Ford Ranger Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 295 of the 1,622 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Ford Ranger (18.2%) name the transmission, near the 12.6% median share across the 139 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, 2021 and 2020.
Transmission complaints
295
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
18.2%
of 1,622 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
4
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Ford Ranger transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 0.3% | 0 | — | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 | 1.8% | 0 | — | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0.6% | 0 | — | 3 |
| 2011 | 5 | 2.1% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 1 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 2 |
| 2019WORST | 92 | 33.8% | 3 | 19V36600019V071000 | 41 |
| 2020WORST | 50 | 38.2% | 0 | 20V197000 | 39 |
| 2021WORST | 60 | 50.4% | 2 | — | 37 |
| 2022 | 18 | 46.2% | 0 | — | 30 |
| 2023 | 5 | 26.3% | 1 | — | 22 |
| 2024 | 41 | 41.4% | 1 | 25V164000 | 14 |
| 2025 | 19 | 41.3% | 0 | — | 17 |
- 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 transmission.
Common Ford Ranger transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 295 transmission 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 transmission
2019 Ford Ranger
92 transmission complaints (33.8% of the year's 272). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recalls 19V366000, 19V071000.
2021 Ford Ranger
60 transmission complaints (50.4% of the year's 119). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
2020 Ford Ranger
50 transmission complaints (38.2% of the year's 131). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recall 20V197000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission 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 transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Ford Ranger model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 25V164000 · 2025-03-14 · 2024 models
The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
- 20V197000 · 2020-04-03 · 2020 models
The transmission shift cable lock clip may not be fully seated, allowing the transmission to actually be in a different gear than the gear shift position selected by the driver.
- 19V366000 · 2019-05-13 · 2019 models
The fasteners that attach the transmission shifter cable bracket to the transmission may loosen allowing the transmission to be in a different gear than indicated by the gear shift lever position.
- 19V071000 · 2019-02-01 · 2019 models
In some of these vehicles, the transmission shift lever can be moved from the "Park" position without the key in the starting system and without depressing the brake pedal. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
Which transmission does the Ford Ranger use?
- Ford 10R80 — 2019–2024
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2019 Ford Ranger have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 92 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Ford Ranger, 33.8% of all 272 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (39 complaints). 2 transmission-related recalls cover it: 19V366000, 19V071000. 3 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2021 Ford Ranger have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 60 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 Ford Ranger, 50.4% of all 119 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (28 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2020 Ford Ranger have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 50 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford Ranger, 38.2% of all 131 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (23 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 20V197000.
Which Ford Ranger years have the most transmission complaints?
2019 (92), 2021 (60) and 2020 (50), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Ford Ranger transmission problems?
In the 295 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (34.6%), hesitation or delayed engagement (15.6%) and slipping or revving without accelerating (11.9%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission 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 transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
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 transmission 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