Menu

Ford RangerYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 8,502 NHTSA owner complaints across 40 model years, the Ford Ranger years to avoid are 1999 and 2000, and the strongest years are 1985, 1986, 1987 and 2022. The Ranger has 102 safety recalls on record.

Ford Ranger
Years to avoid'99 '00Use caution: 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004Best years'85 '86 '87 '22Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints8,502Top: Air bagsSafety recalls1021983–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Hyins, CC0.

Best & worst years

Ford Ranger years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Ranger median. Tap a year for its full report.

'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'14'16'17'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2026Too new–/1009 complaints · 8 recalls2025Too new–/10046 complaints · 13 recalls2024Solid49/10099 complaints · 13 recalls2023Not rated–/10019 complaints · 4 recalls2022Best80/10039 complaints · 5 recalls2021Solid57/100119 complaints · 6 recalls2020Solid61/100131 complaints · 7 recalls2019Solid46/100272 complaints · 11 recalls2017Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2016Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2014Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2011Solid56/100235 complaints · 5 recalls2010Solid66/100156 complaints · 8 recalls2009Solid65/100169 complaints · 7 recalls2008Solid48/100326 complaints · 5 recalls2007Solid52/100270 complaints · 5 recalls2006Solid51/100272 complaints · 12 recalls2005Solid47/100289 complaints · 9 recalls2004Caution38/100405 complaints · 10 recalls2003Solid47/100243 complaints · 1 recall2002Caution40/100346 complaints · 3 recalls2001Caution31/100515 complaints · 4 recalls2000Avoid25/100670 complaints · 3 recalls1999Avoid24/100755 complaints · 4 recalls1998Caution29/100576 complaints · 5 recalls1997Caution37/100411 complaints · 1 recall1996Caution36/100413 complaints · 2 recalls1995Solid45/100321 complaints · 1 recall1994Caution35/100438 complaints · 4 recalls1993Solid48/100232 complaints · 3 recalls1992Solid53/100189 complaints · 2 recalls1991Solid61/100132 complaints · 2 recalls1990Best68/100105 complaints · 3 recalls1989Best74/10073 complaints · 1 recall1988Best68/10089 complaints · 1 recall1987Best79/10050 complaints · 4 recalls1986Best83/10035 complaints · 4 recalls1985Best88/10027 complaints · 1 recall1984Not rated–/10012 complaints · 6 recalls1983Not rated–/10011 complaints · 5 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Ford Ranger problems

All model years combined: 8,502 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags1888368
Power train88166
Tires84287
Structure73928
Electrical system659192
Service brakes, hydraulic646103
Suspension63130
Vehicle speed control565105
Engine and engine cooling45546
26 other systems2534326
102 recalls

Ford Ranger recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Back over prevention: display function26V-605 · 2026 · Sep 22, 2026 · 11,405 vehicles–Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical26V-548 · 2026 · Aug 25, 2026 · 10,427 vehicles–Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical26V-343 · 2025–2026 · May 27, 2026 · 1,536 vehicles69%Other: labels26V-335 · 2026 · May 26, 2026 · 268 vehicles53%Seats: critical fasteners26V-268 · 2024–2026 · Apr 28, 2026 · 179,698 vehicles78%Electrical system26V-238 · 2024–2026 · Apr 14, 2026 · 140,201 vehicles39%Emission control: gas recirculation valve (egr valve)26V-122 · 2025 · Mar 3, 2026 · 47,804 vehicles84%Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control26V-104 · 2024–2026 · Feb 20, 2026 · 4,381,878 vehicles56%Electric: control module25V-823 · 2025 · Dec 1, 2025 · 679 vehicles56%Visibility: windshield25V-683 · 2025 · Oct 10, 2025 · 9 vehicles–Electrical: engine block heater25V-685 · 2019–2024 · Oct 10, 2025 · 59,006 vehicles93%Air bags: frontal25V-678 · 2025 · Oct 9, 2025 · 405 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 102 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

23 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Ranger

  1. Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 NoncomplianceRQ21002 · 2020 · still open
    Led to recall 26V-104
  2. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · 2004–2005 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  3. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · 2004–2005 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 13V-172
  4. TIRE VALVE CRACKINGPE08060 · 2007–2008 · closed Apr 9, 2009
    No recall
  5. BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVEPE05066 · 2003–2005 · closed Mar 24, 2006
    No recall
  6. FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYEA05004 · 2001 · closed Jul 6, 2005
    No recall
  7. FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYRQ04011 · 2001 · closed Feb 17, 2005
    No recall
  8. SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FAILUREEA02011 · 1995 · closed May 21, 2003
    No recall
  9. FRONT SEAT BELTDP00005 · 1997 · closed May 15, 2001
    No recall
  10. STEERING KNUCKLE SEPARATIONSPE99045 · 1997–1998 · closed Oct 29, 1999
    No recall