2021 Ford Ranger: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2021 Ford Ranger: 6 recalls, 117 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Child seat, Seats Vehicle recall #21V765000 · 2021 · 37,625 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "child restraint anchorage system."
Why it matters: An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: 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 charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 5, 2021. Owner…
Seat belts Vehicle recall #21V811000 · 2021 · 47,683 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 protection" and 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Why it matters: A misrouted seat belt May not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: 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 inspection, should not drive their vehicles and contact a Ford dealership.…
Forward collision avoidance, Forward collision avoidance Vehicle recall #21V982000 · 2021 · 839 vehicles
What's wrong: The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.
Why it matters: A misaligned radar module May prevent the vehicle from maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles when adaptive cruise control is active. In addition, the automatic emergency braking (aeb) system May react slowly, or not react at all, during a pre-collision assist braking event. Any of these…
The fix: Dealers will adjust the angle of the cruise control radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022.
Equipment Vehicle recall #23V379000 · 2023 · 29,607 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "tire selection and rims."
Why it matters: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #25V442000 · 2025 · 200,237 vehicles
What's wrong: A software error May cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image May remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Why it matters: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse May distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025.
Equipment Vehicle recall #25V685000 · 2025 · 59,006 vehicles
What's wrong: The engine block heater May crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Why it matters: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The 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 element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord.…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 9 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (59): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (41), warning light on (21), stalls / loses power (10).
- Brakes (14): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (6), warning light on (5).
- Engine (13): the most common themes are warning light on (4), leaks (3).
- Other / unknown (13): the most common themes are electrical failure (2).
The 2021 Ford Ranger has 117 owner complaints, ranking #24 of 33 Ranger model years for complaints (well below the 248 average). Complaints peaked in 2025 (30 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 32,800 miles. Neighboring years: 2020 (129 complaints, 7 recalls), 2022 (37 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 | 26 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 24 | 22 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2021 Ford Ranger.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
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FAQ
Does the 2021 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2021 Ford Ranger. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2021 Ford Ranger problems?
Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (59), brakes (14), engine (13).
What gas mileage does the 2021 Ford Ranger get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.3 L, Automatic (S10)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2021 Ford Ranger repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.