2011 Ford RANGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
235 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
49,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 194 of 235 complaints (82.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 5.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 1.7% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 1.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 0.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 194 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
Air Bags: 194; Exterior Lighting: 8; Service Brakes: 8; Structure:Body: 7; Electrical System: 5; Power Train: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 168 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 34 |
| 2017 | 91 |
| 2018 | 45 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2011: 3; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 6; 2016: 34; 2017: 91; 2018: 45; 2019: 16; 2020: 7; 2021: 5; 2022: 11; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10512969 · 2013-05-21 (May 21, 2013)
WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE ACCELERATES IN FORWARD AND REVERSE. OCTOBER 2011, I WAS SLOWLY BACKING AND UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARD ALMOST HITTING TWO MEN DIRECTING ME. THE NEXT DAY I CARRIED VEHICLE TO AN OPEN FIELD AND TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I ASSUMED DRIVER ERROR. SEVERAL DAYS LATER WHEN BRAKING GOING FORWARD AT ABOUT 25 MPH THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. OVER THE NEXT YEAR THE DEFECT WAS NOTICED IN VARYING DEGREES. FOUR TIMES WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED THE ENGINE RACED. A…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10532256 · 2013-07-28 (July 28, 2013)
WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD AND I HAVE TO STAND ON THE BRAKES UNTIL THE SURGING STOPS. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 2 TO 3 HUNDRED STOPS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS DRIVER ERROR BUT AFTER DOING IT SEVERAL TIMES I NOTICED THAT THE RPMS ON THE TACH WOULD STAY AT APP. 2000 THEN IT WOULD DROP DOWN TO 900 WHICH IS THE NORMAL RANGE. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER AND COMPLAINED AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM DURING A TEST DRIVE. THE PROBLEMS CONTINUES AND I AM AFRAID ONE DAY IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447196 · 2012-02-08 (February 8, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WOULD DROP, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,828.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10874375 · 2016-06-15 (June 15, 2016)
DRIVING 40 MPH DOWN CITY STREET, STRAIGHT, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, WHICH I HAD 4 CAR LENGTH BETWEEN HIM AND ME, STOP FAST, I PUT ME BRAKES ON AND MY TRUCK WAS NOT RESPONDING. I PUTT BOTH OF MY FEET ON THE BREAK PEDDLE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STILL NO RESPOND TO THE BRAKES. WELL, MY TRUCK HIT THE TRUCK IN FRONT AND THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK WAS ALL MESSED UP, NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING TO THE STREET. AFTER THE TRUCK WAS FIX, THEY TESTED THE BRAKE BY PILLING EACH TRIES OFF CHECK ALL THE SPEC, PULLED THE ROTORS OFF …
Owner-reported narrative. 39,875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10439412 · 2011-12-12 (December 12, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD RANGER EXTENDED CAB XLT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT A NUT HAD DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,000. UPDATED 03/16/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY JERKED ITSELF OUT OF HIS HANDS AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONSUM…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10694256 · 2015-03-14 (March 14, 2015)
WITHOUT WARNING, THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING DISINTEGRATED WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. I HEARD A LOAD NOISE IN THE FRONT, THE TRUCK SAGGED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE TRUCK AND STEERING SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT SIDE, SENDING THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY OUT OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLES TO THE RIGHT OF ME BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AFTER SWERVING AND FISHTAILING, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL AND COASTED OFF THE ROAD. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A FRONT END SPECIALIST AND HE SAID THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10694256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10724584 · 2015-06-10 (June 10, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE IGNITION WIRING RUBBED AGAINST THE EMERGENCY BRAKE MECHANISM AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10724584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11618410 · 2024-10-07 (October 7, 2024)
HIGH BEAM LIGHTS FAILED ON, THE HI-LO BEAM SWITCH IN TURN, HAZARD, WIPER COMBO SWITCH LATER OVERHEATED, BURN UP, SMOKE IN CABIN CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF LAMPS, WIPERS AT NIGHT IN RAIN. CLEARLY A COMMON ISSUE BASED ON WEB. IF YOU ARE GOING TO SEND FULL LOAD CURRENT WITH NO CONTROL RELAYS FORCE A HIGHER STANDARD ON DESIGN MARGINS AND AND MTTF. YOU HAVE (4) HEAD LAMPS ON A CAR NO REASON A DESIGN SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CAUSE ALL (4) TO FAILURE. FORCE MULTIPLE RELAYS, MODULES, AND CONTACTS, WIRING CIRCUITS AND FUSES. ALSO FIX THE BLINDING HEADLIGHT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11618410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451431 · 2012-03-13 (March 13, 2012)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING INTO FAIRBANKS WHEN THE FUEL TANK EXPLODED. THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE FRAME TO BE REPLACED. FORD WILL NOT TELL US WHAT HAPPENED OR IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,260 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10846339 · 2016-03-13 (March 13, 2016)
NYLON FUEL LINE RUBBED AGAINST METAL RETURN LINE TO CREATE A HOLE AND VERY LARGE FUEL LEAK DUE TO HIGH PRESSURE. THE CLOSE CONTACT BETWEEN THE NYLON AND METAL TUBES APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN ERROR. WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WITH SANDY ROADS THAT ACT AS AN ABRASIVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10846339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11161332 · 2018-12-14 (December 14, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. FREEDOM FORD INC (LOCATED AT 420 FISHKILL AVE, BEACON, NY 12508, [phone removed]) WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED TRUCK WOULD STALL 4-6 TIMES A MONTH WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11161332 at NHTSA ↗