2021 Ford Ranger: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, brakes, and engine. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021- Owner complaints
- 88
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes reported
- 6
- 4 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2021 Ford Ranger: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/3
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Ranger is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2021 Ford Ranger. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 22–23 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Ranger that averages well under the EPA 22 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Soft, long brake pedal
50–6,000 miles
Fuel diluting engine oil
3,000–8,544 miles
Transmission slipping and failure
50,000–90,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Ford Ranger, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Transmission362 crashes
Transmissions shift harshly, slip, and jerk, especially between third and fourth or fifth and sixth gear. The most dangerous reports describe the truck suddenly dropping into neutral or refusing to pick a gear while crossing intersections or driving on the highway, and several drivers were nearly rear-ended. Failures cluster between about 50,000 and 90,000 miles, with symptoms sometimes starting near 30,000. Service bulletin updates often bring only brief relief. Replacement transmissions can fail again, and out-of-warranty repair quotes run up to $9,000. Two complaints involve crashes and one involves fire.
Brakes10No crashes
The brake pedal feels soft and travels so far that it sinks below the level of the gas pedal. Drivers report catching the accelerator while braking, so the truck lurches forward, spins its rear tires, or rolls into intersections instead of stopping. Many notice it within the first few thousand miles. Some say the pedal needs one or two pumps to firm up. Dealers often test the brakes, find them within Ford specifications, and send the truck back unrepaired. Towing makes the long pedal travel worse.
Engine9No crashes
Gasoline gets into the engine oil. The oil level climbs above full and smells of fuel, sometimes within the first few thousand miles. Dealers acknowledge the problem but offer no clear fix. A second pattern is water leaking into the spark plug wells. That causes misfires, shaking, hesitation, a check engine light, and sudden loss of power at road speed, sometimes leaving corrosion behind. Water-related failures appear between roughly 9,952 and 13,000 miles. One owner also reports an unexplained squeak at startup and while driving.
Smoke fills the cabin and flames rise from under the hood with no warning light. In the reported case, the driver had to pull over while the fire department put out the fire, and a passenger inhaled smoke. Another report describes a violent misfire and shudder at highway speed with the check engine light on, which the owner linked to water leaking into the engine. One complaint is fire-related and one involves an injury.
Electrical73 crashes
Failures vary, but several involve crashes. Reports include the truck surging forward at parking-lot speed, airbags not deploying in front impacts, and a collision that ended in an engine fire with doors that would not unlock. Backup camera wiring can short and burn out a dash control module. The camera image also washes out at night with the lights on. Other complaints describe false trailer-connected messages and door-ajar alarms that drain the battery. Three complaints are crash-related, one is fire-related, and one involves an injury.
Acceleration and cruise control31 crash
The truck accelerates on its own at parking-lot speeds, even with the brake pressed. One case ended in a crash into a building that deployed the airbag. Another owner describes the throttle going wide open twice while parking after long highway drives on cruise control. In that case, shifting to neutral stopped the truck. A separate complaint says the factory driver's floor mat will not stay clipped in and slides under the pedals, where it can block the accelerator or brake. One complaint is crash-related.
Body and structure3No crashes
The covering on the driver's interior door handle peels and leaves a sharp edge that has sliced a driver's finger. The other complaints describe false door-ajar warnings that stay on even when every door is shut, sometimes naming a door that was never opened. The interior lights then stay on. One truck had this problem at only 754 miles. One complaint involves an injury.
Automatic emergency braking3No crashes
Pre-collision assist sounds alarms or brakes the truck hard at highway speed when nothing is ahead. In one case, dealers replaced the ECM and PCM and the problem continued, beginning around 11,000 miles. Another owner says pedestrian detection failed to react to a person behind the truck while reversing. A separate complaint says adaptive cruise control follows too closely even at its longest distance setting. No crashes are reported in this category.
Suspension2No crashes
Rear leaf spring hardware fails. In one report, a rear leaf spring was found broken at 70,000 miles during an oil change, and the replacement part was on back order. Another driver traced a knock over speed bumps to a front leaf spring mount bolt that had backed most of the way out, with its nut missing. Neither truck showed a warning before the problem was found on a lift.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Ranger owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
2021 Ford Ranger with 10R80 transmission showing following codes P0733 P0734 90,000 miles on truck. jerky and slipping gear change between 3-4 and 5-6 occasionally no drive. have service records showing my truck was maintained properly.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
Transmission failed at 65000 miles on a one owner vehicle. Conveniently just after the warranty expired. Cost to fix transmission $9000.00. Those transmissions are faulty and many people are experiencing problems.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2025
It is quite easy to depress the brake pedal in such a way that one's foot also engages the accelerator pedal. This has happened to me several times, causing the truck to lurch forward rather than stopping dead as is my intention. Looking online, I see this has also happened to many others on Ford trucks. I have been driving for over 50 years and this has never happened on any other vehicle.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
The brake pedal is mushy when applied. When you have to press the brake pedal hard, then the brake pedal is about 0.75 inches below the accelerator pedal. I took it to the ford dealer and he said it is working fine.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2021
Excessive fuel in the oil. Oil smells of gas and is diluted. Almost a quart high at 3000 mile mark. Dealer and Ford admit this may be an issue on some engines but it is supposed to be normal??? We installed a pcv catch can and it will fill up with fuel in about 800-1000 miles. That is almost 8 ozs. The included photo shows oil at about 4000 miles. The second hole you see in the dipstick is above the full mark.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2024
Oil level 1/2 quart high, and smells like gasoline.? Actual mileage on truck is 8,544 last oil change @ dealership @ Wiscasset Ford on 5/6/24 in Wiscasset, Maine. 378 Bath Road 04578-9431 I was informed this is an issue. But what is the fix.?
Filed with NHTSA, August 2024
On Monday 15th of May the ford ranger was involved in a front end collision. The air bags did not deploy and the engine compartment caught fire. I was un able to open door and other doors would not unlock from inside switch. Finally able to kick door open will the truck filled with smoke and people put out fire.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2023
Driver side rear door constantly shows as ajar and triggers alarm, even when firmly closed. Unsure if cause is improperly fit body work or electrical components but nothing fixes it and dealer doesn't have time to look at it. I am unable to lock the truck or the alarm WILL sound and drain my battery because of the left passenger door.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2021
How the 2021 compares with other Ranger years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 ranks third for owner complaints among 7 Ranger years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Transmission3624
- Brakes106
- Engine94
- Electrical79
- Acceleration and cruise control32
- Body and structure31
Where the 2021 fits in the Ranger's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2021 is the third model year of the Ranger's fourth generation (2019–2023).
Recalls to confirm (6)
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V685000EquipmentOct 2025
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: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. 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 February 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.
25V442000Backup cameraJun 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: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
23V379000EquipmentMay 2023
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: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
21V982000Automatic emergency brakingDec 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.
Risk: A misaligned radar module may prevent the vehicle from maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles when adaptive cruise control is active. In addition, the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system may react slowly, or not react at all, during a pre-collision assist braking event. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will adjust the angle of the cruise control radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S52.
21V811000Seat beltsOct 2021
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: A misrouted seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
21V765000SeatsSep 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Ranger Super Cab vehicles equipped with rear seats containing fixed head restraints. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage System.".
Risk: An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear-lower child restraint anchorages for correct alignment and adjust as necessary. Separately, dealers will replace the non-removable head restraints with removable head restraints, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 5, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 17, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C24.
Also looking at these instead of a Ranger?
Cars shoppers compare with the Ford Ranger, with their own 2021 checklists.
2021 owner complaints, side by side
- Chevrolet Colorado59
- Toyota Tacoma69
- 2021 Ford Ranger88
- Honda Ridgeline90
