Ford Ranger

Owners filed 8,155 complaints across 33 model years of the Ford Ranger. The 1999 drew the most (755); the 2017 the fewest (1).

Model years33
Complaints8,155
Recalls246
Fires240
Deaths41

Every Ford Ranger model year compared

Complaints per year
YearComplaintsRelative volumeRecallsFiresCrashesMost reportedStatus
20266
7Power TrainRoutine
202539
133Power TrainRoutine
202479
132Power TrainRoutine
202318
412Power TrainDo not drive
202237
51Power TrainRoutine
2021114
636Power TrainRoutine
2020127
716Power TrainRoutine
2019266
11213Power TrainAbove average
20171
0Air BagsRoutine
20161
0Air BagsRoutine
20141
0Air BagsRoutine
2011235
619Air BagsDo not drive
2010156
96Air BagsDo not drive
2009169
83Air BagsDo not drive
2008326
619Air BagsDo not drive
2007270
6110Air BagsDo not drive
2006271
12214Air BagsDo not drive
2005289
11523Air BagsDo not drive
2004404
12342Air BagsDo not drive
2003243
51137Vehicle Speed ControlFatalities reported
2002346
71243Vehicle Speed ControlFatalities reported
2001515
9962SuspensionFatalities reported
2000670
81286TiresFatalities reported
1999755
101496TiresHigh concern
1998576
112966TiresFatalities reported
1997411
7840Interior LightingFatalities reported
1996413
81841Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipFatalities reported
1995321
7925Visibility › Windshield Wiper/WasherFatalities reported
1994438
111553Parking Brake › ConventionalFatalities reported
1993232
101531TiresFatalities reported
1992189
63213Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › ExteriorHigh concern
1991132
6219Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › ExteriorHigh concern
1990105
5159Electrical System › Ignition › SwitchFatalities reported

Which Ford Ranger years should you avoid?

On raw complaint volume the 1999 is the weakest year on record, with 755 complaints concentrated in the tires. It carries 10 recalls.

Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.

Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.