2008 Ford Ranger Reliability
The 2008 Ford Ranger has 326 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and body structure. Compared with nearby Ranger model years (2006–2010), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Ranger's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
326
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
9
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2008 Ford Ranger complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 model year, filed between 2008 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 295 | 90% |
| Body structure | 10 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 2% |
| Engine | 4 | 1% |
| Suspension | 3 | 1% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 1% |
| Tires | 3 | 1% |
2008 Ford Ranger recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2008 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V352000 | Jul 13, 2011 | Exterior lighting — tail lights | Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 Ranger trucks built from January 25, 2011, through April 25, 2011 at the twin cities assembly plant, and service parts distributed to dealers for certain 2004 through 2011 model year Ranger trucks, 2002 through 2005… |
| 16V384000 | May 31, 2016 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 17V024000 | Jan 10, 2017 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico,…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 21V081000 | Feb 16, 2021 | Air bags — frontal | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or… |
| 21E013000 | Feb 16, 2021 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014… |
| 21V158000 | Mar 10, 2021 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant… |
How the 2008 compares with nearby Ranger years
Verdicts compare these Ranger model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 272 | 12 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2007 | 270 | 6 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2008 (this page) | 326 | 6 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2009 | 169 | 8 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2010 | 164 | 9 | Air bags | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2008 Ford Ranger
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2008 Ford Ranger can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2008 Ford Ranger reliability FAQ
Is the 2008 Ford Ranger reliable?
The 2008 Ford Ranger has 326 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and body structure. Compared with nearby Ranger model years (2006–2010), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Ranger's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2008 Ford Ranger problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Ford Ranger are air bags (295), body structure (10), electrical system (7), unknown or other (5). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2008 Ford Ranger have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2008 Ford Ranger, including 11V352000 (exterior lighting — tail lights) and 16V384000 (air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2008 Ford Ranger compare with the 2007 and 2009 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 270 complaints and 6 recalls (caution); the 2009 has 169 complaints and 8 recalls (solid). The 2008 has 326 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2008 Ford Ranger?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Ranger research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2008 Ranger, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.