2021 Ford Ranger
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 56 of 112 complaints (50%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 127 in 2020 to 112 in 2021.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–3,450 | 2,700–3,450 | 2,700–3,450 | 2,700–3,300 | 2,700–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–23 | 18–23 | 18–23 | 19–23 | 19–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19–21 / 18–26 | 19–21 / 18–26 | 19–21 / 18–26 | 19–21 / 19–26 | 19–21 / 19–26 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 387–484 | 387–485 | 387–486 | 387–468 | 387–471 | |
| Complaints filed | 266 | 127 | 112 | 37 | 18 | |
| Recalls issued | 11 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 6 | 9 | 99 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford Ranger have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Ford Ranger?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 56 of 112 NHTSA complaints (50%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Ford Ranger get?
EPA rates it 18–23 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Ford Ranger?
EPA estimates $2,700–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.3L | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD | 20 mpg | 24 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD | 21 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $2,700 (low) | 387 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.3L | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD | 19 mpg (low) | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 462 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD | 19 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 486 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 56 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 21 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 12 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER · Campaign 25V685000 · Oct 14, 2025
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. 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 September 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE · Campaign 25V442000 · Jun 30, 2025
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · Campaign 23V379000 · May 30, 2023
Defect: 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."
Consequence: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING; FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: RADAR · Campaign 21V982000 · Dec 17, 2021
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING · Campaign 21V811000 · Oct 18, 2021
Defect: 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."
Consequence: A misrouted seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY; CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR · Campaign 21V765000 · Sep 30, 2021
Defect: 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."
Consequence: An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: 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.