2008 Ford Ranger Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2008 Ford Ranger ranks 3rd worst out of 17 model years with a complaint index of 88, earning an Avoid verdict. Airbags dominate complaints at 90% of the 326 filed, with two do-not-drive recalls tied to airbag inflators and modules.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 88/100
- #3 of 17 Ranger years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 326
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 9
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 15 city / 20 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 1
Top 2008 Ford Ranger problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags295 (90%)
- Structure & Body12 (4%)
- Electrical System8 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (2%)
- Engine6 (2%)
- Other5 (2%)
- Brakes2 (1%)
- Fuel System2 (1%)
- Seat Belts1 (0%)
- Steering1 (0%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Frontal airbags failed to deploy in moderate-speed crashes into embankments, curbs, or other vehicles around 35 to 45 mph.
- A fuel leak above the gas tank area led to an under-vehicle fire on a truck with low mileage.
- Owners describe airbag sensors and modules being replaced after crashes where the bags never fired despite frontal impact.
- The check engine light triggered repeatedly at low mileage, accompanied by an RPM surge to 1,200 that made braking harder.
- Some owners note the side doors lack an internal latch, raising concern about exiting after a crash.
- Standard-fit passenger tires on the truck were reported to hydroplane at low speeds.
2008 Ford Ranger recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V158000Mar 10, 2021Airbags2,602,668 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- NHTSA 21V081000Feb 16, 2021Airbags1,067 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
- NHTSA 17V024000Jan 10, 2017Airbags654,695 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
2008 Ford Ranger fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 20 MPG
- Combined
- 17 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Ford Ranger reliable?
- Among 17 model years of the Ranger, 2008 ranks 3rd worst with a complaint index of 88 and an Avoid verdict, driven almost entirely by airbag complaints.
- What is the main problem with the 2008 Ford Ranger?
- Airbags account for 90% of the 326 complaints filed, including reports of frontal airbags failing to deploy in crashes at 35 to 45 mph.
- Does the 2008 Ford Ranger have a recall?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2008 Ranger, including 2 do-not-drive recalls covering airbag inflators and modules.
- How many complaints does NHTSA have on file for the 2008 Ford Ranger?
- NHTSA lists 326 complaints for the 2008 Ford Ranger, with airbags making up 295 of them.
- What is the median mileage for airbag failures on the 2008 Ford Ranger?
- Owners reported airbag-related failures at a median mileage of 79,000 miles.