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Your vehicleHome›Ford›Ranger› 2020
Ford · Large Pickup truck

2020 Ford Ranger

Gas
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
61 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 4 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 7
Complaints6 crash · 1 fire · 6 injured reported 130
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019

The 2020 Ford Ranger is sold in the U.S. as a gas large pickup truck with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Ranger 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 130 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Ford Ranger — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Ford Ranger · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Ranger 2WDGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo212623$2,900
Ranger 4WDGas4WD (part-time)2.3L 4-cyl turbo202422$3,050
Ranger 2WD IncompleteGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo191818$3,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42338, 42339, 42342.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Ranger 2WD, Ranger 4WD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Ranger 2WD Incomplete3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body stylePickup
GVWR classClass 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)

Engine Basics

Displacement2.3 L

Engine Output

Horsepower270 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity4 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds10

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim. Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length211.0 in
Width (body, without mirrors)73.2 in
Height71.3 in
Wheelbase126.8 in
Track, front61.4 in
Track, rear61.4 in
Curb weight4,352–4,440 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: Supercab 4WD, Supercrew 4WD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2020 Ranger
Other years The 2022 Ranger Recalls Ford recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Ford Ranger is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (7)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Equipment

25SA4
59,006 vehicles
Problem 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. Risk An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire. Fix 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 December 2026. Owners may contact Ford
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFInterim owner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V685000 reported Oct 10, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

25S72
200,237 vehicles 59% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V442000 reported Jun 27, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Equipment

23C18
29,607 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem 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." Risk An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V379000 reported May 26, 2023 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

21C25
47,683 vehicles 76% reported repaired
Problem 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." Risk A misrouted seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix 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
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V811000 reported Oct 15, 2021 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seats

21C24
37,625 vehicles 56% reported repaired
Problem 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." Risk An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V765000 reported Sep 30, 2021 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

20C19
620,246 vehicles 82% reported repaired
Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V575000 reported Sep 23, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

20S18
55,158 vehicles 99% reported repaired built Feb 28, 2020 – Mar 18, 2020
Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ranger and F-150 vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions and certain 2020 Expedition vehicles equipped with a "police" package. The transmission shift cable lock clip may not be fully seated, allowing the transmission to actually be in a different gear than the gear shift position selected by the driver. Risk If the transmission selection does not match the indicated gear selection, and the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of injury or crash. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the shift cable locking clip installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S18.
NHTSA campaign 20V197000 reported Apr 3, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera — Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance open

On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rear Visibility. Ford's recall described the noncompliance as insufficient electrical conductivity within the printed circuit board (PCB) internal to the camera leading to intermittent rearview camera operation. The supplier of the cameras was Magna Electronics. According to Ford's chronology in the Pa

Opened Aug 3, 2021 · action RQ21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Ranger

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Ford publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Ford’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Ford Ranger, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2020 Ford Ranger

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Ranger →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
130complaints filed

6 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported

15 per 10,000 built · Ford reported 88,616 Ranger built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 9 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 26 · 2025: 32 · 2026: 24

Most-cited components

Power Train 49
Engine 18
Unspecified 14
Electrical System 11
Visibility/Wiper 10
Service Brakes 9

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Driver seat belt will not automatically/fully return. I have brought the issue to the attention of Service Advisors at two different Ford dealership's. They acknowledge the problem but note there is no fix available from Ford.
Seat Belts Aug 26, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11481442
The contact owned a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at 5-10 MPH downhill onto a leveled road and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The vehicle accelerated unintendedly. There were no warning lights illuminated.
Service Brakes at 38,000 miles Jun 9, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11468410
On two separate instances the truck accelerated on it own and the brakes were used but didn't stop the vehicle had to turn the key off and the second of these two incidences the truck hit a wall and kept accelerating digging the ground up
Vehicle Speed Control May 12, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11464340
Truck continues to have airbag lights on even after repairs at ford dealership. The first time it happened it would only come on when cold and would go off after 30-45 minutes. When airbag light was on gauges, heat and air and stereo would not work. That was November 2020.
Air Bags Jul 1, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11423070
Rear passenger side door is hard to open and close. My seven year old can't open it without help on that side. Warning light comes on while driving sometimes when it is closed. After parking the problem causes the rear tailgate to stay on to drain battery because truck registers the door as ajar.
Structure Feb 7, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11395113
My truck(2020 Ford Ranger) has fuel contamination in the engine oil. I changed the oil for the first time when the truck had 860 miles on it. The oil reeked of gasoline when I changed it.
Engine at 860 miles Dec 31, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11385771

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Ford itself: 8 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 8 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 9.0 per 100,000 built. Every Ranger model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 24k

miles, typically

Half the 29 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 10,000 and 58,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 29 on file: 7 under 10k, 4 10k–20k, 4 20k–30k, 2 30k–40k, 2 40k–50k, 3 50k–60k, 1 60k–70k, 1 70k–80k, 3 80k–90k, 1 90k–100k, 1 100k–150k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
PU/CC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆29%
PU/CC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆26%
PU/EC 2WDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★☆☆29%
PU/EC 4WDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★☆☆26%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 137
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-25
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 130 service bulletins, 7 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Power Train, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Engine.

  • 26L01 Other
    2026-08-25 · Engine
  • Customer Satisfaction Program 26L01 Certain 2018-2024 Model Year Various Vehicles 2.0L Panther Diesel Engine Timing Belt and Tensioner Interval Change
  • TSB 26-2359 Service bulletin
    2026-08-04 · Power Train
  • Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an incorrectly illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0420 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the software in the PCM.
  • 25B51 Other
    2026-05-09 · Engine
  • Certain 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco, 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco Sport, 2020-2022 Model Year Corsair and Escape, 2016-2024 Model Year Explorer, 2019-2020 Model Year Fusion, 2016-2018 Model Year Focus RS, 2022-2024 Model Year Maverick, 2016-2019 Model Year MKC and 2019-2024 Model Year Ranger Vehicles Equipped with a 2.0L or 2.3L Engine and Engine Block Heater System Block Heater Replacement
  • SSM 54720 Service bulletin
    2026-04-02 · Lane Departure — Blind Spot Detection
  • Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC). This may also be accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) B118C:11 and/or B118C:15 stored in the driver door module (DDM), and/or B118D:11 and/or B118D:15 st
  • 25N17 Other
    2026-03-25 · Back Over Prevention — Rearview System Braking
  • Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
  • SSM 54601 Service bulletin
    2026-02-24 · Electrical System
  • Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). Th
  • SSM 54589 Other
    2026-02-17 · Electrical System
  • Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns with The Ford App Lincoln App including but not limited to: missing activation prompt pop-upon the vehicle's center display screen when attempting to activate vehicle through The Ford App Lincoln App, incorrect location global positioning system GPS reported through The Ford App Lincoln App,
  • SSM 54592 Service bulletin
    2026-02-17 · Power Train
  • For 20172026 vehicles equipped with a 10R transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure has been made in the WSM, located in Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing. This updated procedure improves the diagnosis of customer reported transmission concerns and aids in locating the proper root cause. During diagnosis and testing, details regarding whether the condition is more preval

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0751
P0751 on Ford →		Shift solenoid A is not responding — stuck off.Power Train10 bulletins · 1 owner report
P2700
P2700 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0729
P0729 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins
P0731
P0731 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins
P0732
P0732 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins
P0733
P0733 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins
P0734
P0734 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins
P0735
P0735 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins
P0736
P0736 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins
P0752
P0752 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins
P0756
P0756 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins
P0757
P0757 on Ford →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train10 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Ford Ranger failed the emissions check on 0.61% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).

New York inspections 0.61%

failed emissions

1,822 initial inspections of 1,786 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2020 RangerEvery 2020 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check0.61%2.2%1,817
Failed the safety inspection1.5%1.6%1,822
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.11%0.19%1,822
Miles driven a year9,9799,980odometer at inspection
Average odometer62,40362,630odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Ranger by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 F 8 8 23 mpg2025 F 13 44 23 mpg2024 F 13 95 22 mpg2023 D 4 18 Do not drive2022 D 5 38 23 mpg2021 D 6 118 23 mpg2020 this page D 7 130 23 mpg2019 F 11 270 23 mpg

Common questions about the 2020 Ranger

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Ford Ranger have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 7 recall campaigns for the 2020 Ford Ranger, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V685000, covering Equipment. 3 of them were filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. The manufacturer's own estimate for when a fix would be ready: December 2026. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Ford Ranger?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Ford Ranger 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 3-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (61/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Ford Ranger?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Ford Ranger, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Ford Ranger?

Transport Canada measured it at 211.0 in long, 73.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 71.3 in tall, on a 126.8 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,352–4,440 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Ford Ranger?

Owners have filed 130 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Ranger, most often about power train, engine, unspecified. Of those, 6 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 6 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Ford Ranger?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Ford Ranger runs 3 to 5 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Ford Ranger?

The manufacturer has filed 137 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford Ranger, most often covering electrical system, power train, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-08-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Ford Ranger do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Ford Ranger failed the emissions check on 0.61% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations3 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates3 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls7NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints130NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings4 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins137NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA10 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2022 Ranger The Ranger model year with the cleanest record on file — grade D, 5 recalls.Recalls Every Ford recall on file All campaigns filed against Ford vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Ranger by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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