Ford Ranger — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 1999, 2000, 1998, 2001 · Best bets: 2022, 1986, 1987, 2024, 1989, 1988

COMPLAINT HISTORY

Complaints per year, Ford Ranger Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2026 highlighted. 1983: 11 complaints 1983 1984: 12 complaints 1985: 27 complaints 1986: 35 complaints 1987: 50 complaints 1988: 89 complaints 1988 1989: 73 complaints 1990: 105 complaints 1991: 132 complaints 1992: 189 complaints 1993: 232 complaints 1993 1994: 438 complaints 1995: 321 complaints 1996: 413 complaints 1997: 411 complaints 1998: 576 complaints 1998 1999: 755 complaints 2000: 670 complaints 2001: 515 complaints 2002: 346 complaints 2003: 243 complaints 2003 2004: 404 complaints 2005: 289 complaints 2006: 271 complaints 2007: 267 complaints 2008: 324 complaints 2008 2009: 168 complaints 2010: 156 complaints 2011: 235 complaints 2014: 1 complaints 2016: 1 complaints 2016 2017: 1 complaints 2019: 260 complaints 2020: 119 complaints 2021: 105 complaints 2022: 36 complaints 2022 2023: 17 complaints 2024: 55 complaints 2025: 27 complaints 2026: 3 complaints 2026
2026: 3 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
198311
198412
198527
198635
198750
198889
198973
1990105
1991132
1992189
1993232
1994438
1995321
1996413
1997411
1998576
1999755
2000670
2001515
2002346
2003243
2004404
2005289
2006271
2007267
2008324
2009168
2010156
2011235
20141
20161
20171
2019260
2020119
2021105
202236
202317
202455
202527
20263

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2026 Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 Not enough data 27 Only 27 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 Recommended 55 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 Not enough data 17 Only 17 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2022 Recommended 36 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2021 Recommended 105 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 Recommended 119 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 Recommended 260 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2017 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2016 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2014 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2011 Recommended 235 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2010 Recommended 156 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 Recommended 168 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2008 Caution 324 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 Recommended 267 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2006 Recommended 271 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2005 Recommended 289 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2004 Caution 404 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 Recommended 243 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2002 Caution 346 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 Avoid 515 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2000 Avoid 670 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1999 Avoid 755 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1998 Avoid 576 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1997 Caution 411 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1996 Caution 413 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1995 Caution 321 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1994 Caution 438 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1993 Recommended 232 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1992 Recommended 189 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1991 Recommended 132 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1990 Recommended 105 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1989 Recommended 73 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1988 Recommended 89 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1987 Recommended 50 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1986 Recommended 35 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1985 Not enough data 27 Only 27 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1984 Not enough data 12 Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1983 Not enough data 11 Only 11 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.