Ford Ranger: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
4,611 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Ford Ranger, model years 2000 to 2026. 5 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2002 (transmission 6.1×); 2019 (transmission 9.2×); 2020 (transmission 5×); 2021 (transmission 6×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2010, 2009, 2011. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Ranger | 668 | — | 8 | |
| 2001 Ranger | 515 | — | 9 | |
| 2002 Ranger | 346 | transmission 6.1× | 7 | |
| 2003 Ranger | 243 | quiet: 4 of 13 | 5 | |
| 2004 Ranger | 404 | — | 12 | |
| 2005 Ranger | 289 | — | 11 | |
| 2006 Ranger | 271 | — | 12 | |
| 2007 Ranger | 270 | quiet: 5 of 13 | 6 | |
| 2008 Ranger | 321 | — | 6 | |
| 2009 Ranger | 167 | quiet: 2 of 13 | 8 | |
| 2010 Ranger | 153 | quiet: 1 of 13 | 9 | |
| 2011 Ranger | 229 | quiet: 3 of 13 | 6 | |
| 2014 RangerFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2016 RangerFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2017 RangerFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2019 Ranger | 272 | transmission 9.2× | 11 | |
| 2020 RangerFEW REPORTS | 131 | transmission 5× | 7 | |
| 2021 RangerFEW REPORTS | 119 | transmission 6× | 6 | |
| 2022 RangerFEW REPORTS | 38 | — | 5 | |
| 2023 RangerFEW REPORTS | 19 | — | 4 | |
| 2024 RangerFEW REPORTS | 99 | transmission 4.1× | 13 | |
| 2025 RangerFEW REPORTS | 45 | — | 13 | |
| 2026 RangerFEW REPORTS | 9 | — | 8 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Ford models
Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112019