The best and worst Ford Ranger years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Ford Rangers old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2012 and 2020–2022 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2008 has the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2008 Ford Ranger · 48.3 per 10,000 sold (1.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 79,000 miles; then body and panel corrosion.
Years with the fewest complaints
2012 Ford Ranger · 0.0 per 10,000 sold (0.0× this model’s typical year)
2020 Ford Ranger · 12.5 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Harsh, delayed or erratic shifting, typically around 85,000 miles.
2021 Ford Ranger · 11.8 per 10,000 sold (0.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Harsh, delayed or erratic shifting, typically around 79,000 miles.
2022 Ford Ranger · 6.5 per 10,000 sold (0.2× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Body control and other modules.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Ford Ranger year: 27.7 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Ford Ranger?
Among Ford Rangers old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2008 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 48.3, about 1.7× a typical Ford Ranger year.
What is the best year for the Ford Ranger?
The 2012 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Ford Rangers from 2005–2022: 0.0, against 27.7 for a typical year. The 2020–2022 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2008 Ford Ranger?
The most-reported problem on the 2008 Ford Ranger is airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 79,000 miles.
Why aren't the newest Ford Ranger years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.