2010 Ford Ranger Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
36/100
#8 most-complained of 12 Ranger years
The 2010 Ford Ranger ranks 8th worst out of 12 model years, with a Complaint Index of 36 and a 'Good' verdict relative to other Ranger years. Airbags dominate complaints (128 of 156, 82% share), but crash and injury counts stay low.
- Complaints
- 156
- Recalls
- 8
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 6 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17.5
- 15.5 city / 21 hwy
Top 2010 Ford Ranger problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags128 (82%)
- Engine9 (6%)
- Structure & Body8 (5%)
- Brakes4 (3%)
- Electrical System4 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (3%)
- Fuel System3 (2%)
- HVAC1 (1%)
- Other1 (1%)
- Seat Belts1 (1%)
What owners report
- Drivers report the driver-side or passenger airbag failing to deploy in moderate-speed crashes, including one at 30 mph and another at roughly 60 mph.
- Owners describe a Takata-related airbag deployment that caused broken bones and other injuries after a single-vehicle crash.
- Several owners note a high-frequency vibration felt through the steering wheel and floor that numbs the hands during extended highway driving.
- One owner reports the tailgate completely detached while being opened at very low mileage, and the dealer could not repair it.
- Owners describe intermittent unintended acceleration at low speeds, sometimes requiring hard braking to stop, that dealers were unable to duplicate.
- One owner reports the accelerator pedal sticking while backing up at 2 mph, requiring braking pressure to stop the vehicle.
2010 Ford Ranger recalls
8 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:driver side:inflator module
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 19V001000Jan 7, 2019Airbags782,384 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of 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, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of 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." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and 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: 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. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
2010 Ford Ranger fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15.5 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 17.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,700
- 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.
2010 compared with other Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Ford Ranger reliable?
- Among the 12 Ranger model years with data, 2010 ranks 8th worst with a Complaint Index of 36, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other years of this model.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Ford Ranger?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 128 of 156 complaints (82%), with a median failure mileage of 73,000 miles.
- Does the 2010 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2010 Ranger, including 3 do-not-drive airbag recalls, plus separate recalls for a fuel line issue and a parking brake cable disconnection.
- How does the 2010 Ranger compare to the 2011 and 2019 Ranger?
- The 2011 Ranger has a Complaint Index of 82 and is rated 'Avoid,' and the 2019 Ranger has an index of 91 and is also rated 'Avoid,' both worse than the 2010's index of 36.