Fourth generation
2019 Ford Ranger
The most reported problem on the 2019 Ford Ranger is transmission shudder, with 45 complaints, usually around 68,000 miles.
- 268owner complaints
- 11recalls
- 13involved a crash
- 35,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Ranger doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2019 model year.
Is the 2019 Ford Ranger reliable?
The 2019 Ford Ranger has 268 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 367 for 2019 pickups on this site. Of the 7 Ranger model years since 2019, it has the most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2020
- At 34 complaints for each year on the road, the 2019 runs 1.8 times the 2020 (18). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- No problem dominates. The largest, transmission shudder, covers 45 of the 268 complaints (17%), and stalling is next with 27 (one complaint can fall under more than one problem, so these overlap). A quarter of the 19 owners who gave a mileage for transmission shudder saw it by about 53,000 miles, and half by about 68,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 16 of the 268 complaints (6%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, about the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 13 reports mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 6 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 5 of 13, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- Each of transmission shudder and stalling has a recall on the same system: transmission shudder, 19V-071 and 19V-366; stalling, 25V-685. 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 58, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 34 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard, 45 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
268 complaints is about the median for a 2019 model on this site and 1.4 times fewer than the median 2019 pickup. Among the 3 Ranger model years here it ranks 1st for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2019 Ford Ranger
Ford filed 139 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2019 Ford Ranger. 42 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 9 bulletins · 45 complaints
Some 2017-2020 F-150, 2018-2021 Expedition/Navigator/Mustang, 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10R80 transmission may exhibit a harsh/delayed engagement and/or harsh/delayed shift, an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic ...
Some 2017-2023 F-150, 2018-2023 Expedition/Navigator/Mustang, 2019-2023 Ranger, 2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator/Transit and 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles equipped with a 10R60/10R80/10R80MHT transmission may exhibit a harsh/delayed engagement and/or harsh/delayed ...
7 more on this problem
Some 2019-2023 Ranger (non-Tremor) vehicles may exhibit a shudder/vibration when accelerating. This may be due to an excessive rear axle pinion angle (rear wheel drive (RWD) vehicles) or the pinion and driveshaft assemblies (four-wheel drive (4WD) non-Tremor ...
Some 2017-2020 F-150, 2018-2021 Expedition/Navigator/Mustang and 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10R80 automatic transmission may exhibit a harsh engagement/harsh shift/delayed shift.
Some 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles may exhibit a shudder/vibration when accelerating from a stop. This may be due to an excessive rear axle pinion angle. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to adjust the rear axle pinion angle.
Some 2017-2020 F-150, 2018-2022 Expedition/Navigator/Mustang and 2019-2022 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10R80 automatic transmission may exhibit a harsh engagement/harsh shift/delayed shift.
Some 2019-2022 Ranger vehicles may exhibit a shudder/vibration when accelerating from a stop. This may be due to an excessive rear axle pinion angle. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to adjust the rear axle pinion angle.
Some 2017-2020 F-150, 2018-2021 Expedition/Navigator/Mustang and 2019-2021 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10R80 automatic transmission may exhibit a harsh engagement/harsh shift/delayed shift.
Some 2019-2020 Ranger vehicles may exhibit a shudder/vibration when accelerating from a stop. This may be due to an excessive rear axle pinion angle. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to adjust the rear axle pinion angle.
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 1 bulletin · 27 complaints
Some 2019-2021 Ranger vehicles built on or before 09-Aug-2021 and 2021 Bronco vehicles may experience a loss of power when driving in freezing temperatures with an illuminated malfunction indication lamp (MIL) and/or powertrain malfunction indicator (wrench) ...
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 1 bulletin · 20 complaints
Some 2019-2021 Ranger vehicles built on or before 01-Sep-2021 may experience a lack of air conditioning (A/C) cooling performance condition and/or an A/C compressor engagement concern when using the remote start function (if equipped).
Check engine light or misfire 9 bulletins · 16 complaints
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an incorrectly illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0420 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the software in the PCM.
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.
7 more on this problem
Some 2017-2020 F-150, 2018-2021 Expedition/Navigator/Mustang, 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10R80 transmission may exhibit a harsh/delayed engagement and/or harsh/delayed shift, an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic ...
Some 2019-2021 Edge/Nautilus/Ranger, 2020-2021 Escape/Corsair/Explorer, and 2021 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 2.0L/2.3L EcoBoost may exhibit a lack of power with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) ...
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.
Some 2019-2020 Ranger vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0420 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to various software parameters within the PCM.
Some 2019-2020 Ranger vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0451 and/or P0456 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to various software parameters within the PCM.
Some 2019-2020 Edge/Nautilus/Ranger, 2020 Escape and 2020-2021 Corsair/Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.0L/2.3L EcoBoost may exhibit a lack of power with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P02AB, P0243, ...
Some 2019 Ranger vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0299 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to various software parameters within the PCM.
Seat belt or seat problems 4 bulletins · 16 complaints
Some 2019-2023 Ranger crew cab vehicles may exhibit excessive latching effort when returning the rear seat backrest assembly to the upright position. This may be due to oversized rear seat backrest bumpers preventing latch to striker engagement.
Some 2017-2018 Focus/MKX/C-MAX, 2017-2019 MKC/Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2017-2020 Fusion/MKZ/Continental, 2017-2022 Mustang/Edge/Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility/Escape/F-150/F-Super Duty, 2018-2022 Expedition/Navigator, 2019-2022 Ranger/Nautilus, 2020-2022 ...
2 more on this problem
Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion/MKZ, 2013-2021 Escape, 2015-2018 Focus, 2015-2019 MKC, 2015-2021 Edge/F150/Mustang, 2016-2018 MKX, 2016-2019 Explorer, 2017-2021 F-Super Duty, 2018-2021 EcoSport/Expedition, 2019-2021 Ranger/Nautilus, 2021 Bronco ...
Some 2019-2020 Ranger crew cab vehicles may exhibit excessive latching effort when returning the rear set backrest assembly to the upright position. This may be due to oversized rear seat backrest bumpers preventing latch to striker engagement.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 13 bulletins · 15 complaints
Various 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a partially or fully black center display screen at start-up using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This does not affect rear camera operation.
Certain 2018 - 2024 Model Year Various Vehicles Update SYNC Software In all the affected vehicles, due to an error in the SYNC software, you may experience SYNC system instability concerns and/or a failure to preserve certain settings across ignition cycles.
11 more on this problem
Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various FordPass/LincolnWay connectivity concerns including but not limited to: missing activation prompt (pop-up) on the vehicle's center display screen when attempting to activate ...
Some 2019-2024 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a programming Error - "INSTL_ERR12" while programming APIM using the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) or experience a frozen screen which says "updating system software" or no ...
Some 2016-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may exhibit a condition where the navigation voice prompts are inoperative after a SYNC map update. This may be due to an incomplete installation of the SYNC map software.
Some 2018-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit inoperative remote features via the Ford Pass/Lincoln Way mobile app, incomplete user authorization, no modem electronic serial number (ESN) displayed or DTCs U2100 and/or B156D in the telematics control ...
Some 2017-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a TCU may exhibit inoperative remote features via Ford Pass/Lincoln Way mobile app, incomplete user authorization and/or no modem electronic serial number (ESN) displayed.
Some 2016-2021 Ford or Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 or SYNC 4 may exhibit a blank screen or other various SYNC symptoms only when the vehicle is in transport mode.
Some 2018-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit inoperative remote features via the Ford Pass/Lincoln Way mobile app, incomplete user authorization, no modem electronic serial number (ESN) displayed or DTCs U2100 and/or B156D in the telematics control ...
Some 2019 Ranger and Fusion vehicles may have a symptom of the climate control features missing on the touch screen after updating the SYNC software. At this time it is not recommended to update the SYNC/APIM software on 2019 Ranger and Fusion vehicles.
Some 2016-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a SYNC 3 Touchscreen may experience the volume control unresponsive from the Front Control Interface Module (FCIM) and steering volume controls when using Apple Car Play.
Some 2015-2019 vehicles may experience a no crank concern due to a security access key table error. When attempting to program keys or perform a parameter reset, the procedure may fail and the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool may display an error 232: ...
Plus 1 older ones not listed here.
Backup camera goes black or freezes 1 bulletin · 7 complaints
SSM 47925 2019 Various Vehicles - SYNC 3 - Infotainment Screen Concerns, Wi-Fi ConnectionMessage, Rear View Camera Operation Some 2019 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may have the following intermittent symptoms: a Wi-Fi connection pop up every key cycle, frozen ...
Engine misfire 4 bulletins · 6 complaints
Some 2019-2022 Ranger vehicles not equipped with an engine appearance cover may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 and/or P0316 stored in the powertrain control module ...
Some 2019-2022 Ranger vehicles (equipped without an engine appearance cover) may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 and/or P0316 stored in the powertrain control ...
2 more on this problem
Some 2019-2022 Ranger vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 and/or P0316 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM).
Some 2019-2021 Ranger vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 and/or P0316 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM).
Complaints filed by year
58 complaints came in 2025. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2019 Ford Ranger
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. 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.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Bronco, 2023 Super Duty F-250, and 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles. The Tire and Loading Information (TREAD) label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford will mail a new TREAD label to install over the existing label, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the new label installed, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C18.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Ford Ranger Super Cab vehicles. The front passenger outboard seat belt may not have been assembled properly, allowing the seat belt to be misrouted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford will provide owners with instructions to perform a preliminary inspection of their front seat belts. Owners that detect an issue with the driver's seat belt, are unsure of the results, or do not want to perform an inspection, should not drive their vehicles and contact a Ford dealership. Dealers will inspect the front row outboard seat belts and replace them, if necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 5, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C25.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger vehicles previously repaired under recall 19V-726. The service replacement Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor that was installed may have an improper clearance between an electrical terminal and the conductive base plate that may result in an resistive electrical short.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the HVAC blower motor, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S12.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger trucks. The inline electrical connector terminals for the rear lights may be misaligned or not properly seated, potentially causing the rear lights to function intermittently or not at all.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inline connector for loose terminals and replace the connectors, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 5, 2020. A renotification was sent on July 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S43.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger vehicles. The Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor may electrically short.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HVAC blower motor production date, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S34.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ford Ranger vehicles with a SuperCab body style. The front passenger seat belt may have been improperly assembled.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the right front seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S23.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger vehicles. 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.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the transmission shift cable bracket fasteners as necessary, and verify the proper transmission shift operation, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S15.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. 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 Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the transmission floor shift selector interlock assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C02.
All 11 recalls on the 2019 Ford Ranger, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
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Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2019 Ford Ranger?
Transmission shudder, with 45 of the 268 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 68,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2019 Ford Ranger problems start?
Of the 113 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 11,000 miles and half by about 35,000.
Is the 2019 Ford Ranger better or worse than the 2020?
Counted per year on the road, the 2019 has more complaints than the 2020: 34 a year against 18.
How many 2019 Ford Ranger complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
16 of them (6%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for transmission shudder on the 2019 Ford Ranger?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls on the same system: 19V-071 and 19V-366. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.