Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, brakes, and airbags. The 10 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023One recall on this model year told owners to stop driving until the repair was done.
Do not buy until you have dealer paperwork or a recall lookup showing it was completed for this VIN.
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/10 checked
2023 Ford Ranger: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/5
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.
These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 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 |
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Ford Ranger, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Harsh, mistimed shifting leads the transmission reports. The automatic hesitates when pulling away, hunts for a gear, and clunks or downshifts hard when slowing to a stop. In one case it skipped from 3 to 1 with a jolt like a rear-end hit. A dealer could not reproduce one of these complaints. One fire report describes a pop, an oil leak and flames near the transmission while towing at about 1,000 miles. That truck was a total loss. Other reports describe the truck dropping into 4WD-Low on its own and skidding to a stop, traced to water in the fuse box, and a full loss of power.
The most serious brake report is a soft pedal that sinks to the floor. It appeared at about 1,640 miles and came back after the dealer bled the lines, and no cause has been found. Another report describes a brake pad coming off while driving on a truck serviced only by the dealer. A separate complaint is about cabin layout. An air vent sits just above the brake pedal, so a foot can press the vent and feel resistance while the truck keeps rolling. The dealer offered no fix.
The main concern is air bags that do not deploy in a crash. One report describes a swerve at 40 mph into a utility pole at roughly 2,000 miles. The air bags did not deploy and the driver was bruised. A second report describes the air bag warning light coming on and a scan tool showing the front passenger air bag as completely failed, with no prior collision. Only two complaints are on file.
The main concern is the truck creeping forward while the brake is held. In one report, the truck crept at about 1 mph at a red light despite steady brake pressure and bumped the vehicle ahead. Nobody was hurt and neither vehicle showed visible damage. The other complaint is about pedal design. Plastic molding to the right of the gas pedal sticks out and can catch the driver's foot on its way to the brake, which the complaint flags as a crash risk.
Excerpts from complaints Ranger owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
in normal drive mode the transmission downs shifts thru the gears and skips from 3 to 1. becuase of that skip it feels like you got rear ended by another car. if your not prepared for it you could let off the brakes which could cuase you to hit the person in front. in sport mode it downshifts thru all the 10 gears properly.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2025
It is automatic shut down. No power. No light. No door lock……I let it sit after few hours it starts working back. No idea what happen. There is very dangerous when traveling for long way in hot or cold weather.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
there is an air vent just above the brake pedal .when stepping on the brake my foot presses on that vent, it feels like the brake, until you realize the car is not stopping. took it to the dealer they cant do anything for it. I feel it could be a big issue for someone until the driver figures it out..thank you
Filed with NHTSA, August 2023
Brake pad fell off while driving, it hasn’t been serviced by anyone else except the manufacturer. It’s a manufacturer failure and a safety issue. The dealer ship refused to provide an inspection report of the vehicle
Filed with NHTSA, November 2025
On the right of the gas pedal there is plastic molding, the molding protrudes and causes your foot to catch when attempting to take your foot off the gas pedal, this can cause accidents or crashes that could be deadly, by not allowing your foot to reach the brake in a safe manner.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks sixth for owner complaints among 7 Ranger years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the fifth model year of the Ranger's fourth generation (2019–2023).
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Bronco and Ranger vehicles. The lug nuts on the driver's side wheels may have been improperly tightened.
Risk: Loose lug nuts may result in wheel detachment while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, retighten the lug nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 2, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S17.
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.
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.
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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Ford Ranger, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
