Problems · NHTSA complaints

2020 Ford Ranger problems

Owners filed 130 complaints about the 2020 Ford Ranger with NHTSA between Feb 2020 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is power train (49).

Complaints
130
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train49
  2. Engine16
  3. Electrical system11
  4. Service brakes9
  5. Forward collision avoidance7
  6. Seat belts6
  7. Exterior lighting6
  8. Vehicle speed control6
  9. Visibility/wiper5
  10. Suspension5
  11. Back over prevention5
  12. Visibility5
  13. Structure5
  14. Air bags3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20209
202114
20229
202316
202426
202532
202624

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

49 reports1 related recall
“Supposedly, Ford knows that the 10-speed transmission has problems and they have done stuff for the F-150 models, but they aren't doing nothing for the Ranger models. Transmission slips and eventually fails causing a very expensive replacement”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2026Power trainODI 11768858

Engine

16 reports
“Coolant intrusion defect that affects other 4 cyl ecoboost Ford engines occurred on this regularly serviced per Ford recommendations vehicle as well. Engine failure at highway speeds could cause a severe accident as the engine can seize when coolant mixes with the oil. The vehicle has been inspected by a Ford dealership. The only warning sign that there was a problem was a coolant temperature threshold exceeded warning.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2026EngineODI 11753512

Electrical system

11 reports
“I bought the 4x4 Ford Ranger specifically to be towed behind my motor home and followed the directions on how to set up the Flat-tow feature that allows the Ranger to be towed behind my motorhome. I had traveled to a number of Good Same Rallys without any trouble with the Ranger. I use it also as my main vehicle at home to go to store, church etc. On my last trip to Branson, MO while coming home there was a noise that sounded like my brakes on the Ranger were locked up. I took my foot off the gas pedal and it stopped, I proceeded on home when it did this several times. Each time it would stop. I got home disconnected the Ranger and it started fine, I drove it almost 200 miles when I began to notice a jerking from the transmission and took it to my dealer. They proceeded to check it out and told me that the transmission and universal were bad and needed to be replaced at a 17k price. According to the computer readout my battery had failed 2 times. HOW CAN A BATTERY FAIL TWO TIME??? Apparently this caused my flat tow in nuetral tow to go into normal range and at that time made my truck act like it was in normal range, towing a dead truck. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2025Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11693049

Service brakes

9 reports3 crashes
“On more than one occasion but still infrequently, I have been coming to a stop and while braking, the engine revs and lurches forward while I'm attempting to stop. It is rare that it happens but it is very scary when it does happen. No warning lights appear. I have submitted a request to the dealer who sold us the truck. But it happens to infrequently that it would be difficult to reproduced by a dealer. It has happened approximately 5 times since purchasing the vehicle in December 2020. Approximate date of most recent event below.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2025Service brakes, EngineODI 11675521

Forward collision avoidance

7 reports2 crashes
“1. Transmission is going out dealership never said a word about the 6 recalls on it one being transmission 2. Front seat belts are in backwards and the child safety hook in back seat has a recall on it that the 3 of the 6 I know of Ford had told alm to replace the entire transmission before they ever sold it they did not do that they didn't take care of any of the recalls”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2026Power train, Seat belts, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11756331

Seat belts

6 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while parking and removing the seat belt, the belt retracted quickly wrapping around their child's neck. The contact was able to stop the vehicle and release the child; however, the seat belt still failed to retract properly. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2024Seat beltsODI 11586126
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.