Ford Ranger Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Ford Ranger years to avoid are 2019, 2021, 2020: the 2019 alone has 264 NHTSA owner complaints and 138 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by power train issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2018 and 2015 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-09-04 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015BEST | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2018BEST | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2019AVOID | 264 | 138 | 11 | — |
| 2020AVOID | 126 | 135 | 7 | — |
| 2021AVOID | 224 | 110 | 6 | — |
| 2022 | 74 | 80 | 5 | — |
| 2023 | 36 | 60 | 4 | — |
| 2024 | 75 | 92 | 13 | — |
| 2025 | 35 | 58 | 13 | $39,861 (13 deals) |
| 2026 | 5 | 12 | 7 | — |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Ford Ranger problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Ford Ranger are power train, electrical system, unknown or other, engine. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2019 Ford Ranger: 264 owner complaints, 138 service bulletins, 11 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: power train, electrical system, unknown or other.
2021 Ford Ranger: 224 owner complaints, 110 service bulletins, 6 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: power train, service brakes, unknown or other.
2020 Ford Ranger: 126 owner complaints, 135 service bulletins, 7 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: power train, engine, unknown or other.
2018 Ford Ranger: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 1 bulletins).
2015 Ford Ranger: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 3 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Ford Ranger?
Based on federal records, the Ford Ranger years to avoid are 2019, 2021, 2020: the 2019 alone has 264 NHTSA owner complaints and 138 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by power train issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2018 and 2015 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Ford Ranger?
Among recent model years, the 2018 and 2015 Ford Ranger show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
Is the Ford Ranger reliable?
The Ford Ranger's reliability varies by model year. Across 841 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2019, 2021, 2020 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2018 and 2015 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Ford Ranger?
The most-reported problem areas for the Ford Ranger are power train, electrical system, unknown or other, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Ford Ranger before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.