Model research hub
Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger returned to the U.S. for the 2019 model year after a hiatus, now in its fifth generation from 2019. CarGurus says the 2019, its first full year back, has the worst reliability record among modern Rangers, though it isn't awful, and federal data agrees, showing 11 recalls and 264 complaints on the 2019, the most of any recent year. The 2024 and 2025 show a sharp jump to 13 recalls each. The 2026 Ranger starts at $35,245.
What the Ford Ranger is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Ranger as a range of Ford pickup trucks for North and South America, introduced in early 1982 for the 1983 model year, currently in its fifth generation, classed as a compact pickup from 1983 to 2012 and a mid-size pickup since 2019, with production resuming in October 2018 after a gap. The 2026 Ranger has a 2.3L four-cylinder, a 2.7L V6 or a 3.0L V6, rear-wheel or part-time four-wheel drive, rated 17 to 23 mpg combined by the EPA, about $2,700 to $3,650 a year in fuel. Kelley Blue Book base prices are $35,245 for the XL, $45,650 for the Lariat and $58,965 for the Raptor.
Best and worst Ranger model years
Federal data shows the 2015 to 2018 hiatus years, before U.S. sales resumed, with no recalls. The 2019 Ranger has 11 recalls and 264 complaints, both the most of any recent year, and the 2020 has 7 recalls and 126 complaints. The 2021 to 2023 have 4 to 6 recalls, and the 2024 and 2025 each jump to 13, the most of any year, covering suspension, the fuel system, powertrain, seats, the electrical system, brakes and air bags. The 2026 has 7.
CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says that with modern Rangers, the first full year of availability, 2019, has the worst reliability record, but that it isn't awful. Car Smite (opens in a new tab) says it examined owner experiences, maintenance cost numbers and NHTSA and Consumer Reports data, and publishes year lists for the third generation (1998 to 2011) among others.
Choosing a year
The 2021 to 2023 cars sit in the middle of the recall record, below both the 2019 launch and the 2024-2025 jump, and any recent Ranger should have its VIN checked for the suspension and fuel system campaigns that appear from 2024.
Questions buyers ask
Which Ford Ranger year has the worst reliability record?
CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says the 2019, the first full year of the modern Ranger's availability, has the worst reliability record, though it isn't awful.
When did the Ford Ranger return to the U.S.?
Wikipedia gives production resuming in October 2018, for the 2019 model year, after a gap.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Ford Ranger is built around 2.3L turbo four-cylinder, 2.7L turbo V6 or 3.0L twin-turbo V6, rated at 270–405 horsepower across its midsize pickup body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 4 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2025 Ford Ranger is published to tow is up to 7,500 lb.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for the 2025 Ranger.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Ford Ranger
The 2025 Ranger's 2.7L V6 is optional on XLT and Lariat only, while the 405-horsepower 3.0L twin-turbo V6 is exclusive to Raptor. Every trim can reach the 7,500 lb tow maximum with the Trailer Tow Package.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
2 indexed Ford Ranger model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Ranger | 1 | 2026 record → |
| 2025 Ford Ranger | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Ford Ranger.
The Ford Ranger is a compact or mid-size pickup truck marketed globally by Ford over a series of generations, varying between both in-house or outside development and manufacturing — and with a hiatus in North America from 2011–2018. Debuting as a compact pickup in North America in 1982 for the 1983 model year, the Ranger was later introduced in some South American countries.
Source: Ford Ranger (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Recent recalls (24 campaigns across the latest model years)
- September 2026, Back Over Prevention:Display Function. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10.1-inch center stack screen. The screen may lose power and fail to display the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal… Consequence: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- August 2026, Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power. Consequence: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- May 2026, Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles. The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power. Consequence: A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Year by year
The Ford Ranger across 8 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Ranger | 17–23 | $2,800–$3,800 | 4 | 7 | 4 stars | |
| 2025 Ford Ranger | 17–23 | $2,700–$3,650 | 4 | 13 | 4 stars | |
| 2024 Ford Ranger | 17–22 | $2,850–$3,650 | 4 | 13 | 4 stars | |
| 2023 Ford Ranger | 19–23 | $2,700–$3,300 | 5 | 4 | 4 stars | |
| 2022 Ford Ranger | 19–23 | $2,700–$3,300 | 5 | 5 | 4 stars | |
| 2021 Ford Ranger | 18–23 | $2,700–$3,450 | 4 | 6 | 4 stars | |
| 2020 Ford Ranger | 18–23 | $2,700–$3,450 | 3 | 7 | 126 | 4 stars |
| 2019 Ford Ranger | 18–23 | $2,700–$3,450 | 3 | 11 | 264 | 4 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Ford Ranger, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | 19.5 to 20.0 | Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI | Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI | |
| 2023 to 2024 | 5 to 4 | 21.0 to 19.5 | Labels: Ranger RAPTOR 4WD; Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI, 2.7L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI, 3L 6-cyl SIDI | Labels: Ranger Tremor 4WD; Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; with Stop-start, 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI; with Stop-start |
| 2022 to 2023 | Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; with Stop-start, 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI; with Stop-start | Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI | ||
| 2021 to 2022 | 4 to 5 | 20.5 to 21.0 | Labels: Ranger 2WD Incomplete; Size classes: Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD | |
| 2020 to 2021 | 3 to 4 | Labels: Ranger Tremor 4WD | ||
| 2019 to 2020 | Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI |
Buying used
What the Ford Ranger recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | air bags (side/window); electrical system (integrated trailer brake control); structure (interior panels); 3 more | None |
| 2025 | 13 | seats (critical fasteners); suspension (front); electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); 8 more | None |
| 2024 | 13 | visibility (power window devices and controls); suspension (front); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 7 more | None |
| 2023 | 4 | wheels (lugs/nuts/bolts/studs); equipment (other); back over prevention (software); 1 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2022 | 5 | visibility (windshield); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); equipment (other); 2 more | None |
| 2021 | 6 | seats (mid/rear assembly); seat belts (front); forward collision avoidance (sensing system); 3 more | None |
| 2020 | 7 | power train (automatic transmission); back over prevention (sensing system); seats (mid/rear assembly); 4 more | None |
| 2019 | 11 | power train (automatic transmission); seat belts; visibility (defroster/defogger/hvac system); 6 more | None |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2023, campaign 23V-283 (Apr 2023): wheels (lugs/nuts/bolts/studs). Loose lug nuts may result in wheel detachment while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 140 | 36% | 2019 (92) |
| electrical system | 51 | 13% | 2019 (40) |
| unknown or other | 47 | 12% | 2019 (34) |
| engine | 43 | 11% | 2019 (27) |
| service brakes | 29 | 7% | 2019 (20) |
| exterior lighting | 20 | 5% | 2019 (14) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Ford Ranger trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XL | 4WD | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 270 | 310 | – | – | 21 | $35,245 |
| XLT | 4WD | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 270 | 310 | – | – | 21 | $37,770 |
| Lariat | 4WD | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 270 | 310 | – | – | 21 | $45,650 |
| Raptor | 4WD | 3.0-liter V6 (EcoBoost, Twin Turbo) | 405 | 430 | – | – | 17 | $58,965 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Ford Ranger model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (EcoBoost, Twin Turbo) | 270–405 | – | – | 18 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (EcoBoost, Twin Turbo) | 270–405 | 4,408–5,353 | – | 18 |
| 2024 | 4 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (EcoBoost, Twin Turbo) | 270–405 | 4,187–5,353 | 7,500 | 18 |
| 2023 | 6 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 270 | 4,145–4,441 | 7,500 | 18 |
| 2022 | 6 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost) | 270 | 4,145–4,441 | 7,500 | 18 |
| 2021 | 6 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost) | 270 | 4,145–4,354 | 7,500 | 18 |
| 2020 | 6 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost) | – | – | – | 18 |
| 2019 | 6 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost) | 270 | – | – | 18 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Ford Ranger.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | – | – | – | – | CR2032 |
| 2025 | – | – | – | – | CR2032 |
| 2024 | – | – | – | – | CR2032 |
| 2023 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2022 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2020 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2019 | – | – | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Ford Ranger: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | not available | engine cooling, airbags, electrical system, structure |
| 2025 | 13 | not available | seats, electrical system, brakes, airbags |
| 2024 | 13 | not available | visibility/wipers, suspension, fuel system, powertrain |
| 2023 | 4 | not available | equipment, wheels, backup camera |
| 2022 | 5 | not available | equipment, visibility/wipers, fuel system, backup camera |
| 2021 | 6 | not available | equipment, seats, forward collision system, seat belts |
| 2020 | 7 | 126 | backup camera, equipment, seats, seat belts |
| 2019 | 11 | 264 | visibility/wipers, seat belts, powertrain, equipment |
| 2018 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | 1 | ||
| 2016 | 1 | ||
| 2015 | 0 |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Ford Ranger model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Ford Ranger?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Ford Ranger model year: recall counts across the 8 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about 8.3 recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Ford Ranger by model year?
2026: engine cooling, airbags, electrical system, structure. 2025: seats, electrical system, brakes, airbags. 2024: visibility/wipers, suspension, fuel system, powertrain. 2023: equipment, wheels, backup camera. 2022: equipment, visibility/wipers, fuel system, backup camera. 2021: equipment, seats, forward collision system, seat belts.
Q03Why do some Ford Ranger model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Ford Ranger model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Climate and electrical, Buying, records and recalls, Transmission and drivetrain, Engine and cooling, Brakes, tires and steering.
Trim ladder
1 Ford Ranger trim, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Ford Ranger is most often compared with.
Nearest Ford models
Other Ford models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Ranger come in?
The 2025 Ford Ranger (midsize pickup) comes in 4 trims: XL, XLT, Lariat, Raptor.
Q02What are the 2025 Ranger trims?
The 2025 Ford Ranger trims are XL, XLT, Lariat, Raptor, listed from the entry XL up to the top Raptor.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Ranger use?
The 2025 Ford Ranger is built around 2.3L turbo four-cylinder, 2.7L turbo V6 or 3.0L twin-turbo V6, rated at 270–405 horsepower across its midsize pickup body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Ranger have?
The 2025 Ford Ranger is rated at 270–405 horsepower (2.3L turbo four-cylinder, 2.7L turbo V6 or 3.0L twin-turbo V6).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Ranger?
The 2025 Ford Ranger is offered with RWD / 4WD.