YearToAvoid

2019 Ford Ranger Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

91/100

#2 most-complained of 12 Ranger years

The 2019 Ford Ranger has a Complaint Index of 91, the second-worst of the 12 model years with data, and carries an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 267 complaints and 11 recalls, with Transmission & Powertrain problems making up 34% of complaints.

Complaints
267
Recalls
11
Crashes / fires
13 / 2
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
20 city / 24 hwy

Top 2019 Ford Ranger problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain92 (34%)
  2. Electrical System50 (19%)
  3. Engine42 (16%)
  4. Other34 (13%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires24 (9%)
  6. Brakes22 (8%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (4%)
  8. HVAC12 (4%)
  9. Structure & Body12 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers12 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal going to the floor with no stopping power, sometimes with the automatic emergency braking system engaged but ineffective.
  • Some owners describe unintended acceleration when depressing the brake pedal, causing the truck to lunge forward at low speed.
  • Owners report an engine compartment fire that occurred while the truck was being flat-towed behind a motorhome.
  • A driver's-side seat belt was reported as possibly misrouted after a low-speed collision, with airbags not deploying.
  • Owners describe a valve cover defect that lets water leak into ignition coils, causing the engine to shut down at highway speeds.
  • One owner reported smoke and burning smell from a heated seat while driving, forcing the vehicle to be pulled over.
2019 Ford Ranger complaints: complaints filed per quarter232019 Q12020 Q12021 Q12022 Q12023 Q12024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
341 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q2 (23).

2019 Ford Ranger recalls

11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V685000Oct 10, 2025Other59,006 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:engine block heater

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

    Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

  2. NHTSA 25V572000Sep 3, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,456,417 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.

  3. NHTSA 25V442000Jun 27, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras200,237 vehicles

    Back over prevention:software

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

    Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

See all 11 recalls for the 2019 Ford Ranger →

2019 Ford Ranger fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
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.

2019 compared with other Ranger years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112014201620172019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016No verdict910—
2017No verdict1810—
2019Avoid912671122
2020Good45127722
2021Caution64114620.5

All Ford Ranger years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Ford Ranger reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2019 Ranger has a Complaint Index of 91, ranking 2nd-worst among the 12 Ranger model years with data, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Ranger years.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA data shows Transmission & Powertrain issues lead with 92 complaints (34% share), followed by Electrical System problems (50 complaints, 19%) and Engine issues (42 complaints, 16%).
Does the 2019 Ford Ranger have brake problems?
NHTSA lists 22 brake-related complaints for the 2019 Ranger, tied to 5 crashes, with a median mileage at failure of just 1,323 miles, suggesting issues appeared very early in ownership.
How many recalls does the 2019 Ford Ranger have?
NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2019 Ranger, covering areas including HVAC blower motors, rear light electrical connectors, seat belts, and rearview camera software, none classified as do-not-drive.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Ford Ranger?
EPA rates the 2019 Ranger at 22 mpg combined (20 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.