Ford Ranger Recalls

The Ford Ranger has 126 recalls spanning 1983 through 2026, with the most serious recent issues on 2024–2025 models including upper control arm ball joints that can separate from the steering knuckle, causing sudden loss of steering control.

The current generation, covering 2024–2026 model years, carries a heavy recall load across multiple systems. On 2024–2026 models, sun visor and headliner wiring can short and start a fire in the A-pillar area, and side curtain airbags can tear against the B-pillar reinforcement and fail to protect occupants in a crash. The 2024 model year has additional concerns: a fuel vapor line bracket can damage the vapor line and create a fire risk on 2.7L-equipped trucks, the high-pressure fuel pump bolts may be loose and leak fuel, the transmission valve body can cause unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral, and the power windows may not retract when they detect an obstruction. Seat hardware issues affect multiple recent years: loose or missing driver seat frame bolts on 2025 models and loose height-adjuster pivot bolts on 2024–2026 vehicles mean the seat may not hold an occupant during a crash. The 2025 model year has a passenger airbag problem where an incorrectly formed instrument panel can block proper airbag inflation and send panel fragments toward occupants. There is also an electronic brake booster on 2025 models that can enter a failsafe state, sharply increasing the pedal force required to stop and extending stopping distances. The 2025–2026 model years share an engine failure recall that can cause a sudden loss of drive power, and a 2025-specific EGR valve failure that produces the same result. Loose wheel lug nuts on some 2023 models can lead to wheel detachment while driving. A 2022 fuel line connection issue on 2.3L engines allows fuel to leak and creates a fire risk, and some 2022 windshields were not properly bonded and can separate in a crash.

The 2019–2021 era produced a cluster of transmission and occupant protection issues. On 2019 models with a 10-speed automatic, the shifter can move out of Park without the key or brake applied, and separately the shift cable bracket can loosen and leave the transmission in a different gear than indicated, either situation allowing the truck to roll unexpectedly. The 2020 model year has a similar shift cable detachment risk. The HVAC blower motor on 2019 models can short and catch fire, and this problem persisted through at least one round of replacement motors that also proved defective. Front passenger seat belts on 2019–2021 SuperCab models may be misrouted and fail to restrain an occupant properly in a crash. Rear child seat anchor positioning on 2020–2021 SuperCab models can interfere with proper child seat attachment. The 2021 model year has a radar module alignment issue that can cause adaptive cruise control to follow other vehicles too closely and delay automatic emergency braking.

The Takata airbag inflator recalls are the dominant concern for 2004–2011 model years. On these vehicles, the driver and passenger frontal airbag inflators can rupture under excessive internal pressure, sending metal fragments into the cabin. The 2006 model year carried stop-drive advisories at the height of this campaign. Repair attempts on 2004–2006 vehicles went through multiple rounds because replacement inflators were sometimes installed incorrectly, requiring additional service.