YearToAvoid

2021 Ford Ranger Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 15 brake complaints for the 2021 Ford Ranger, 13% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 11,954 miles. No related brake recall is listed for this model year.

Brakes complaints
15
13% of 114
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
11,954 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe a soft or mushy brake pedal that needs to be pumped once or twice before it firms up.
  • Multiple drivers report the brake pedal sitting close to or below the accelerator pedal, causing the foot to catch both pedals at once.
  • Some owners say the brake pedal travels far toward the floor before any resistance is felt, raising concern about stopping distance.
  • One owner reported rear brake rotors rusted through at low mileage with a soft pedal as the first sign.
  • A few owners report dealers inspecting the brakes and finding no fault, with the abnormal sound or soft pedal recurring afterward.
  • One owner mentions being told a brake bleed software procedure tied to a technical bulletin addresses the soft pedal issue.

When 2021 Ford Ranger brake complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 25, 2021, latest Jun 2, 2026.

2021 Ford Ranger brakes complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2021Oct 2021Dec 2022Feb 2023Nov 2023Aug 2024Jun 2026
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2021 to Jun 2026; peak Dec 2021 (2).

Brakes recalls for the 2021 Ford Ranger

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Ranger model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20104 (3%)
  2. 20118 (3%)
  3. 20140 (0%)
  4. 20160 (0%)
  5. 20170 (0%)
  6. 201922 (8%)
  7. 20209 (7%)
  8. 202115 (13%)
  9. 20223 (8%)
  10. 20233 (17%)
  11. 20247 (8%)
  12. 20257 (18%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2021 Ford Ranger have?
NHTSA lists 15 brake complaints for the 2021 Ranger, which is 13% of the 114 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2021 Ford Ranger?
No related brake recall is listed in NHTSA data for the 2021 Ford Ranger.
At what mileage do 2021 Ranger brake problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure among reported brake complaints is 11,954 miles.
What is the most common brake complaint on the 2021 Ranger?
The most frequently described issue is a soft or mushy brake pedal, sometimes paired with the pedal sitting too close to the accelerator.
Have the 2021 Ranger brake issues caused crashes?
NHTSA data for this model year and problem area lists 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries.

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.