Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the brakes and transmission. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2025Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2025 Ford Ranger: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
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.
Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2025 checks
Worth adding to your 2025 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2025 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 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 4WD | 20 mpg |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4WD | 17 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2025 Ford Ranger, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The truck fails to stop as expected when the brake pedal is pressed. Of 4 complaints, 1 involves a low-speed crash where the brakes reportedly engaged only after impact, despite dash warnings and beeping. Other reports describe a "Brake Failure" message, several warning lights with abnormal beeping at startup, and ABS not working on a downhill in bad weather. A dealer traced one case to a failed ABS module needing a software update at 100 miles. A separate complaint says the high pedal and under-dash panels catch the driver's foot and delay braking.
Power drops out without warning. One pattern is reduced engine power, or limp mode, that blocks acceleration while merging. A popping noise from the front of the truck comes before it, and a dealer reproduced the problem and tried knock sensors and fresh fuel. Another report describes power cutting for 2-3 seconds whenever a vehicle changes lanes ahead, even with adaptive cruise and emergency braking turned off and extra throttle applied. Both create a risk of slowing suddenly in traffic and being hit from behind.
Excerpts from complaints Ranger owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
We were making a right through an intersection at a speed of 9MPH when the car in front of us hit their brakes unexpectedly. My 30 year old son was driving and felt like the brakes did not respond when he pressed them. My truck did not stop until it hit the car in front of us. It did start beeping just before impact and the dash lit up but the brakes didn’t engage until after impact.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2025
The brake pedal sits too high and there are obstructions under the dashboard. I'm a size 10.5 shoe, when transitioning from gas to brake, I need to lift my foot, then when transitioning the top of my foot left, it hits braces/panels under the dash and delays my braking. It's possible under the worst of conditions, that this could be a factor in an accident.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2025 has the fewest owner complaints of the 7 Ranger years we cover, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
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 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed December 15, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in January 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 3, 2025.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Bronco and Ranger vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting.".
Risk: In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will remove and replace the windshield, free charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 20, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C52. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger vehicles. The instrument panel top cover may prevent the passenger air bag from deploying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the instrument panel assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 26, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C54. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Ranger vehicles. The side curtain air bags may contact the B-Pillar inner reinforcements and tear during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 226, "Ejection Mitigation.".
Risk: Air bags that deploy improperly during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will install protective shields, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C41.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The EBB module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S77.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger trucks. The instrument panel was not properly configured, preventing many of the the warning lights or gauges from properly displaying. This includes forward collision warnings, auto emergency braking, traction control, roll stability, and other gauges. The fuel gauge, distance to empty, and fuel economy may also not show accurately. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems.".
Risk: An instrument panel that does not clearly display critical safety information increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Fords number for this recall is 25C23.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The bolts that secure the driver's seat frame to the body may be loose or missing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems.".
Risk: A seat with loose or missing fasteners may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the seat fasteners and tighten or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 23, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C16.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Bronco and Ranger vehicles. The front upper control arm ball joint fastener may be missing or tightened improperly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly.
Risk: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the ball joint fastener as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 23, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S45.
Cars shoppers compare with the Ford Ranger, with their own 2025 checklists.
2025 owner complaints, side by side
