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2021 Ford Ranger

Gas
Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
55 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical6
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA112
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA23 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019

The 2021 Ford Ranger is sold in the U.S. as a gas pickup truck with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Ranger 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 112 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Ranger 2WDGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo212623$2,700
Ranger 4WDGas4WD (part-time)2.3L 4-cyl turbo202422$2,850
Ranger Tremor 4WDGas4WD (part-time)2.3L 4-cyl turbo191919$3,300
Ranger 2WD IncompleteGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo191818$3,450

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43615, 43542, 43617, 43618.

Factory warranty running out?

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Equipment

25SA4
59,006 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskAn electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.FixOwners 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
NHTSA campaign 25V685000reported Oct 10, 2025Ford Motor Company
○minor

Back Over Prevention

25S72
200,237 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskA 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.FixDealers 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 25V442000reported Jun 27, 2025Ford Motor Company
○minor

Equipment

23C18
29,607 vehicles
ProblemFord 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."RiskAn overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.FixFord 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 23V379000reported May 26, 2023Ford Motor Company
▲high

Forward Collision Avoidance

21S52
839 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.RiskA 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.FixDealers 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 21V982000reported Dec 16, 2021Ford Motor Company
▲high

Seat Belts

21C25
47,683 vehicles
ProblemFord 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."RiskA misrouted seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.FixFord 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
NHTSA campaign 21V811000reported Oct 15, 2021Ford Motor Company
▲high

Seats

21C24
37,625 vehicles
ProblemFord 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."RiskAn improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers 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 21V765000reported Sep 30, 2021Ford Motor Company

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
112complaints filed

6 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 9 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 13 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 18 · 2025: 30 · 2026: 25

Most-cited components

Power Train56
Service Brakes14
Engine12
Unspecified12
Electrical System8
Vehicle Speed Control8

What owners describe

“There is gasoline in my oil. I had an oil analysis from a lab, and they confirmed there is too much gasoline in my oil.”Nov 30, 2022 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“The engine has a squeaking noise, unknown where it is from. The noise is upon start up and while driving, I do not know if the issue will lead to engine failure. Which if the engine locks up and cause drivability failure.”Nov 27, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Tire Failed on highway, at approx 60 MPH. Tire pressure instantly went to zero. No debris, or road issues. Tread completely separated from sidewall. Original tires that came from factory. No nails or damage noted to tread Unknown tire size, tire and vehicle at dealership, should be standard for that truck”Oct 3, 2022 · Tires · NHTSA owner report

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.

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: lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Compare the 2021 Ranger with

2021 Chevrolet Silverado →2021 Ram 1500 →2021 Toyota Tacoma →

Other Ranger model years

F

2026 Ford Ranger

7 recalls · 5 complaints

F

2025 Ford Ranger

13 recalls · 36 complaints

F

2024 Ford Ranger

13 recalls · 75 complaints

D

2023 Ford Ranger

4 recalls · 18 complaints

F

2022 Ford Ranger

5 recalls · 37 complaints

F

2020 Ford Ranger

7 recalls · 127 complaints

F

2019 Ford Ranger

11 recalls · 266 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

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

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