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The Ford Ranger has been on the market since the 1983 model year, when the blue oval introduced the compact pickup to replace the Courier, a truck that bore the Ford name, but which was actually a rebadged Mazda B. Ford eventually discontinued the compact pickup in 2012, despite strong sales, before bringing it back for 2019 as a mid-size. So the truck has a history dating back more than 40 years, but it was actually AWOL for seven of them.

If we’re looking at 25 years of Ford Rangers, that means we’re looking at the third generation compacts, and the first and second generation mid-sizes. Here’s what you need to know when you go shopping for a Ford Ranger.

Ford Ranger Reliability By The Numbers

In order to get an idea of which model year Ford Rangers you can count on, we’re collecting Quality & Reliability ratings from JD Power, and taking a look at total complaints on file with CarComplaints. So we’re looking for big numbers in the left column, and low numbers in the right column.

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Bear in mind that newer models will naturally have fewer reports on file, simply because the truck will have had less time to develop any serious issues. This doesn’t necessarily prove that, say, a 2025 Ranger is inherently more reliable than a 2021 Ranger, only that it hasn’t put as many miles on its tires just yet.

The 2010 Ford Ranger Takes An Early Lead

Of the third-gen compact pickups, the 2010 Ford Ranger has both the lowest number of complaints on file, at 11, and the highest Q&R rating, at 87/100. For the mid-size pickup, the 2023 model is the clear winner, with just three complaints on file and an 87/100 Q&R rating. Just remember that the 2023 Ranger has only been on the road for a few years.

What Can Go Wrong With A Ford Ranger?

According to CarComplaints, the least reliable Ford Ranger is the 2019 model. With 20 complaints on file, the truck has fewer issues than some of the earlier compact models, but more reports than any other Ford Ranger of the mid-size generations, and more complaints than some of the compacts. To list some of the more common issues being reported:

• Transmission problems are a major concern for the 2019 Ford Ranger, with two complaints of transmission slipping, and one for complete transmission failure at just 95,000 miles, costing the owner $6,000 for a full replacement.
• Various electronic sensors throughout the truck have been known to fail or malfunction, including the fuel tank pressure sensor.
• Drivers were reporting the paint chipping even when the truck was brand-new. Paint chipping issues frequently occur with light-colored paints, including various shades of white and light gray, but these issues are not unheard of with darker-colored trucks. Don’t be surprised to find paint protector film on used Rangers.

So, that’s why you might want to avoid a 2019 Ford Ranger. But what about the 2010 and 2023 models?

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Body/Paint Issues Are The Most Common Problems For The 2010 Ford Ranger

The 2010 Ford Ranger has two complaints on file for paint chipping, and two for water leaking in around the door gaskets. There is also one complaint on file for an oil leak at around 37,000 miles, which was repaired with a replacement gasket, a fix that can cost up to $1,906 in a 2010 Ranger, according to RepairPal.

One 2023 Ranger Owner Reported An Oil Leak At Just 500 Miles

The most concerning complaint on file for the 2023 Ranger is for an oil leak occurring at just 500 miles. Unfortunately, the owner did not provide much information within this report. All we can say, based on the CarComplaints data, is what we just told you: they had an oil leak at 500 miles. Worth keeping an eye out for, but a 2023 Ranger should still be under warranty at this point, so it’s nothing worth losing sleep over.

Rangers Are Cheap To Maintain, But Look Out For Suspension And Steering Issues

To get an overall idea of what sort of problems Ford Rangers experience, we took a look at RepairPal, which points to an annual average repair cost of $615, and lists the following as the most expensive common repairs for the truck, across all models:

• Fuel tank replacement $1,544–$1,535
• Rack and pinion replacement $1,333–$1,528
• Timing chain tensioner replacement $1,144–$1,535
• AC evaporator replacement $879–$1,262
• Wheel bearing replacement $220–$294

Two out of five of the most expensive common repairs for the Ford Ranger involve steering and suspension issues. Rotating your tires regularly (an easy enough fix to do at home), conducting the occasional sight test for any potential problems, and avoiding potholes, can all help to prevent problems, and keep minor issues from turning major.

By and large, these trucks are pretty cheap to keep running, but there are some expensive fixes that can sneak up on you.

It’s Hard To Find An Unreliable Ford Ranger

Rangers generally list among the most reliable pickups overall. But if we had to pick a few model years to avoid, we’d suggest staying away from the following Ford Rangers:

• 2001-2003. These trucks aren’t exactly lemons, but their advanced age means they might cost more to maintain than they’re worth.
• 2007 and 2008. These two model years have more complaints on file than any other for the last five years of the third-gen compacts.
• 2019. Ford was still working out the first-year kinks for the mid-size Ranger at this point.

And the ones we would wholeheartedly recommend:

• 2009 and 2010. These two have just 12 and 11 complaints on file, respectively, and they scored well with JD Power.
• 2005 and 2006. JD Power doesn’t vouch for these two models, but their complaint numbers are remarkably low for a pair of 20-year-old pickups.
• 2021-2023. If you’re in the market for a mid-size, any one of these is a solid choice.

The 2005 Ford Ranger May Be The Most Reliable Model For The Money

The 2005 Ford Ranger currently holds a fair purchase price of $4,582–$5,644, for the regular cab, or $5,834–$7,668, for a super cab, according to Kelley Blue Book. Combine that with just 25 reports on file with CarComplaints after two decades on the road, and you’ve got a very affordable, reliable used truck.

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There are a few engine complaints on file, mostly for stalling. But, the average repair cost for these issues comes out to just 200 bucks. One driver found that the problem was a lousy fuel inertia switch, while another driver had to replace the crankshaft pulley. All told, you could do a lot worse for a $5,000 truck that’s old enough to vote.

Sources: Ford, CarComplaints, RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book, J.D. Power.