RecallMyCar

2021 Ford Ranger Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 2021 Ford Ranger, and owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
117
owner complaints to NHTSA
6 / 3
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–23
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 2021 Ford Ranger

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Engine block heater (equipment)

    NHTSA 25V685000 Reported 59,006 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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 to short circuit when the block heater…

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater…

  2. Software (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 25V442000 Reported 200,237 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024…

    Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is…

  3. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 23V379000 Reported 29,607 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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 the requirements of Federal Motor…

    Remedy: Ford will mail a new TREAD label to install over the existing label, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the new label installed, free of charge.…

  4. Radar (forward collision avoidance) and automatic emergency braking (forward collision avoidance)

    NHTSA 21V982000 Reported 839 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.

    Remedy: Dealers will adjust the angle of the cruise control radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…

  5. Webbing (seat belts)

    NHTSA 21V811000 Reported 47,683 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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 Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash…

    Remedy: Ford will provide owners with instructions to perform a preliminary inspection of their front seat belts. Owners that detect an issue with the driver's seat belt, are unsure of the results, or do not want to perform an…

  6. Vehicle latch anchor (child seat) and mid/rear assembly (seats)

    NHTSA 21V765000 Reported 37,625 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Ranger Super Cab vehicles equipped with rear seats containing fixed head restraints. The fixed head restraints may interfere with proper installation of certain types of child seats. Additionally, the child seat may not attach properly to the lower-rear anchors. As such, these…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear-lower child restraint anchorages for correct alignment and adjust as necessary. Separately, dealers will replace the non-removable head restraints with removable head restraints, free of…

117 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2021 Ford Ranger have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 9 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 38,907 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 30 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I was parking the truck and I put it in reverse and no reverse whatsoever. I put it and drive them back and reverse nothing. I put it in park turned it off restarted it and reverse worked took it to t”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 1, 2026 · Power train

“The 2021 Ford Ranger Lariat , mileage 42,362 would not go into reverse, the wrench was lit up on dash. Shut Truck off it cleared the code, immediately took it to Ford dealer. Was sent home because the”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 30, 2026 · Power train

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2021 Ford Ranger (Ranger 2WD, Ranger 2WD Incomplete, Ranger 4WD, Ranger Tremor 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–23 mpg
City / Highway19–21 / 18–26
FuelRegular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 2.3 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S10)

Compare Ford Ranger model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Ranger model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1978 Ford Ranger01
1979 Ford Ranger01
1983 Ford Ranger511
1984 Ford Ranger612
1985 Ford Ranger127
1986 Ford Ranger435
1987 Ford Ranger450
1988 Ford Ranger189
1989 Ford Ranger173
1990 Ford Ranger3105
1991 Ford Ranger2132
1992 Ford Ranger2189
1993 Ford Ranger3232
1994 Ford Ranger4438
1995 Ford Ranger1321
1996 Ford Ranger2413
1997 Ford Ranger1411
1998 Ford Ranger5576
1999 Ford Ranger4755
2000 Ford Ranger3670
2001 Ford Ranger4515
2002 Ford Ranger3346
2003 Ford Ranger1243
2004 Ford Ranger10404
2005 Ford Ranger9289
2006 Ford Ranger12271
2007 Ford Ranger5270
2008 Ford Ranger5326
2009 Ford Ranger7169
2010 Ford Ranger8156
2011 Ford Ranger5235
2014 Ford Ranger01
2016 Ford Ranger01
2017 Ford Ranger01
2019 Ford Ranger11268
2020 Ford Ranger7129
2021 Ford Ranger6117
2022 Ford Ranger537
2023 Ford Ranger418
2024 Ford Ranger1386
2025 Ford Ranger1343
2026 Ford Ranger87

Checking a specific 2021 Ford Ranger

How do I know if my 2021 Ford Ranger has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2021 Ford Ranger; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V765000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.