Ford Ranger transmission and drivetrain problems, 2019–2026
272 of the 699 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford Ranger 2019–2026 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). The loudest years: 2019 (94), 2021 (58), 2020 (48). Filed under the same heading across these years: 7 manufacturer bulletins, 4 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Ford Ranger transmission and drivetrain problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 33% | — | 4 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 15 | 36% | — | 19 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 33 | 39% | — | 15 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2023 | 5 | 28% | — | 24 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 17 | 46% | — | 33 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 in depth | 58 | 50% | — | 38 TSBs | the record → |
| 2020 | 48 | 38% | — | 40 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 94 | 35% | 50k | 42 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the transmission and drivetrain. Nothing here is a rate.
When the transmission and drivetrain complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2019: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 26 · 2024: 52 · 2025: 77 · 2026: 96
Across the model years, half of the 52 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 10,000 and 78,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The 10r80 10 speed Transmission will slip, shutter, stall, jump in and out of gear, slam into gear, and often times will wait till you are at a complete stop to downshift into 1st gear which makes the entire truck lunge forward almost like you’ve been rear ended.
2019 Ford Ranger. Consumer writes in regards to shifting problems with vehicle. The consumer stated the vehicle would violently jerk when coming to a stop. The vehicle would also jerk when accelerating and switching to higher gear. The vehicle experiences loss of power and no engaged gears. The truck engine would rev up and shift hard.
We love Ford Rangers. This is my 4th. It has been wonderful, until . We had to replace an A/C, but that's normal. We've also noticed a very few times that when the transmission shifted, there was a little jolt. But that was rare.
2021 Ford Ranger - 10R80 Transmission Failure while driving. Hard shifting, lurching, slipping gears then abrupt failure. It is available. Currently at Diehl Ford in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. - It went from being 90% drivable to coming to complete stop with no transmission engagement at all.
Problem shifting,jerky motion or no response at all with the transmission had to pull over almost was rear ended because of no response
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 25V164000 CriticalMar 14, 2025 · 269 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
- 20V197000 HighApr 3, 2020 · 55,158 vehicles
- 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.
- 19V366000 HighMay 13, 2019 · 2,534 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger vehicles. The fasteners that attach the transmission shifter cable bracket to the transmission may loosen allowing the transmission to be in a different gear than indicated by the gear shift lever position.
- 19V071000 HighFeb 1, 2019 · 2,992 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. In some of these vehicles, the transmission shift lever can be moved from the "Park" position without the key in the starting system and without depressing the brake pedal. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
7 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 22, 2026
- This bulletin supersedes 26-2309. Reason For Update: update the Model section to remove Aviator 10R80, update the Parts list to add 3.3L to W520514-S440, and add L1MZ-7Z490-G valve body separator plate for Aviator. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh 3-4, 4-5 upshifts * Harsh 5-3, 4-3 downshifts * Harsh reverse enga
- Jul 27, 2026
- Some 2025-2026 Bronco/Ranger vehicles may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2122, P2123, P2127, P2128, and/or P2138 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). The vehicle may or may not exhibit a perceived lack of power intermittently. This may be due to an issue with the following connectors associated with the accelerator pe
- Jul 2, 2026
- This bulletin supersedes 26-2241. Reason For Update: update the parts list to correct the claim quantity of the part number JB3Z-4B496-B from 3 to 6. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh 3-4, 4-5 upshifts * Harsh 5-3, 4-3 downshifts * Harsh reverse engagements These symptoms may be worse when cold. This may be due to
- May 18, 2026
- This bulletin supersedes 25-2587. Reason For Update: update the Parts list to add the F-clutch friction plates HL3Z-7B164-D and the F-clutch steel plates PR3Z-7B164-A for the proper vehicle lines, replace the transfer case mounting bolt part number from W714288-S438 to W714288-S437, update the part number W720688-S439 quantity from 2 to 1, update the part number ML3Z-7869-C claim quantity from 2 t
- Apr 2, 2026
- For 20212026 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). This test utilizes the pressure and vacuum transducer (PVT) when available. When referred to a specific clutch (A-F) test by a pinpoint test in Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing, the Clutch Assembl
- Mar 19, 2026
- For 2021-2026 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). This test utilizes the pressure and vacuum transducer (PVT) when available. The Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated under Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing to include this procedure. The new test improves the accurac
- Feb 17, 2026
- 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
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Ford Ranger years have the most transmission and drivetrain complaints?
2019, 94; 2021, 58; 2020, 48. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2021 (50%).
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the Ford Ranger?
Yes — 4 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 25V164000 (2024), 20V197000 (2020), 19V366000 (2019), 19V071000 (2019). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the Ford Ranger?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 62,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 10,000 and 78,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.