Ford Ranger: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Ford Ranger problems by model year, from 970 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2022 (62%, 21 drivetrain complaints), 2021 (61%, 70 drivetrain complaints) and 2020 (55%, 63 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 6 Ford Ranger years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 2 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (23%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2010 (23%) to 2011 (39%), up 16 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (119 of 293 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2023 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Ford Ranger year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Ranger | no elevated signal | 23% | 8 | 164 | 6/6 | 9 |
| 2011 Ranger | elevated | 39% | 12 | 235 | 5/6 | 6 |
| 2014 Ranger | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 |
| 2016 Ranger | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 |
| 2017 Ranger | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 |
| 2019 Ranger | high | 48% | 119 | 268 | 4/6 | 11 |
| 2020 Ranger | high | 55% | 63 | 128 | 3/6 | 7 |
| 2021 Ranger | very high | 61% | 70 | 117 | 2/6 | 6 |
| 2022 Ranger | very high | 62% | 21 | 37 | 1/6 | 5 |
| 2023 Ranger | too few to score | – | 7 | 18 | – | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Ford Ranger years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Ford Ranger engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the Ford Ranger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 26 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2011 | 11V126000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2010 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V071000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2019 |
| May 2019 | 19V366000 | power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift | 2019 |
| Apr 2020 | 20V197000 | power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl) | 2020 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V685000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2022 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V685000 | equipment: electrical: engine block heater | 2019–2022 |
20 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2010 | 10V202000 | parking brake: driveline: hydraulic: actuator | 2010 |
| Jul 2011 | 11V352000 | exterior lighting: tail lights | 2010–2011 |
| May 2016 | 16V384000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V046000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V001000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jul 2019 | 19V518000 | seat belts | 2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V726000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor | 2019 |
| Nov 2019 | 19V839000 | exterior lighting: tail lights | 2019 |
| Mar 2020 | 20V137000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor | 2019 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V575000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2020 |
| Feb 2021 | 21E013000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V081000 | air bags: frontal | 2010–2011 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V158000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V765000 | seats: mid/rear assembly | 2020–2021 |
| Oct 2021 | 21V811000 | seat belts: front: webbing | 2019–2021 |
| Dec 2021 | 21V982000 | forward collision avoidance: sensing system: radar | 2021 |
| Jun 2022 | 22V451000 | visibility: windshield | 2022 |
| May 2023 | 23V379000 | equipment: other: labels | 2019–2022 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V442000 | back over prevention: software | 2019–2022 |
| Sep 2025 | 25V572000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Ford Ranger
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Ford Ranger
What are the worst years for the Ford Ranger?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Ford Ranger years are the 2022 (62% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2021 (61% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2020 (55% of relevant complaints, high). 5 of 6 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Ford Ranger?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Ford Ranger years are the 2010 (23%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Ford Ranger have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 6 scored years, 293 of 577 relevant NHTSA complaints (51%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Is the Ford Ranger reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 6 Ford Ranger years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 51% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Ford Ranger?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Ford Ranger years we track, out of 26 in total: 20V197000 (Apr 2020, 2020), 22V685000 (Sep 2022, 2022), 25V685000 (Oct 2025, 2019–2022), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.