2021 Ford Ranger Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 6 NHTSA recalls and 119 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

39/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2021 Ford Ranger

The 2021 Ford Ranger shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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NHTSA Recalls

6 recalls on record

119

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

3 fire reports

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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Ford Ranger (6)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Seats: Mid/Rear Assembly

An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: 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….

NHTSA #21V765000

🔧 Forward Collision Avoidance: Sensing System: Radar

A 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…

Remedy: Dealers 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….

NHTSA #21V982000

🔧 Seat Belts: Front: Webbing

A misrouted seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #21V811000

🔧 Equipment: Other: Labels

An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #23V379000

🔧 Back Over Prevention: Software

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…

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #25V442000

🔧 Equipment: Electrical: Engine Block Heater

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #25V685000

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Most Common Problems — 2021 Ford Ranger

Based on 119 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train

Service Brakes

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System

Structure

Vehicle Speed Control

Forward Collision Avoidance

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Ford Ranger — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2022, 2023, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Ford Ranger

Is the 2021 Ford Ranger reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Ford Ranger has 6 recall campaigns and 119 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2021 Ford Ranger have?

The 2021 Ford Ranger has 6 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford Ranger?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Ford Ranger are: Power Train, Service Brakes, Engine, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2021 Ford Ranger safe to buy?

The 2021 Ford Ranger has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 6 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Ford Ranger should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Ranger are: 2022, 2023, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.