Which Ford Ranger years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2011, 2019, and 2022 as Avoid years for the Ranger, with complaint index values of 82, 91, and 100 respectively, all top-ranked among the 12 model years with data.

Which Honda Ridgeline years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2017, 2019, 2023, and 2025 as Avoid years for the Ridgeline, with complaint index values of 86, 93, 79, and 100.

Does the Ranger or Ridgeline have more complaints?

The Ridgeline has 1,587 total complaints (106 per model year) versus the Ranger's 1,080 (90 per model year), but NHTSA does not publish sales data so these totals are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

How do the Ranger and Ridgeline compare on fuel economy?

The Ford Ranger averages 20.6 mpg combined across its model years, while the Honda Ridgeline averages 19.6 mpg combined.

What are the most common problem areas for each truck?

For the Ranger, the top areas are Airbags (344 complaints, 32%) and Transmission & Powertrain (271 complaints, 25%). For the Ridgeline, the top areas are Electrical System (467 complaints, 29%) and Engine (341 complaints, 21%).

Ford Ranger vs Honda Ridgeline: Which Years to Avoid

The Ford Ranger's worst years to avoid are 2011, 2019, and 2022, while the Honda Ridgeline's are 2017, 2019, 2023, and 2025. Ford Ranger logs 1,080 total complaints (90 per model year) across 12 years with data versus Ridgeline's 1,587 (106 per model year) across 15 years. These totals aren't sales-normalized, so they don't show which model is more reliable overall.

Head to head

Ford Ranger

Model years: 2010–2025 (12)
NHTSA complaints: 1,080
Per model year: 90
Recall campaigns: 46
Years to avoid: 2011, 2019, 2022
Best years: —
Top problem area: Airbags
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 20.6
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 3.3 ★

Honda Ridgeline

Model years: 2010–2025 (15)
NHTSA complaints: 1,587
Per model year: 106
Recall campaigns: 31
Years to avoid: 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025
Best years: 2010, 2012, 2014
Top problem area: Electrical System
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 19.6
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 5.0 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Ranger				Ridgeline
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2010	Good	156	8	17.5	Best	42	9	17
2011	Avoid	235	5	17.5	Good	39	10	17
2012	—	—	—	—	Best	24	11	17
2013	—	—	—	—	Good	45	7	17
2014	No verdict	1	0	—	Best	34	6	17
2015	—	—	—	—	No verdict	2	0	—
2016	No verdict	1	0	—	—	—	—	—
2017	No verdict	1	0	—	Avoid	341	8	21.5
2018	—	—	—	—	Good	161	7	21.5
2019	Avoid	267	11	22	Avoid	237	11	21.5
2020	Good	127	7	22	Caution	169	8	21.5
2021	Caution	114	6	20.5	Caution	101	7	21
2022	Avoid	37	5	22	Caution	117	3	21
2023	Good	18	4	22	Avoid	127	5	21
2024	Caution	83	13	21	Caution	59	1	20.5
2025	Caution	40	13	21	Avoid	89	2	20.5

Complaint Index by year

Ford Ranger

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Honda Ridgeline

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Frequently asked questions

Which Ford Ranger years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2011, 2019, and 2022 as Avoid years for the Ranger, with complaint index values of 82, 91, and 100 respectively, all top-ranked among the 12 model years with data.
Which Honda Ridgeline years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2017, 2019, 2023, and 2025 as Avoid years for the Ridgeline, with complaint index values of 86, 93, 79, and 100.
Does the Ranger or Ridgeline have more complaints?: The Ridgeline has 1,587 total complaints (106 per model year) versus the Ranger's 1,080 (90 per model year), but NHTSA does not publish sales data so these totals are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.
How do the Ranger and Ridgeline compare on fuel economy?: The Ford Ranger averages 20.6 mpg combined across its model years, while the Honda Ridgeline averages 19.6 mpg combined.
What are the most common problem areas for each truck?: For the Ranger, the top areas are Airbags (344 complaints, 32%) and Transmission & Powertrain (271 complaints, 25%). For the Ridgeline, the top areas are Electrical System (467 complaints, 29%) and Engine (341 complaints, 21%).