YearToAvoid

2021 Ford Ranger Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid NHTSA data give the 2021 Ford Ranger a complaint index of 81 and rank 4 of 17 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 50% of reports, with 6 recalls including a cruise control radar and seat belt issue.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
81/100
#4 of 17 Ranger years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
114
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
6
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
6
reported in complaints
Fires
3
Injuries
9
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2023
lowest-risk (no Good/Best year)
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20.5
19.5 city / 21.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0

Top 2021 Ford Ranger problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain57 (50%)
  2. Engine23 (20%)
  3. Brakes15 (13%)
  4. Other13 (11%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras11 (10%)
  6. Electrical System8 (7%)
  7. Fuel System8 (7%)
  8. Structure & Body8 (7%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (4%)
  10. Airbags2 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Transmission slips or jerks during shifting through several gears, sometimes shifting hard on downshifts.
  • Some owners report the vehicle accelerating on its own at low speed while pulling into parking spots, leading to collisions.
  • Engine compartment fires reported while driving or idling, in one case with visible smoke and flames from under the hood.
  • Rear cross-traffic warning failed to alert before backing into a pole, resulting in a crash.
  • Brake pedal required excessive effort to depress with no warning light illuminated.
  • Rear or front door ajar warnings stay on and trigger the alarm even when doors are fully closed.
2021 Ford Ranger complaints: complaints filed per month8Mar 2021Mar 2022Dec 2022Jul 2023Jun 2024Jan 2025Sep 2025Apr 2026
114 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2025 (8).

2021 Ford Ranger recalls

6 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 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.

  3. NHTSA 23V379000May 26, 2023Other29,607 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Bronco, 2023 Super Duty F-250, and 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles. The Tire and Loading Information (TREAD) label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will mail a new TREAD label to install over the existing label, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the new label installed, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C18.

See all 6 recalls for the 2021 Ford Ranger →

2021 Ford Ranger fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19.5 MPG
Highway
21.5 MPG
Combined
20.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
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.

2021 compared with other Ranger years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’14’16’17’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Avoid942671122
2020Caution56127722
2021Avoid81114620.5
2022Avoid10037522
2023Caution19184 !22

All Ford Ranger years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Ford Ranger reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Ranger has a complaint index of 81 and ranks 4th worst out of 17 model years, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Ranger years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2021 Ford Ranger?
Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 50% of complaints, the largest share of any problem area, with a median failure mileage of 32,800 miles reported for the model year overall.
Does the 2021 Ford Ranger have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2021 Ranger, covering a misaligned cruise control radar module, a misrouted front passenger seat belt, rear seat head restraints interfering with child seat anchors, a block heater issue, a rearview camera software update, and a TREAD label error.
How does the 2021 Ranger compare to other Ranger years?
The 2021 model's complaint index of 81 is higher than 2020 (56) and most earlier years, but lower than 2019 (94) and 2022 (100), which also carry Avoid verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Ford Ranger?
EPA rates the 2021 Ranger at 20.5 mpg combined (19.5 city / 21.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.

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.