2021 Ford RANGER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
112 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
32,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 56 of 112 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 50 | 44.6% |
| Braking behavior | 24 | 21.4% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 56 |
| Service Brakes | 14 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 3 |
Power Train: 56; Service Brakes: 14; Engine: 12; Unknown Or Other: 12; Electrical System: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 86 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 18 |
| 2025 | 30 |
| 2026 | 25 |
2021: 13; 2022: 10; 2023: 16; 2024: 18; 2025: 30; 2026: 25
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 50 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11404837 · 2021-03-25 (March 25, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, EXCESSIVE EFFORT WAS NEEDED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WEST HERR FORD OF HAMBURG (5025 CAMP RD, HAMBURG, NY 14075) WHERE A SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THE BRAKE FAILURE AND STATED THAT HE WOULD ALERT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER HIMSELF HOWEVER, HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11404837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419157 · 2021-06-01 (June 1, 2021)
Driver side rear door constantly shows as ajar and triggers alarm, even when firmly closed. Unsure if cause is improperly fit body work or electrical components but nothing fixes it and dealer doesn't have time to look at it. I am unable to lock the truck or the alarm WILL sound and drain my battery because of the left passenger door.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11419157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419809 · 2021-06-06 (June 6, 2021)
Door ajar warning stays on despite checking and ensuring the doors are all closed. Indicating front passenger door only at this time
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11419809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421200 · 2021-06-16 (June 16, 2021)
On numerous occasions, the "rear drivers side door ajar" warning shows on the dash and the lights inside the truck stay on even when i have not used the rear drivers side door but only the front drivers side door. Vehicle currently has 754 miles on it. Bought brand new.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11421200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430896 · 2021-08-29 (August 29, 2021)
Brake pedal travel is excessive, similar to a much older vehicle. Brakes to not slow the vehicle until you press past the gas pedal, which introduces significant risk as the driver often simultaneously presses the gas pedal when making emergency or even normal stops and because this requires you to sit closer to the steering wheel than normal so you can reach the very long travel of the brake pedal, even if you are tall like me. Braking with even a moderate weight trailer requires very heavy depressing of the brake pedal to the point where yo…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430897 · 2021-08-29 (August 29, 2021)
Lane departure features is excessive. I've twice now had to make an emergency lane change to avoid an accident occurring in front of me and the lane keep assist almost forced me back into the lane and potentially causing me to get in an accident. I have had to turn this feature off entirely, which means I do not benefit from it in normal conditions. The only way to deactivate the lane keep assist when changing lanes is to use a turn signal. You cannot use a turn signal in emergency situations where it's either you quickly change lanes or yo…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11437395 · 2021-10-19 (October 19, 2021)
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SOFT. IT NEEDS 1 OR 2 PUMPS TO GET IT TO WHERE MY FORMER VEHICLES WERE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11437395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11439844 · 2021-11-09 (November 9, 2021)
After driving a 700 mile round-trip, I got home and parked my vehicle in my garage. It have a strong smell of fuel and oil mix what's your is exceedingly strong the next morning when I woke up and went into the garage. I pulled the oil dipstick out, the level was 2 inches higher than normal and it reeked of gasoline. I went to my local Ford dealer at Palmbay Florida service manager told me Ford is aware of this problem and has no idea what is causing it but they will replace some stuff on the vehicle but I'm not certain that will fix it. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11439844 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V765000 · Child Seat:Vehicle Latch Anchor | Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly
Reported: 2021-09-30 (September 30, 2021)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V811000 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 2021-10-15 (October 15, 2021)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V982000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Sensing System: Radar | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
Reported: 2021-12-16 (December 16, 2021)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V379000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2023-05-26 (May 26, 2023)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V442000 · Back Over Prevention:Software
Reported: 2025-06-27 (June 27, 2025)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V685000 · Equipment:Electrical:Engine Block Heater
Reported: 2025-10-10 (October 10, 2025)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗