NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls and 289 owner complaints for the 2005 Ford Ranger. Most complaints involve air bags (132) and structure (34). The EPA rates it 15–23 mpg combined.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Ranger model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 430 |
| 1997 | 427 |
| 1998 | 597 |
| 1999 | 785 |
| 2000 | 729 |
| 2001 | 558 |
| 2002 | 389 |
| 2003 | 243 |
| 2004 | 405 |
| 2005 | 289 |
| 2006 | 272 |
| 2007 | 270 |
| 2008 | 326 |
| 2009 | 169 |
| 2010 | 164 |
| 2011 | 235 |
| 2019 | 272 |
| 2020 | 130 |
| 2021 | 119 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 97 |
| 2025 | 45 |
| 2026 | 0 |
“The contact owned a 2005 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle was rear-ended by a driver who ran the stop sign. The impact caused the vehicle to flip over multiple times. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact suffered severe head trauma and PTSD from the accident. It was unknown if the other driver sustained any injuries. The contact was taken to the local hospital where medical attention was received for his injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local salvage junkyard. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number 23V306000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The VIN was not available.”
“THE REAR PORTION OF THE FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY AND THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET CAUSING THE BED OF THE TRUCK TO FALL ONTO THE BUSTED SHACKLE. THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT IS RUSTED SO BAD THAT WE REMOVED THE SPARE TIRE TO AVOID LOOSING THE SPARE WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR BUMPER SEEMS UNSTABLE AS THE FRAME IS RUSTED AND FALLING APART FROM THE REAR SHACKLE MOUNT ON BACK. THE FRONT PORTION OF THE FRAME SEEMS TO BE HOLDING UP OK.”
“FIRST TIME WE WERE SHOPPING, WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR IT WOULDN'T START. WE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP? WHEN IT HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME WE WERE DRIVING WHEN ENGINE SHUT OFF,WE WERE ON A DIRT ROAD HAD NO POWER STEERING,NO POWER BRAKES ONLY GOING 20 MPH.THE SHOP TOLD US THAT IT WAS THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE IN CASE OF A CRASH. I PURCHASED THE RANGER 5/30/13 FROM A FORD DEALER.OVER THE PAST YEAR THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED 8 TO 10 TIMES.WE ON A WENT TRIP LAST WEEKEND IT HAPPEN TWO TIMES ON I 84 IN IDAHO WE WERE GOING 75 MPH. I DID GET THE TRUCK OFF THE FREEWAY BUT WONDER WHAT IF WE WERE IN BOISE OR SALT LAKE WITH ALL OF THE TRAFFIC WHAT MITE HAVE HAPPEN.HAS THIS HAPPEN TO OTHER RANGERS ????? *TR”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger Pickup 2WD Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,800 | 386 |
| Ranger Pickup 2WD Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 24 | 21 | $3,050 | 423 |
| Ranger Pickup 2WD Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | $3,550 | 494 |
| Ranger Pickup 2WD Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | $3,550 | 494 |
| Ranger Pickup 2WD Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | $3,550 | 494 |
| Ranger Pickup 2WD Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | $3,800 | 523 |
| Ranger Pickup 4WD Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 19 | 17 | $3,800 | 523 |
| Ranger Pickup 4WD Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 19 | 16 | $4,000 | 555 |
| Ranger Pickup 4WD Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 16 | $4,000 | 555 |
| Ranger Pickup 4WD Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 17 | 15 | $4,300 | 592 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
11 safety recalls as of Nov 5, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 289 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (132), structure (34), fuel system, gasoline (29). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2005 Ford Ranger at 15–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (10 versions rated).