Ford Ranger years to avoid
The Ford Ranger years to avoid are 1999, 2000, 1998, 2001, 1997, 1996, 1994, 2004, 1995, 2002, 2005, 2019, 2008, 2006, 2003, 2007, 1993, 2011, 2020 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 2017 is the cleanest year on record.
10,503
Total complaints
112
Recall campaigns
1978–2026
Years covered
19
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
Ranger years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | High complaint rate | 966 | |
| 2000 | High complaint rate | 849 | |
| 1998 | High complaint rate | 744 | |
| 2001 | High complaint rate | 687 | |
| 1997 | High complaint rate | 536 | |
| 1996 | High complaint rate | 533 | |
| 1994 | High complaint rate | 531 | |
| 2004 | High complaints + open investigation | 462 | |
| 1995 | High complaint rate | 451 | |
| 2002 | High complaint rate | 449 | |
| 2005 | High complaints + open investigation | 353 | |
| 2019 | High complaint rate | 350 | |
| 2008 | High complaint rate | 344 | |
| 2006 | High complaint rate | 316 | |
| 2003 | High complaint rate | 310 | |
| 2007 | High complaint rate | 286 | |
| 1993 | High complaint rate | 272 | |
| 2011 | High complaint rate | 260 | |
| 2020 | Open safety investigation | 156 |
Every Ranger year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 6 | |
| 2025 | 58 | 13 | |
| 2024 | 110 | 13 | |
| 2023 | 21 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 52 | 5 | |
| 2021 | 158 | 6 | |
| 2020avoid | 156 | 7 | |
| 2019avoid | 350 | 11 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2011avoid | 260 | 6 | |
| 2010 | 171 | 9 | |
| 2009 | 179 | 8 | |
| 2008avoid | 344 | 6 | |
| 2007avoid | 286 | 6 | |
| 2006avoid | 316 | 12 | |
| 2005avoid | 353 | 11 | |
| 2004avoid | 462 | 12 | |
| 2003avoid | 310 | 5 | |
| 2002avoid | 449 | 7 | |
| 2001avoid | 687 | 9 | |
| 2000avoid | 849 | 8 | |
| 1999avoid | 966 | 10 | |
| 1998avoid | 744 | 11 | |
| 1997avoid | 536 | 7 | |
| 1996avoid | 533 | 8 | |
| 1995avoid | 451 | 7 | |
| 1994avoid | 531 | 11 | |
| 1993avoid | 272 | 10 | |
| 1992 | 231 | 6 | |
| 1991 | 145 | 6 | |
| 1990 | 141 | 5 | |
| 1989 | 88 | 3 | |
| 1988 | 117 | 2 | |
| 1987 | 58 | 5 | |
| 1986 | 50 | 5 | |
| 1985 | 33 | 3 | |
| 1984 | 12 | 8 | |
| 1983 | 13 | 7 | |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
Common questions
What are the worst Ford Ranger years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Ranger years to avoid are 1999, 2000, 1998, 2001, 1997, 1996, 1994, 2004, 1995, 2002, 2005, 2019, 2008, 2006, 2003, 2007, 1993, 2011, 2020. The cleanest year on record is 2017.
What is the best year for the Ford Ranger?
By complaint volume, 2017 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Ranger years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Ford Ranger have?
Across all model years, the Ranger has 112 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 10,503 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.