The Ford Ranger is a highly reliable, capable, and affordable midsize pickup truck. However, it has some safety issues and a high number of recalls on certain model years, including 2010 and 2019.
Key Points
- The 2010 Ford Ranger faces the highest number of recalls among the modern Rangers, for faulty airbag systems, and is a year to be cautious of.
- Ford’s 2011 Ranger has several recalls similar to those in 2010 and was recalled six times for the same faulty airbags and glitchy steering column switch.
- The fourth-generation 2019 Ranger’s problems include a faulty shifter that allows the vehicle to be inadvertently shifted out of park.
- Issues for the 2021 Ranger include bad brakes, malfunctioning seat belts, and a problem with head restraints interfering with the installation of some child seats.
- The 2019 to present Ranger model years have seen less serious recalls and are overall much safer model years for the pickup truck.
Third-generation Ford Rangers are Reliable, but 2010 Truck Has Serious Safety Problems with Exploding Airbags and Bad Brakes, while 2011 Model Received Poor Safety Rating
The Ford Ranger compact pickup truck debuted as a 1983 model and enjoyed fleeting success before disappearing from the North American market in 2012. The Ford Ranger reemerged in 2019, with the newest generation of Ford Rangers equipped with a 2.3L four-cylinder backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Although they haven’t been on the road for a while, the modern Rangers have been reported to be very reliable, with Consumer Reports noting that the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Rangers are likely more reliable than the average new car.
Buyers looking for a modern Ranger will likely be focusing on the 2010 and newer Rangers, which are overall very reliable. But the 2010 and 2011 model years face some serious safety issues.
The 2010 Ford Ranger has seen the highest number of recalls among the modern Rangers. A total of nine recalls have been issued, and the majority are airbag-related. Several of the airbag inflators were prone to explode upon deployment, possibly sending shrapnel towards occupants, which in some cases was deadly.
Also, the 2010 Ranger has been recalled for a steering column light failure as well as faulty throttle body shielding that may cause a fuel leak. One of the most serious recalls includes parking brake cable malfunctions, which could cause the vehicle to roll back even with the transmission in park.
The 2011 Ranger has several recalls similar to those in 2010 and was recalled six times for the same malfunction of airbag systems and steering column switch. Also, the late third-generation Ranger is not nearly as safe as the current generation.
The 2011 Ford Ranger received a rating of only two out of five points in the NHTSA overall safety rating. Much of this is due to the pickup’s narrow stance and light rear end, as well as the age of the vehicle limiting the offered safety systems. But it had few other complaints, with Vehicle History’s real owner reviews showing the 2011 Ranger to be a reliable truck.
2019 Ranger’s Seven Recalls Cover Faulty Seat Belts, Sticky Shift Lever, while 2021 Model Has Similar Issues Plus Problems with Misaligned Automatic Braking Radar
The 2019 Ranger has been recalled seven times. Problems include improperly assembled seat belts and a blower motor that may experience an electric short.
Additional recalls cover a shift lever failure that allows the truck to be unintentionally shifted out of park, and some trucks had a shifter that incorrectly indicated the gear’s position. The 2019 Ranger was also recalled for an electrical problem that caused the taillights to become inoperative.
In addition to its recalls, the 2019 Ranger already has a relatively high number of registered complaints, at nearly 70. The top three most commonly reported problems involved:
- Electrical system glitches, with reports that airbag warning lights may randomly turn on, or the windshield wipers and headlights’ low and high beams failed to work.
- Power train problems, including the vehicle violently jerking when coming to a stop.
- Temperamental brakes, which may require extra pressure to complete a stop.
Fortunately, most issues were resolved for the 2020 and 2021 model years. However, the remaining issues for the 2021 Ranger include a misaligned radar module for the automatic braking, a malfunctioning seat belt, and a problem with the fixed head restraints interfering with the installation of some child seats.
Problems Plague Some Model Years of Ranger’s Third and Fourth Generations, but the Latter Has Less Serious Recalls and is Overall a Safer Bet
The third and fourth-generation Ford Rangers offer buyers a reliable midsize pickup, but both still have their issues. The last of the third-generation Rangers are highly reliable but face some serious safety concerns due to their dated design and lack of modern safety features.
Overall, the fourth and current generation (2019 to present) has seen less serious recalls and is overall a much safer model year for the truck.
Photos: Ford
