Ford
Ford Ranger years to avoid
Years to avoid: 2019. Best years: 2022 and 2023.
The 2019 Ford Ranger draws the most owner complaints for its age: 268, or 34 for each year on the road, against a median of 19 a year across the 6 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2019 is transmission shudder (45 reports).
- 511complaints
- 15recall campaigns
- 3model years with a page
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Pick your model year
Owner complaints on file for each year.
Years to avoid
2019
Most reported: transmission shudder (45 reports, median 67,800 miles) and stalling (27 reports).
Best years
2022
Too few complaints for a page of its own.
2023
Too few complaints for a page of its own.
Complaints for each year on the road
Each model year's NHTSA complaints divided by the calendar years it has been on sale, counting this one (a 2018 model has had 9). Older cars have had longer to collect complaints, so raw totals flatter the new ones. Blue bars are the years to avoid. Too new to judge: 2025.
Within one model, sales change less from year to year than they do between models, so a jump here is mostly a jump in problems. The call: the years to avoid are the (up to three) highest at 1.5 times the model's median rate or more, and the best are the (up to three) lowest at two thirds of it or less, from 2016 on.
Guide How much should a years-to-avoid list decide? What these lists get wrong
At a glance
- Where the complaints sit
- The 2019 alone holds 268 of the 511 complaints across the 3 model years with a page here (52%).
- Problem across the years
- Transmission shudder is the top problem in every model year with a page, 110 reports in all. Pooled across the years, half of the 50 owners who gave a mileage for transmission shudder were under about 62,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 7% of Ford Ranger complaints report a crash, a fire or an injury, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The highest share is on the 2021, 12 of its 115 complaints.
- Recalls on the top problem
- 2 of the 3 model years where owners report transmission shudder have a recall on the same system. The 2021 has none. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 120, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 84 more have come in.
Photo: Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Model years with too few complaints for a page of their own: 2022 (37), 2023 (18), 2024 (84), 2025 (42).
Year by year
2021 Ford Ranger
115 owner complaints, 19 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: transmission shudder (35 reports, median 50,000 miles), brake wear (15 reports) and transmission failure (13 reports). 6 reports involved a crash and 9 people were hurt. 6 recalls, including 25V-685 on the equipment and 25V-442 on the backup camera.
2020 Ford Ranger
128 owner complaints, 18 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: transmission shudder (30 reports, median 55,900 miles), stalling (18 reports, median 55,900 miles) and infotainment (14 reports). 6 reports involved a crash and 6 people were hurt. 7 recalls, including 20V-197 on the transmission and drivetrain and 25V-685 on the equipment.
2019 Ford Ranger avoid
268 owner complaints, 34 for each year on the road (1.8 times the model median). Most reported: transmission shudder (45 reports, median 67,800 miles), stalling (27 reports) and A/C failure (20 reports, median 42,000 miles). 13 reports involved a crash and 6 people were hurt. 11 recalls, including 19V-366 on the transmission and drivetrain and 19V-071 on the transmission and drivetrain.
Recalls that cover several model years
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The Tire and Loading Information (TREAD) label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle.
The front passenger outboard seat belt may not have been assembled properly, allowing the seat belt to be misrouted.
The fixed head restraints may interfere with proper installation of certain types of child seats. Additionally, the child seat may not attach properly to the lower-rear anchors.
Compare the Ranger with its rivals
Side by side over the model years both have on file: what owners complain about, the mileage problems start at, recalls, investigations and crash reports.
- Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma2019 to 2021
- Ranger vs Honda Ridgeline2019 to 2021
Questions
What Ford Ranger years should you avoid?
The 2019 Ford Ranger draws the most owner complaints for its age: 268, or 34 for each year on the road, against a median of 19 a year across the 6 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2019 is transmission shudder (45 reports).
What are the best years for the Ford Ranger?
The 2022 and 2023 draw the fewest complaints for their age: 2022 has 37 (7 a year) and 2023 has 18 (4 a year).
What is the most common problem on the Ford Ranger?
Transmission shudder, with 110 reports across the 3 model years that have a page here. It's the single most reported problem on the 2019, 2020 and 2021.
How many recalls does the Ford Ranger have?
15 recall campaigns cover the Ford Ranger model years 2019 to 2021 on this site. The widest, 21V-811 on the seat belts, covers 3 model years.
How many Ford Ranger complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
7% of them, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The 2021 has the highest share.
Is there a recall for transmission shudder on the Ford Ranger?
On 2 of the 3 model years where owners report it: 2019 and 2020.