2022 Ford Ranger Problems And Complaints

Ford Ranger Problems

The Ford Ranger was launched in 2019 and has seen some issues crop up in the subsequent model years. The 2019 Ranger was notorious for electrical issues and headlights. The 2020 and the 2021 Ranger reduced the number of complaints drastically but added some new ones on top. Some of the most common issues faced by the owners are:

Electrical issues:

1. HVAC issues: The HVAC unit in the 2019 Ford Ranger gives out a strong burning smell. The issue is reported by many people and has been reported to the manufacturer as well. Complainants say that the issue is the most prevalent in areas with hotter temperatures. 
2. Trailer brake issues: The trailer brake system in the Ranger is reported to not detect any hooked trailer. This disengages the whole system and causes difficulty in handling the truck. There are visual and audible warnings of the same inside the cabin.
3. Horn issues: Several 2019 Ranger owners have complained about the horn not blowing at the first press. They had to continuously press the horn for it to sound, causing a distraction while driving. 
4. Door ajar warning malfunction: Many 2020 and 2021 Ranger owners have reported warning chimes of the door ajar warning system. The system shows the rear driver-side door to be ajar, even if it is closed, and sends a chime. This chime causes a distraction while driving. 
5. Rodent attraction: People have reported rodents chewing up the soy-based coat of the wiring harness. This has led to a lot of electrical issues later. Although isolated to some areas, the issue is very prevalent and is bound to cause crashes.

Mechanical issues:

1. ECM issues: Many 2019 Ranger owners have complained of the ECM malfunctioning. This has resulted in the truck stalling out and increasing the risk of a rear-end collision. The owners had to get their truck reprogrammed for the ECM to work fine.
2. Engine oil mixing with fuel: People have repeatedly complained of the truck’s fuel leaking into the engine and mixing with the engine oil. This issue has resulted in the truck stalling out while moving. Some complainants have also reported complete engine failure due to this. These complainants had to get their engines replaced by local Ford dealerships.
3. Transmission jerking issue: Many Ranger owners have complained of the gearbox jerking while shifting or while coming to a stop. Complainants have also claimed that the gearbox has a delay in gear shifting as well. This leads to the revs climbing unnecessarily and causes distraction. 
4. Gear slipping: Owners have complained of the gearbox slipping out from Park. This causes the truck to roll back on a slope, or cause unintended movement. The issue has caused injuries to the people walking behind the truck.
5. Brake failure: People have complained of the 2019 Ranger losing brake pressure in its pedals, causing the pedal to be spongy. This issue has resulted in several collisions and injured occupants as well.

Exterior issues:

1. Lighting issues: People are constantly complaining of the blinkers and the lights going off without warning. There have also been issues with the headlights flashing when the truck is started. These issues cause a reduction in visibility and might result in a crash. 
2. Abnormal tire wear: Several 2020 Ranger owners have complained of abnormal wear of the insides of the front tire. The alignment of the wheels was reported to be okay and have no issues.
3. Windshield distortions: All the 2021 Ranger pickups have some fun-house-like distortions that make it difficult to look out of the window. These distortions cause a lot of distraction, while also inciting nausea in some cases.

Ford Ranger Recalls

The Ford Ranger’s current generation had been on sale since 2019. Since then the truck has been recalled 14 times for varying issues, with the 2019 model year carrying the most in the tally. The subsequent model years saw a drop in the recalls, with zero recalls for the 2022 model year yet. The latest recall for the truck was made on December 16, 2021, with NHTSA Campaign Number 21V982000. 

Ford Motor Company recalled 839 potentially affected units of the 2021 Ranger and the 2021 Bronco for an issue in the Forward Collision Avoidance system. In these units, the front cruise control radar was not aligned properly. This could result in the vehicles not maintaining proper distance from the vehicle in the front. Additionally, the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) may malfunction. Either case increases the risk of a crash. The dealers aligned the radar unit properly, free of charge. A summary of the other recalls is given below:

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks
1.	February 1, 2019	19V071000	Powertrain	The gearbox can be shifted from Park without any key or depressing the brake pedal, causing unintentional movement and increasing the risk of a crash/injury. The affected units also fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection”.
2.	May 13, 2019	19V366000	Powertrain	Discrepancy between the gear displayed in the instrument cluster and the gear engaged may cause unintended movement, increasing the risk of an injury/crash.
3.	July 10, 2019	19V518000	Seatbelts	Improperly assembled front passenger seatbelt may not restrain the occupant properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
4.	October 10, 2019	19V726000	Visibility	Electric short of the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor increases the risk of a fire.
5.	November 21, 2019	19V839000	Exterior Lighting	Misalignment of the inline electrical connector terminals for the rear lights may cause the lights to turn off, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
6.	March 9, 2020	20V137000	Visibility	Improper clearance of the HVAC motor replaced in a recall (NHTSA Campaign Number 19V726000) may cause a resistive electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
7.	April 3, 2020	20V197000	Powertrain	Discrepancy between the gear selected and the gear engaged may cause unintended movement, increasing the risk of an injury/crash.
8.	September 23, 2020	20V575000	Visibility	Distorted rear view image due to a poor electrical connection reduces rearward visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected units also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility”.
9.	September 30, 2021	21V765000	Seats	Interference in installing a child seat due to fixed headrests increases the risk of injury in a crash. The affected units also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage System”.
10.	October 15, 2021	21V811000	Seatbelts	Improperly assembled front passenger outboard seatbelt may not route properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The affected units also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies”.
11.	December 16, 2021	21V982000	Forward Collision Avoidance	Misaligned cruise control radar module may not maintain distance from the vehicle in front. Additionally, this might interfere with proper functioning of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system, increasing the risk of a crash.

Model Years	Exterior Lighting	Forward Collision Avoidance	Powertrain	Seatbelts	Seats	Visibility
2019	1	0	2	2	0	2
2020	0	0	1	2	1	0
2021	0	1	0	1	1	0
2022	0	0	0	0	0	0

What model year of the Ford Ranger should you avoid?

The Ford Ranger is a very smartly-placed product in the American carmaker’s line-up. It caters to a stratum that needs a capable truck but finds the F-150 a bit too much for their use. The Ranger has seen a very positive reception since its launch in the American market. The initial model year, though, has been criticized for all the rough edges the carmaker left on the truck. As things stand, we’d avoid the 2019 Ranger and would go for the 2020 model year and above.

Should you buy the 2022 Ford Ranger?

The 2022 Ford Ranger has had zero recalls and user complaints registered on the NHTSA, yet. It has also been revised since the last model year and does not carry any of the reported issues of the previous model years. The practicality and overall performance of the truck remain the same, giving it our recommendation for being at the top of our list!