MODELYEARINDEX

Which Ford Ranger years to avoid

Across 5 scored model years, the 2019 model year carries the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Ford Ranger Full report
D
Grade 2010–2021
2019 vs model median 1.7×
Model median3× median
Electrical 22
Brakes 19
Drivetrain 19
Avoid

2019

Best

2010 · 2011

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.20× 25 B
2011
0.32× 24 B
2019
1.72× 162 D
2020
1.00× 90 C
2021
1.20× 110 C
2022 P
0.45× 52 B
2023 P
0.25× 20 B
2024 P
1.06× 103 C
2025 P
0.60× 54 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2019 D 162 reports · median 9,984 mi

  1. Electrical 22

    I was driving my vehicle and trying to stop to avoid a collision. The system indicated collision detection was engaged; however, the brakes would not stop and there was a wreck. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Brakes 19

    2019 ford ranger purchased, noticed slight pulsation when stopping highway or city. Continued to get worse to a point where I became afraid to drive it because twice on heavy braking pulsation was sever and I was afraid… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 19

    Takata recall- I was recently in a car accident with my 2019 ford ranger and when I pressed the brake the would not apply so I continued to pump the brake and would not apply as I approached the other vehicle the… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

12 crash · 3 fire · 3 injuries

2021 C 110 reports · median 19,000 mi

  1. Drivetrain 28

    There is gasoline in my oil. I had an oil analysis from a lab, and they confirmed there is too much gasoline in my oil. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Brakes 14

    The contact owns a 2021 ford ranger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, excessive effort was needed while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 13

    Lane departure features is excessive. I've twice now had to make an emergency lane change to avoid an accident occurring in front of me and the lane keep assist almost forced me back into the lane and potentially… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

13 crash · 7 fire · 7 injuries

The best year for the Ranger

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2010 is the best-scoring Ranger model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 79.9 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2010 0.20× 25 B
2011 0.32× 24 B
2020 1.00× 90 C

Recalls

47 campaigns on record, 4 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
26V104000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL 2024, 2025 4,381,878
21V158000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 2,602,668
16V384000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 1,892,343
25V572000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2019 1,456,417
25V315000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE 2024 1,076,138
19V001000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 782,384
20V575000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2020 620,246
18V046000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010 327,796
25V488000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:ELECTRIC:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE 2025 312,120
25V442000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE 2019–2023 200,237
26V268000 SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS 2024, 2025 179,698
26V238000 STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:SUN VISOR 2024, 2025 140,201

+ 35 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2019 were reported at a median of 9,984 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Ford Ranger years should you avoid?
2019 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Ford Ranger model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Ford Ranger?
2010 is the best-scoring Ford Ranger model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 79.9 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Ford Ranger have?
47 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Ford Ranger model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2019 Ranger
Complaints in window
162
Severity-weighted
237.5
Model median (weighted)
138
vs model median
1.72×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
11
Open investigations
0
Score 42 D