FORD RANGER · model year

2019 FORD RANGER

313 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports, and 11 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2019FORDRANGER carries 313 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 3/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2019 RANGER is power train with 73 filings, followed by electrical system (33) and unknown or other (32). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 11 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2019 RANGER, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

313
Complaints
20
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
2019 FORD RANGER — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2019 FORD RANGER. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 3.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

313 filings

Crashes Reported

20 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 — Strong NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 3/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN73
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM33
UNKNOWN OR OTHER32
ENGINE22
SERVICE BRAKES18
EXTERIOR LIGHTING14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9
SUSPENSION9
VISIBILITY/WIPER8
SEATS7
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM6
SEAT BELTS5
STEERING5
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:AIR HANDLER/CHAMBER, DUCTS, AND VALVES5

Recalls (11)

25V44200027/06/2025

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, 2021-2

23V37900026/05/2023

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

19V83900021/11/2019

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger trucks. The inline electrical connector terminals for the rear lights may be misaligned or not properly seated, potentially causing the rear lights to function intermittently or not at all.

21V81100015/10/2021

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Ford Ranger Super Cab vehicles. The front passenger outboard seat belt may not have been assembled properly, allowing the seat belt to be misrouted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety

19V36600013/05/2019

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger vehicles. The fasteners that attach the transmission shifter cable bracket to the transmission may loosen allowing the transmission to be in a different gear than indicated by the gear shift lever position.

25V68500010/10/2025

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 t

19V72600010/10/2019

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger vehicles. The Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor may electrically short.

19V51800010/07/2019

SEAT BELTS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ford Ranger vehicles with a SuperCab body style. The front passenger seat belt may have been improperly assembled.

20V13700009/03/2020

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger vehicles previously repaired under recall 19V-726. The service replacement Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor that was installed may have an improper clearance between an electrical terminal and the conductive bas

25V57200004/09/2025

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 distort

19V07100001/02/2019

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ranger vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. In some of these vehicles, the transmission shift lever can be moved from the "Park" position without the key in the starting system and without depressing the brake pedal. As a resu

Recent Complaints

20260127POWER TRAIN

The vehicle is experiencing a severe power train failure involving erratic and violent gear selection. The transmission unexpectedly jumps from 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear directly up to 7th or 8th gear, resulting in a total loss of acceleration. This is immediately followed by the transmission "slamming" down into lower gears, usually 1st or 2nd gear without driver input. This behavior is accompanied by a strong burning smell and a dashboard "wrench" warning light. The symptoms match the manufacturing defect documented in Ford TSB 24-2101 (CDF clutch drum). Diagnosis & Manufacturer Response: The issue began in October 2025 with a noticeable transmission shudder. I paid for two transmission flushes at Big O Tires to attempt to resolve the issue, but the mechanical failure has since escalated. When the "wrench" light appeared, an independent diagnostic computer was unable to retrieve an error code, as the light is a proprietary Ford powertrain indicator. Furthermore, the wrench light clears

20260127FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

The vehicle is experiencing a severe power train failure involving erratic and violent gear selection. The transmission unexpectedly jumps from 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear directly up to 7th or 8th gear, resulting in a total loss of acceleration. This is immediately followed by the transmission "slamming" down into lower gears, usually 1st or 2nd gear without driver input. This behavior is accompanied by a strong burning smell and a dashboard "wrench" warning light. The symptoms match the manufacturing defect documented in Ford TSB 24-2101 (CDF clutch drum). Diagnosis & Manufacturer Response: The issue began in October 2025 with a noticeable transmission shudder. I paid for two transmission flushes at Big O Tires to attempt to resolve the issue, but the mechanical failure has since escalated. When the "wrench" light appeared, an independent diagnostic computer was unable to retrieve an error code, as the light is a proprietary Ford powertrain indicator. Furthermore, the wrench light clears

20260127FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

The vehicle is experiencing a severe power train failure involving erratic and violent gear selection. The transmission unexpectedly jumps from 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear directly up to 7th or 8th gear, resulting in a total loss of acceleration. This is immediately followed by the transmission "slamming" down into lower gears, usually 1st or 2nd gear without driver input. This behavior is accompanied by a strong burning smell and a dashboard "wrench" warning light. The symptoms match the manufacturing defect documented in Ford TSB 24-2101 (CDF clutch drum). Diagnosis & Manufacturer Response: The issue began in October 2025 with a noticeable transmission shudder. I paid for two transmission flushes at Big O Tires to attempt to resolve the issue, but the mechanical failure has since escalated. When the "wrench" light appeared, an independent diagnostic computer was unable to retrieve an error code, as the light is a proprietary Ford powertrain indicator. Furthermore, the wrench light clears

20260109POWER TRAIN

The transmission stutters at sustained modest speed (25-45 mph). It was taken to the dealer, who determined it was affected by tsb 25-2134. This is a widely known issue and the dealer refused any servicing without payment. This should have been a recall, since hundreds of known issues in and out of warranty have occurred.

20260102POWER TRAIN

The automatic transmission and related transmission control system malfunctioned. The vehicle experienced improper shifting and loss of gears, including a condition in which 4th gear is disabled due to a failsafe logic triggered by the transmission control module. The vehicle and all affected components are currently available for inspection upon request and are at a Ford-authorized dealership. This malfunction posed a safety risk because the vehicle was unable to shift normally or maintain consistent acceleration. The unpredictable shifting and loss of gears could create hazardous situations when merging, accelerating, or driving at highway speeds, potentially endangering the driver and others. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a Ford dealership. After inspection and diagnostic testing, the dealership advised that the transmission requires replacement. The vehicle has been inspected by a Ford-authorized dealer. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer directly,

20251222UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2019 ford ranger, 74,000 miles On way to pick up girlfriends engagement ring…. The truck started jerking, loosing power, no engine light came on. Turned around to go home and drive about 8 miles under 45 mph.Then truck started jerking again , like transmission issue. Engine light and tool wrench came on. As I was pulling in driveway, truck went into “limp” mode. Had it towed to Gullo Ford Conroe. Now they are saying need new transmission due to Internal transmission failure! Shouldn’t Ford. Over this! Only 60,000 mile warranty.

20251219SUSPENSION

During a PA State inspection, a leaf spring was discovered to be broken.

20251211VISIBILITY/WIPER

The climate control system on my 2019 Ford Ranger has a recurring failure that prevents the vehicle from properly adjusting temperature or directing air through the vents. The failure causes a constant clicking/snapping noise behind the dashboard, and the blend door does not move when the temperature is changed. This malfunction matches Ford’s published SSM 49264, which identifies a known defect in 2019–2020 Rangers built on or before 7/30/2020 and states that the entire HVAC housing assembly must be replaced. This issue creates a safety hazard because the truck cannot reliably defrost the windshield in cold or wet weather. Loss of defrosting capability severely limits visibility and makes safe operation of the vehicle difficult. The issue is reproducible every time the temperature is adjusted. The problem began when the vehicle was still within the original mileage window of the factory warranty, but the dealership did not repair it. Ford has confirmed the malfunction is caused

20251211ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The climate control system on my 2019 Ford Ranger has a recurring failure that prevents the vehicle from properly adjusting temperature or directing air through the vents. The failure causes a constant clicking/snapping noise behind the dashboard, and the blend door does not move when the temperature is changed. This malfunction matches Ford’s published SSM 49264, which identifies a known defect in 2019–2020 Rangers built on or before 7/30/2020 and states that the entire HVAC housing assembly must be replaced. This issue creates a safety hazard because the truck cannot reliably defrost the windshield in cold or wet weather. Loss of defrosting capability severely limits visibility and makes safe operation of the vehicle difficult. The issue is reproducible every time the temperature is adjusted. The problem began when the vehicle was still within the original mileage window of the factory warranty, but the dealership did not repair it. Ford has confirmed the malfunction is caused

20251211UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The climate control system on my 2019 Ford Ranger has a recurring failure that prevents the vehicle from properly adjusting temperature or directing air through the vents. The failure causes a constant clicking/snapping noise behind the dashboard, and the blend door does not move when the temperature is changed. This malfunction matches Ford’s published SSM 49264, which identifies a known defect in 2019–2020 Rangers built on or before 7/30/2020 and states that the entire HVAC housing assembly must be replaced. This issue creates a safety hazard because the truck cannot reliably defrost the windshield in cold or wet weather. Loss of defrosting capability severely limits visibility and makes safe operation of the vehicle difficult. The issue is reproducible every time the temperature is adjusted. The problem began when the vehicle was still within the original mileage window of the factory warranty, but the dealership did not repair it. Ford has confirmed the malfunction is caused

20251211POWER TRAIN

Transmission shifting issues. Will shift out of gear or delay shifting several seconds and sometimes limited power. The 1080r 10 speed transmission has a know design flaw that was finally fixed in 2023. My 2019 is now having the issue and is $8000 to fix for a bushing that moves out of place

20251210POWER TRAIN

Truck looses gear when pulling into traffic. It will shift out of gear and only allow coasting. At speeds of 40 MPH and higher it will down shift causing dramatic reduced speed with no brake warning to other drivers behind. It will also randomly loose power. It will have delayed shifts squealing tires upon shifting and excessive jerking that is uncontrollable.

20251210VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Truck looses gear when pulling into traffic. It will shift out of gear and only allow coasting. At speeds of 40 MPH and higher it will down shift causing dramatic reduced speed with no brake warning to other drivers behind. It will also randomly loose power. It will have delayed shifts squealing tires upon shifting and excessive jerking that is uncontrollable.

20251210ENGINE

Truck looses gear when pulling into traffic. It will shift out of gear and only allow coasting. At speeds of 40 MPH and higher it will down shift causing dramatic reduced speed with no brake warning to other drivers behind. It will also randomly loose power. It will have delayed shifts squealing tires upon shifting and excessive jerking that is uncontrollable.

20251206POWER TRAIN

I have had my 2019 Ford Ranger in for service to address issues with the transmission on 3 different occasions starting in Fall of 2023. Each time paying $106 for the deductible on the warranty to service a "Technical Service Bulletin" (TSB). Each time, being told of a different TSB that they would be addressing. Never addressing them all at the same time. In May of 2025, still experiencing the same/similar issues, I brought in in again only to be told that there was a TSB that they did not service, that my warranty had expired. Upon searching the internet, there are many people reporting similar issues with a similar response from Ford. I have spoken to multiple dealerships as well as reached out to Ford car with little to no response.

20251205UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Repeated failure of HVAC system, even after repairs, leads to not only a very cold truck in January in Maine, but inability to defrost the windshield and keep it defrosted. Repairs have been made in January 2025, April 2025, and now has to be repaired again in December 2025. My independent service provider who subscribes to OEM Ford subscriptions, was not made aware of an "internal" service memo until now. Neither from the subscription services or from contacts at a Ford dealer where he resourced parts and repair info. SSM 51313 indicates a different repair than was made on the previous two attempts. These repairs require the disassembly and reassembly of the instrument panel and are very expensive - especially when not apprised of correct. Now the SSM indicates a complete housing replacement to correct the defective part. See attached forms.

20251205SUSPENSION

On November 7th. 2025, I took my Ranger to my mechanic for it's yearly emissions and inspection, to have the tires rotated and brakes changed. He called me later that day and had sent me pictures of BOTH rear leaf springs broken off from the under carriage. He stated that he could not tell how long they were like this and asked if I had any issues driving. I did not notice any noise or driving issues. He stated that he is shocked that I did not wreak the truck by loosing control because it should have caused my rear to be bouncing all over. He contacted FORD and asked if there was a recall on them and was told "No". He then instructed me to file a complaint with you. He ordered the parts and replaced fixed the issue.

20251203ENGINE

Hood/cowling along the windshield allows water to leak under the hood of the vehicle and wets the coils and plugs causing the engine to mis fire and shutter violently. This engine mis fire and sudden lack of power can cause the vehicle to obstruct the flow of traffic resulting in an accident. Problem was reproduced by the dealer and they replace coils, plugs, and installed an accessory engine cover to prevent the issue in the future. All at my cost. The problem remains that there are many Ford Rangers on the road unaware of this problem. This problem is documented in a Ford TSB but a more aggressive approaching is needed to resolve this issue.

20251203ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Hood/cowling along the windshield allows water to leak under the hood of the vehicle and wets the coils and plugs causing the engine to mis fire and shutter violently. This engine mis fire and sudden lack of power can cause the vehicle to obstruct the flow of traffic resulting in an accident. Problem was reproduced by the dealer and they replace coils, plugs, and installed an accessory engine cover to prevent the issue in the future. All at my cost. The problem remains that there are many Ford Rangers on the road unaware of this problem. This problem is documented in a Ford TSB but a more aggressive approaching is needed to resolve this issue.

20251203STRUCTURE:BODY

Hood/cowling along the windshield allows water to leak under the hood of the vehicle and wets the coils and plugs causing the engine to mis fire and shutter violently. This engine mis fire and sudden lack of power can cause the vehicle to obstruct the flow of traffic resulting in an accident. Problem was reproduced by the dealer and they replace coils, plugs, and installed an accessory engine cover to prevent the issue in the future. All at my cost. The problem remains that there are many Ford Rangers on the road unaware of this problem. This problem is documented in a Ford TSB but a more aggressive approaching is needed to resolve this issue.

Compare 2019FORDRANGER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2019 FORD RANGER have?
The 2019 FORD RANGER has 313 NHTSA complaints, 20 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2019 FORD RANGER?
The 2019 FORD RANGER received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 3/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2019 FORD RANGER?
Yes, the 2019 FORD RANGER has 11 recall(s). The most common affected component is BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 FORD RANGER?
The most-complained component for the 2019 FORD RANGER is POWER TRAIN with 73 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2019 FORD RANGER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2019 FORD RANGER has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.