NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The engine block heater can crack and leak coolant. When plugged in, the leaked coolant may cause an electrical short circuit.
This page covers 18 recalls, 254 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2019 Ford Ranger.
22 mpg combined
10.7 L/100km
Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate what 2019 Ranger owners report, and the 10-speed automatic transmission is the clear focal point. Owners frequently describe erratic, hard shifting, particularly in the lower gears, along with jerking or lurching during slow stop-and-go driving. Some describe the sensation as a sudden jolt from behind. Others report the transmission hesitating or hunting between gears, slow 1-2 engagement, and rough slams into reverse from park. A smaller share of powertrain reports mention engine stalling or surging. Electrical system complaints come in second but at a much lower volume, without a single dominant symptom across those reports. A recurring mechanical issue that stands out separately involves rear leaf springs cracking or breaking on trucks not used for heavy hauling or off-road driving, with multiple owners reporting the failure on vehicles under 100,000 miles.
254
Total Complaints
13
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2019 Ford Ranger has 18 recalls, the most serious being multiple issues where the transmission can shift out of Park without the brake pedal pressed or the key present, allowing the truck to roll unexpectedly.
Two separate defects contribute to this rollaway risk: the shift lever's park lock can fail to hold, and the shifter cable bracket can loosen or detach, leaving the actual gear different from what the shifter indicates. The HVAC blower motor is covered by several related recalls: it can short circuit and catch fire, and prior repair attempts using replacement motors did not fully resolve the issue. The engine block heater can also crack and leak coolant onto its electrical connections when plugged in, raising the same fire risk.
SuperCab models have their own concern: the front passenger seat belt may be misrouted or improperly assembled and may not restrain an occupant properly in a crash. On the visibility side, the rear tail light connector can be misaligned or unseated, causing brake, turn, reverse, and position lights to fail intermittently, and the rearview camera can display a distorted or blank image when reversing. A label recall also notes the tire and loading information sticker lists an incorrect load capacity.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine block heater can crack and leak coolant. When plugged in, the leaked coolant may cause an electrical short circuit.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 4 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the block heater at no cost, or install a blanking plug and remove the heater cord.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera may show a distorted, inverted, or blank image when you shift into reverse.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image or fail to clear the image after backing up.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Tire and Loading Information label on your vehicle shows an incorrect weight limit, which could lead to overloading the vehicle.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you a replacement label to cover the old one, or you can visit a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have it installed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On certain SuperCab trucks, the driver and front passenger seat belts may not be routed correctly through their anchor eyelets, which can prevent them from working properly during a crash.
What the fix does
Ford will mail inspection instructions. Depending on inspection results, Ford will replace seat belt retractor and pretensioner assemblies as needed at a dealer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat belt may not be properly assembled, causing it to be routed incorrectly and potentially fail to protect occupants in a crash.
What the fix does
Ford will send inspection instructions. Dealers will inspect and replace front seat belts as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some replacement blower motors installed during recall 2019-512 repairs may have manufacturing defects that cause them to short circuit, potentially requiring another repair.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to have a dealer inspect and replace your blower motor if it was built during the affected period.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The replacement HVAC blower motor installed under the previous recall may have improper spacing between an electrical terminal and the conductive base plate, which could cause a resistive electrical short.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the HVAC blower motor if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The connector linking the tail lights may come loose, causing some or all tail lights to fail intermittently or completely. This affects stop, turn, rear position, and reverse lights. Turn signals may flash rapidly, and dashboard messages may show trailer or parking aid issues.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect the tail light connector underneath the truck and repair it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electrical connector terminals for the rear lights may be misaligned or not properly seated, causing the rear lights to work intermittently or stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the connector for loose terminals and replace it if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The HVAC blower motor can develop an electrical short, which may cause it to malfunction.
What the fix does
Dealers will check your blower motor's production date and replace it if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The HVAC blower motor may have been manufactured incorrectly, which could cause an internal short circuit.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealer, who will inspect and replace the blower motor if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front-passenger seat belt may not be assembled correctly, which could affect its ability to restrain the occupant.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect the front-passenger seat belt and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat belt may have been assembled incorrectly, potentially affecting its function.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the right front seat belt assembly and replace it if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission shift cable bracket can detach, causing the transmission to be in a different gear than what the shifter shows. This may prevent gear changes and cause unexpected vehicle movement if the parking brake is not applied.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect and tighten the transmission shift cable bracket bolts, then verify the shifter works correctly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Fasteners connecting the transmission shifter cable bracket may loosen, causing the transmission to shift into a gear different from what the shift lever shows.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten the transmission shift cable bracket fasteners and verify proper transmission operation at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission shifter may not lock securely in park, allowing it to be moved without the key in the ignition or brake pedal pressed, which could cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Take your truck to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the shifter checked. If faulty, the dealer will repair it.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission shift lever can move out of Park without the key inserted or brake pedal pressed, allowing the vehicle to be shifted without proper safety interlocks.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the transmission floor shift selector interlock assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
