Ford Ranger Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Not unusually. 118 of the 1,622 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Ford Ranger (7.3%) name the engine, below the 19.4% median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Engine complaints
118
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
7.3%
of 1,622 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Ford Ranger engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 6 | 1.8% | 0 | — | 18 |
| 2009 | 6 | 3.6% | 0 | — | 18 |
| 2010 | 6 | 3.7% | 0 | — | 20 |
| 2011 | 4 | 1.7% | 0 | — | 19 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2019WORST | 31 | 11.4% | 1 | 25V685000 | 20 |
| 2020WORST | 17 | 13% | 1 | 25V685000 | 17 |
| 2021WORST | 16 | 13.4% | 1 | 25V685000 | 13 |
| 2022 | 7 | 17.9% | 0 | 25V685000 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 | 15.8% | 0 | 25V685000 | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 | 10.1% | 0 | 25V685000 | 10 |
| 2025 | 12 | 26.1% | 0 | 26V34300026V122000 | 11 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- No row for 2012–2013, 2015 and 2018: NHTSA's complaints data returned no records for those years under this model's names.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Ford Ranger engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 118 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Ford Ranger years to avoid for the engine
2019 Ford Ranger
31 engine complaints (11.4% of the year's 272). Most often described: misfire or check-engine light. Covered by engine recall 25V685000.
2020 Ford Ranger
17 engine complaints (13% of the year's 131). Most often described: misfire or check-engine light. Covered by engine recall 25V685000.
2021 Ford Ranger
16 engine complaints (13.4% of the year's 119). Most often described: misfire or check-engine light. Covered by engine recall 25V685000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Ford Ranger years to avoid.
Ford Ranger engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Ford Ranger model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 26V343000 · 2026-05-27 · 2025 models
The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
- 26V122000 · 2026-03-04 · 2025 models
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
- 25V685000 · 2025-10-10 · 2019–2024 models
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2019 Ford Ranger have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 31 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Ford Ranger, 11.4% of all 272 complaints for that year. The most common description is "misfire or check-engine light" (13 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 25V685000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2020 Ford Ranger have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 17 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford Ranger, 13% of all 131 complaints for that year. The most common description is "misfire or check-engine light" (5 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 25V685000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2021 Ford Ranger have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 16 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 Ford Ranger, 13.4% of all 119 complaints for that year. The most common description is "misfire or check-engine light" (4 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 25V685000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Ford Ranger years have the most engine complaints?
2019 (31), 2020 (17) and 2021 (16), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Ford Ranger engine problems?
In the 118 engine complaints, owners most often describe misfire or check-engine light (26.3%), stalling or shutting off while driving (13.6%) and loss of power or limp mode (10.2%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Ford Ranger model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration