Ford Ranger — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-09-01. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 1999, 2000, 1998, 2001 · Best bets: 2025, 2022, 1986, 1987, 2024, 1989

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: 36 complaints 1987: 51 complaints 1988: 90 complaints 1988 1989: 73 complaints 1990: 106 complaints 1991: 133 complaints 1992: 191 complaints 1993: 235 complaints 1993 1994: 455 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: 270 complaints 2008: 326 complaints 2008 2009: 168 complaints 2010: 156 complaints 2011: 235 complaints 2014: 1 complaints 2016: 1 complaints 2016 2017: 1 complaints 2019: 264 complaints 2020: 126 complaints 2021: 112 complaints 2022: 37 complaints 2022 2023: 18 complaints 2024: 73 complaints 2025: 35 complaints 2026: 5 complaints 2026
2026: 5 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
198311
198412
198527
198636
198751
198890
198973
1990106
1991133
1992191
1993235
1994455
1995321
1996413
1997411
1998576
1999755
2000670
2001515
2002346
2003243
2004404
2005289
2006271
2007270
2008326
2009168
2010156
2011235
20141
20161
20171
2019264
2020126
2021112
202237
202318
202473
202535
20265

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2026 Not enough data 5 Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 Recommended 35 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2024 Recommended 73 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 Not enough data 18 Only 18 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2022 Recommended 37 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2021 Recommended 112 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 Recommended 126 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 Recommended 264 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 326 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 Recommended 270 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 455 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1993 Recommended 235 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1992 Recommended 191 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1991 Recommended 133 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1990 Recommended 106 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 90 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1987 Recommended 51 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1986 Recommended 36 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.