Ford Ranger
Problems & Worst Years
Every reported problem for the Ford Ranger, model year by model year — ranked from 140 federal NHTSA complaints across 2019–2020.
Transmission trouble is the defining complaint for the Ford Ranger across both model years in this data. 2019 logs 103 occurrences across 18 problems, two safety-rated, with transmission sluggishness and hard shifting leading at 20 reports and a further 10 describing transmission failure that led to unintended acceleration — a safety-rated pairing worth taking seriously on any test drive. Leaf spring failure adds 12 reports, blower motor issues affecting air conditioning add 8, and engine misfires with stalling contribute another 8. Four recall campaigns apply to 2019, including 19V071, 19V366, and 23V379, along with a later 25V685.
2020 is smaller in total volume, 69 occurrences across 14 problems, but carries proportionally more safety-rated complaints — three. Transmission jerking and erratic shifting again tops the list at 25 reports, followed by 13 describing engine misfires and stalling. A smaller cluster includes rearview camera malfunction (5), brake system failure tied to unintended acceleration (4, safety-rated), and transmission failure described as a safety concern outright (3). Recalls 20V197, 23V379, and 25V685 are on file for this year, with the latter two carrying over from 2019.
The consistency of the transmission complaints across both years — hard shifting, jerking, and in the more serious cases, unintended acceleration or outright safety concerns — makes the drivetrain the clear priority for a pre-purchase check regardless of which year you're considering. A test drive should include extended stop-and-go driving to surface hesitation or harsh shifts, and recall completion should be verified by VIN given how many campaigns overlap between these two years.
Two years of data is a thin sample, and complaint counts reflect what owners chose to report to NHTSA rather than a precise failure rate — the 2020's lower raw total may partly reflect less time on the road rather than a fixed problem. A mechanic's inspection and the truck's actual service records remain the better guide than the model year alone.
Ford Ranger problems by year
Complaint volume by model year (bar = relative to the worst year). Theworst yearsare the most-complained-about, weighted by safety-risk problems.
| Year | Complaint volume | Problems | Safety / High | Most common problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 87 | 18 | 2/8 | Transmission Sluggishness and Hard Shifting Transmission · 20 complaints |
| 2020worst | 53 | 14 | 3/3 | Transmission Jerking and Erratic Shifting Transmission · 25 complaints |
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls, 2019–2020. Problem clustering and year rankings are derived from the complaint record; complaint volume reflects reports filed, not total incidence or fault rate. Vehicle image is illustrative.