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2021 Ford Ranger problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
61% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Ford Ranger are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 82% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Ford Ranger have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 70 of 117 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Ranger concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (61%), and the largest group is filed under power train (59). For comparison, the 2020 scores 55% and the 2022 scores 62%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Ford Ranger years
Of the 6 Ford Ranger years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (61%). The worst is the 2022 (62%), the best the 2010 (23%). By volume, the 2021 drew 117 complaints (70 drivetrain), against 128 for the 2020 and 37 for the 2022.
Ford Ranger years to avoid and best years →
2010 Ranger problems · 2011 Ranger problems · 2019 Ranger problems · 2020 Ranger problems · 2021 · 2022 Ranger problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Ford Ranger
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Ford Ranger said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 70 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Ford Ranger engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Ford Ranger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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 is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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…
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Ford Ranger? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 Ford Ranger
Does the 2021 Ford Ranger have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 70 of 117 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Ranger concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (61%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ford Ranger?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Ford Ranger is power train: 59 of 117 complaints (50%) name it, followed by service brakes (15) and engine (13). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 Ford Ranger reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 61% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 82% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 6 Ford Ranger years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Ford Ranger?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Ford Ranger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 25V685000 (equipment: electrical: engine block heater). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford Ranger years are better?
Among the Ford Ranger years we track, the 2010 (23%), the 2011 (39%) and the 2019 (48%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (61%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-ranger
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.