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
Complaints filed between 2021-03-25 and 2026-08-14. Median delay from incident to filing: 14 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2020) drew 18.9 complaints per year, about the same. The following model year (2022) drew 7.9 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 23 complaints, 62% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (45.5% of complaints), followed by Engine (13.4%) and Brakes (9.8%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 3.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Transmission / powertrain reports, owners most often mention “transmission”, “gear”, “shifting”, “shifts” and “hard”. 7 reports (6.2%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 9 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 41 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (40% of incidents). In the last 12 months 37 new complaints were filed, versus 22 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for this model year. 37% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses.
Safety recalls (6)
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER Campaign 25V685000 · 2025-10-10
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE Campaign 25V442000 · 2025-06-27
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS Campaign 23V379000 · 2023-05-26
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Bronco, 2023 Super Duty F-250, and 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles. The Tire and Loading Information (TREAD) label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail a new TREAD label to install over the existing label, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the new label installed, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C18.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: RADAR Campaign 21V982000 · 2021-12-16
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.
Risk: A misaligned radar module may prevent the vehicle from maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles when adaptive cruise control is active. In addition, the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system may react slowly, or not react at all, during a pre-collision assist braking event. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will adjust the angle of the cruise control radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S52.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING Campaign 21V811000 · 2021-10-15
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Ford Ranger Super Cab vehicles. The front passenger outboard seat belt may not have been assembled properly, allowing the seat belt to be misrouted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Risk: A misrouted seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will provide owners with instructions to perform a preliminary inspection of their front seat belts. Owners that detect an issue with the driver's seat belt, are unsure of the results, or do not want to perform an inspection, should not drive their vehicles and contact a Ford dealership. Dealers will inspect the front row outboard seat belts and replace them, if necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 5, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C25.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY Campaign 21V765000 · 2021-09-30
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Ranger Super Cab vehicles equipped with rear seats containing fixed head restraints. The fixed head restraints may interfere with proper installation of certain types of child seats. Additionally, the child seat may not attach properly to the lower-rear anchors. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage System."
Risk: An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear-lower child restraint anchorages for correct alignment and adjust as necessary. Separately, dealers will replace the non-removable head restraints with removable head restraints, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 5, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 17, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C24.
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Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2021 Ford Ranger?
112 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Ford Ranger, or about 19.7 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2021 Ford Ranger?
The most common category is Transmission / powertrain, accounting for 45.5% of complaints.
Does the 2021 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 safety recall(s) for this model year.
Is the 2021 Ford Ranger still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 37 new complaints were filed, versus 22 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
How does the 2021 Ford Ranger compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 112 owner complaints about the 2021 Ford Ranger, or 19.7 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.47, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #41 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Ford models its rate is 64% lower; against other Midsize pickups it is 5% lower.