23 | 0.38 | 37 | 6 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2022 | 37 | 7.9 | 0.19 | 15 | 0.2 | 12 | 5 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 18 | 4.9 | 0.12 | 11 | 0.13 | 4 | 4 ⚠ | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2024 | 75 | 28.0 | 0.67 | 40 | 0.57 | 42 | 13 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2025 | 36 | 21.5 | 0.51 | — | — | 31 | 13 | Engine | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 204 · Previous 12 months: 140 Rising
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
225 · 33.7% · 2.9 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- transmission166
- gear79
- shifting61
- shifts29
Brakes ›
53 · 7.9% · 1.31 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brake pedal30
- foot14
- floor12
- depressing brake9
Body & structure ›
50 · 7.5% · 0.82 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- blend door5
- box9
- air14
- heater7
Interior & equipment
39 · 5.8% · 0.65 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- door handles4
- ssm3
- camera8
- throttle response3
Wheels, tires & suspension
34 · 5.1% · 2.04 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- leaf20
- spring13
- rear18
- broken9
Other
25 · 3.7% · 2.07 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- forward12
- seat11
- latch5
- brake10
Airbags & seat belts
23 · 3.4% · 0.9 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- seat belt8
- deploy6
- air8
- bags5
Lighting
14 · 2.1% · 1.34 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- pickup4
- brake lights4
- bulb3
- lighting4
Fuel system
11 · 1.6% · 0.38 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- fuel7
- gasoline3
- traffic3
- turn3
Driver-assist systems
10 · 1.5% · 0.26 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- collision warning4
- feature3
- assist3
- control4
Steering
9 · 1.3% · 0.21 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering7
- tires3
- wheel4
- assist3
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- transmission188
- gear95
- shifting71
- leaf20
- rear107
- shifts32
- pedal75
- hard63
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 39 months
What owners report
Chrome metal on 3 door handles sticking up. Cut my daughter's fingers and my fingers. Was reported to Ford and local dealer but Ford said I would have to pay out of pocket to replace full handle assemblies. Ford offerred a discount, but it was still expensive.
Chrome metal peeling up on 3 door handles. Started peeling around 39K miles. Cut my fingers and my daughter's fingers. Brought it to local dealer who filed a repair request and Ford said I would have to pay for ful door handle assemblies out of pocket.
2025 Ford Ranger XLT experienced an electrical short-circuit causing a persistent speaker hiss with the vehicle turned off, accompanied by an electrical burning smell.
This 2024 Ford Ranger Pickup is part of recall # 26V238. The vehicle has been at the dealer since 6/20/2026. Today is 8/30/2026. There have been several dates given for the release of the fix for this recall and all have come and gone.
While driving my 2020 Ford Ranger, the transmission has repeatedly exhibited unexpected and unintended gear changes, including sudden downshifts or gear changes without driver input, hesitation, and abrupt loss of power during acceleration.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize pickups
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Frontier | 293 | 8.1 | 0.19 | Worsening | Steady | 15 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 668 | 19.3 | 0.46 | Improving | Rising | 38 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 3 | Chevrolet Colorado | 817 | 21.7 | 0.52 | Worsening | Steady | 9 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 4 | Toyota Tacoma | 929 | 26.6 | 0.63 | Stable | Rising | 15 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 5 | Jeep Gladiator | 978 | 30.0 | 0.71 | Improving | Steady | 16 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 38
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2019 (11) · 2020 (7) · 2021 (6) · 2022 (5) · 2023 (4) · 2024 (13) · 2025 (13)
Investigations
- Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance Open
On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rea…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Ranger model year has the most complaints?
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (34.4 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (4.9).
Is the Ford Ranger getting better or worse?
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 31% below the 2019 and 2020 models (25 early complaints per model year versus 36). In the last 12 months owners filed 204 complaints versus 140 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Ford Ranger problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (33.7% of complaints), followed by Engine (13.5%) and Electrical (12.7%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “transmission”, “gear”, “shifting”, “leaf” and “rear”.
How does the Ford Ranger compare with other Midsize pickups?
Within the Midsize pickups segment it ranks #2 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 20.7. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Nissan Frontier; Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator have more.
Does the Ford Ranger have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 38 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (15), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance” (opened 2021-08-03, still open).