Few compact or mid-size pickups carry as much history as the Ford Ranger. Ford launched it for the 1983 model year as a purpose-built replacement for the Courier — a truck that wore the blue oval badge but was, in reality, a rebadged Mazda B-Series. The Ranger went on to become one of the best-selling compact trucks in America before Ford controversially pulled the plug in 2012, only to revive it for 2019 as a larger, more capable mid-sizer. That gives the nameplate a lineage stretching back more than four decades — minus a seven-year hiatus that left a lot of loyal fans waiting.
When we talk about 25 years of Ford Rangers, we’re covering the third-generation compacts alongside the first and second generations of the revived mid-size. Here’s what you need to know before you go shopping for one.
Ford Ranger Reliability By The Numbers
To determine which model year Ford Rangers you can count on, we’ve gathered Quality & Reliability ratings from JD Power and reviewed total complaints on file with CarComplaints. In the table below, you want to see high numbers in the JD Power column and low numbers in the complaints’ column.
Bear in mind that newer models will naturally have fewer reports on file, simply because the truck will have had less time to develop any serious issues. This doesn’t necessarily prove that, say, a 2025 Ranger is inherently more reliable than a 2021 Ranger — only that it hasn’t put as many miles on its tires just yet.
Model Year
JD Power Rating
CarComplaints Reports
2001
N/A
71
2002
N/A
59
2003
N/A
63
2004
N/A
43
2005
N/A
25
2006
N/A
29
2007
85/100
44
2008
82/100
48
2009
86/100
12
2010
87/100
11
2011
86/100
27
2019
84/100
20
2020
N/A
7
2021
87/100
8
2022
86/100
4
2023
87/100
3
2024
N/A
1
2025
N/A
0
2026
N/A
The 2010 Ford Ranger Takes An Early Lead
Among the third-gen compact pickups, the 2010 Ford Ranger stands out with both the lowest number of complaints on file, at 11, and the highest Q&R rating, at 87/100. For the mid-size generation, the 2023 model is the clear winner, with just three complaints on file and an 87/100 Q&R rating. Just keep in mind that the 2023 Ranger has only been on the road for a few years, so that complaint count will likely grow over time.
What Can Go Wrong With A Ford Ranger?
According to CarComplaints, the least reliable Ford Ranger is the 2019 model. With 20 complaints on file, the truck has fewer issues than some of the earlier compact models, but more reports than any other Ford Ranger of the mid-size generations, and more complaints than some of the compacts. To list some of the more common issues being reported:
- Transmission problems are a major concern for the 2019 Ford Ranger, with two complaints of transmission slipping, and one for complete transmission failure at just 95,000 miles, costing the owner $6,000 for a full replacement.
- Various electronic sensors throughout the truck have been known to fail or malfunction, including the fuel tank pressure sensor.
- Drivers were reporting paint chipping even when the truck was brand-new. Paint chipping issues frequently occur with light-colored paints, including various shades of white and light gray, but these issues are not unheard of with darker-colored trucks. Don’t be surprised to find paint protection film on used Rangers.
So, that’s why you might want to avoid a 2019 Ford Ranger. But what about the 2010 and 2023 models?
Body/Paint Issues Are The Most Common Problems For The 2010 Ford Ranger
The 2010 Ford Ranger has two complaints on file for paint chipping, and two for water leaking around the door gaskets. There is also one complaint on file for an oil leak at around 37,000 miles, which was repaired with a replacement gasket — a fix that can cost up to $1,906 in a 2010 Ranger, according to RepairPal.
One 2023 Ranger Owner Reported An Oil Leak At Just 500 Miles
The most concerning complaint on file for the 2023 Ranger involves an oil leak occurring at just 500 miles. Unfortunately, the owner did not provide much detail in the report. Based on the CarComplaints data, that’s the extent of what we know: an oil leak surfaced at 500 miles. It’s worth keeping an eye out for, but any 2023 Ranger that hasn’t aged out of its warranty coverage should still be protected, so it’s nothing worth losing sleep over.
Rangers Are Cheap To Maintain, But Look Out For Suspension And Steering Issues
To get a broader picture of what Ford Rangers typically experience, we consulted RepairPal, which puts the annual average repair cost at $615 and identifies the following as the most expensive common repairs for the truck across all model years:
- Fuel tank replacement $1,544–$1,535
- Rack and pinion replacement $1,333–$1,528
- Timing chain tensioner replacement $1,144–$1,535
- AC evaporator replacement $879–$1,262
- Wheel bearing replacement $220–$294
Two out of five of the most expensive common repairs for the Ford Ranger involve steering and suspension components. Rotating your tires regularly (an easy enough job to tackle at home), doing occasional visual checks for developing problems, and avoiding potholes where possible can all help prevent issues and keep minor wear from escalating into major repairs.
By and large, these trucks are pretty cheap to keep running, but there are some expensive fixes that can sneak up on you.
It’s Hard To Find An Unreliable Ford Ranger
Rangers generally list among the most reliable pickups overall. But if we had to pick a few model years to avoid, we’d suggest steering clear of the following Ford Rangers:
- 2001-2003. These trucks aren’t exactly lemons, but their advanced age means they might cost more to maintain than they’re worth.
- 2007 and 2008. These two model years have more complaints on file than any other for the last five years of the third-gen compacts.
- 2019. Ford was still working out the first-year kinks for the mid-size Ranger at this point.
And the ones we would wholeheartedly recommend:
- 2009 and 2010. These two have just 12 and 11 complaints on file, respectively, and they scored well with JD Power.
- 2005 and 2006. JD Power doesn’t vouch for these two models, but their complaint numbers are remarkably low for a pair of 20-year-old pickups.
- 2021-2023. If you’re in the market for a mid-size, any one of these is a solid choice.
The 2005 Ford Ranger May Be The Most Reliable Model For The Money
The 2005 Ford Ranger carries a fair purchase price in the low-to-mid single-digit thousands depending on cab style and condition, according to Kelley Blue Book. Combine that bargain entry point with just 25 complaints on file with CarComplaints after two decades on the road, and you’ve got a very affordable, reliable used truck.
There are a few engine complaints on file, mostly for stalling. But the average repair cost for these issues comes out to just $200. One driver traced the problem to a faulty fuel inertia switch, while another had to replace the crankshaft pulley. All told, you could do a lot worse for a truck that’s old enough to vote.
Base Trim Engine
EcoBoost 2.3L ICE
Base Trim Transmission
10-speed automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
Other
Base Trim Horsepower
270 HP @5500 RPM
Base Trim Torque
310 lb.-ft. @ 3000 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
21/25/22 MPG
Base Trim Battery Type
Lead acid battery
Infotainment & Features
8 /10
Sources: Ford, CarComplaints, RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book, J.D. Power.
