
2020 Ford RANGER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2020 Ford RANGER has 146 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: when you make the changes or you're stopping, you hit the transmission. talk to other owners. they have the same problem, and the dealer says that everything is fine. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
146
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TRANSMISSION
41 complaints- • WHEN YOU MAKE THE CHANGES OR YOU'RE STOPPING, YOU HIT THE TRANSMISSION. TALK TO OTHER OWNERS. THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE
- • The transmission has several issues, hard shifting, shuddering and shaking but the one issue I know is a safety issue is the lunging. When moving the shifter from Park to drive, my truck has lunges, 3 different times now. If my foot wasn’t securely and pressing firmly on the brake I could of been pr
- • Since purchase I have been experiencing problems due due a poorly built transmission. The 10R80 transmission has been the opposite of what I expected when purchasing a new vehicle. I have experienced extremely harsh up-shifting and downshifting, as well as slipping gears while in motion which causes
“WHEN YOU MAKE THE CHANGES OR YOU'RE STOPPING, YOU HIT THE TRANSMISSION. TALK TO OTHER OWNERS. THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
16 complaints- • WHEN I START THE CAR, IT MAKES A RATTLE NOISE AND WHEN THE ENGINE WARMS UP, IT GOES AWAY, BUT EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE, YOU CAN HEAR THE RATTLE AGAIN AND WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATION PEDAL, THE RATTLE GOES AWAY AND LIKE THAT EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND E
- • MY TRUCK(2020 FORD RANGER) HAS FUEL CONTAMINATION IN THE ENGINE OIL. I CHANGED THE OIL FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE TRUCK HAD 860 MILES ON IT. THE OIL REEKED OF GASOLINE WHEN I CHANGED IT. I SENT THE OIL INTO BLACKSTONE FOR ANALYSIS AND THE RESULTS SHOWED A 4.3% FUEL DILUTION OF THE OIL, WHICH ACCORD
- • Exactly what is described in TSB 22-2025 and 21-2147. Ford did not put an engine cover on my truck, and water has intruded into the spark plug wells and corroded the equipment. Ford is refusing to fix the issue, as the NHTSA didn't include my VIN in the two previously issues TSBs about this.
“WHEN I START THE CAR, IT MAKES A RATTLE NOISE AND WHEN THE ENGINE WARMS UP, IT GOES AWAY, BUT EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE, YOU CAN HEAR THE RATTLE AGAIN AND WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATION PEDAL, THE RATTLE GOES AWAY AND LIKE THAT EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND E”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
13 complaints- • On several occasions in the last three weeks, I've felt severe shaking--almost as if the truck was heaving at virtually any speed. This has occurred on surface streets and freeways. Over the weekend, it occurred so frequently that my wife and I abandoned an out of town trip for fear the transmission
- • I was in the driveway of my home. My family had entered and closed the front passenger door and opened the rear driver door. I opened and then closed the driver front door which caused the rear window with the glass sider to completely shatter. The vehicle had at the time 9,686 miles on it. It had n
- • The Forward-Looking Camera located in the Rear View Mirror Assembly on a 2020 Ford Ranger has failed, and the replacement part is currently unavailable. Per Ford personnel, at least 96 Ford vehicles (as of 10/26/2021) are awaiting the replacement cameras, and Ford Service Personnel at the local Fo
“On several occasions in the last three weeks, I've felt severe shaking--almost as if the truck was heaving at virtually any speed. This has occurred on surface streets and freeways. Over the weekend, it occurred so frequently that my wife and I abandoned an out of town trip for fear the transmission”
— NHTSA complaint filing
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS
12 complaints- • OUR NEW 2020 FORD RANGER XLT LISTED A FEATURE CALL PRE-COLLISION ASSIST W/AEB. THE TRUCK DID NOT GIVE A WARNING NOR DID IT APPLY THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY. NOTHING OCCURRED BEFORE WE RAN INTO THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN-FRONT OF US. THE CAR AHEAD WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WE RAN INTO THE REAR
- • OUR NEW 2020 FORD RANGER XLT LISTED A FEATURE CALL PRE-COLLISION ASSIST W/AEB. THE TRUCK DID NOT GIVE A WARNING NOR DID IT APPLY THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY. NOTHING OCCURRED BEFORE WE RAN INTO THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN-FRONT OF US. THE CAR AHEAD WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WE RAN INTO THE REAR
- • I GET AN ''IMMINENT COLLISION WARNING" DISPLAY AND AURAL SOUND AT RANDOM TIMES, APPROXIMATELY 1X WEEK, WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, MODERATE SPEEDS, DRY WEATHER.
“OUR NEW 2020 FORD RANGER XLT LISTED A FEATURE CALL PRE-COLLISION ASSIST W/AEB. THE TRUCK DID NOT GIVE A WARNING NOR DID IT APPLY THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY. NOTHING OCCURRED BEFORE WE RAN INTO THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN-FRONT OF US. THE CAR AHEAD WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WE RAN INTO THE REAR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
11 complaints- • EXTENDED CAB MODEL, REAR DRIVER DOOR INTERMITTENTLY INDICATES DOOR AJAR. ALERT APPEARS WHILE IN MOTION, USUALLY AFTER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENS AFTER THE DOOR IS CLOSED BY GRIPPING MIDWAY DOWN THE FRAME. THIS WARNING CAN BE PREVENTED IF THE DOOR IS CLOSED BY GRIPPING THE TOP OF THE DOOR FRAME
- • There was a alert saying my trailer was hooked my trailer was unhooked.on displace screen.when in fact my trailer was never hook to my truck.loss of power
- • Exactly what is described in TSB 22-2025 and 21-2147. Ford did not put an engine cover on my truck, and water has intruded into the spark plug wells and corroded the equipment. Ford is refusing to fix the issue, as the NHTSA didn't include my VIN in the two previously issues TSBs about this.
“EXTENDED CAB MODEL, REAR DRIVER DOOR INTERMITTENTLY INDICATES DOOR AJAR. ALERT APPEARS WHILE IN MOTION, USUALLY AFTER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENS AFTER THE DOOR IS CLOSED BY GRIPPING MIDWAY DOWN THE FRAME. THIS WARNING CAN BE PREVENTED IF THE DOOR IS CLOSED BY GRIPPING THE TOP OF THE DOOR FRAME”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 146 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: WHEN YOU MAKE THE CHANGES OR YOU'RE STOPPING, YOU HIT THE TRANSMISSION. TALK TO OTHER OWNERS. THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: WHEN I START THE CAR, IT MAKES A RATTLE NOISE AND WHEN THE ENGINE WARMS UP, IT GOES AWAY, BUT EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE, YOU CAN HEAR THE RATTLE AGAIN AND WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATION PEDAL, THE RATTLE GOES AWAY AND LIKE THAT EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND E
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: On several occasions in the last three weeks, I've felt severe shaking--almost as if the truck was heaving at virtually any speed. This has occurred on surface streets and freeways. Over the weekend, it occurred so frequently that my wife and I abandoned an out of town trip for fear the transmission
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: OUR NEW 2020 FORD RANGER XLT LISTED A FEATURE CALL PRE-COLLISION ASSIST W/AEB. THE TRUCK DID NOT GIVE A WARNING NOR DID IT APPLY THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY. NOTHING OCCURRED BEFORE WE RAN INTO THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN-FRONT OF US. THE CAR AHEAD WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WE RAN INTO THE REAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ford RANGER — Year Comparison
How does 2020 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 146
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 8
- Injury reports
- 7
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2020 Ford RANGER