2023 Ford Ranger Safety Report

The 2023 Ford Ranger, despite being a relatively new model year, has accumulated 16 NHTSA complaints, including 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury. A significant concern is the lack of official NHTSA safety ratings (Overall, Frontal, Side, Rollover are all N/A), which means independent crash test performance data is not available to assess its structural safety. The vehicle has also been subject to 4 recalls, addressing critical safety issues such as potential electrical short circuits leading to fire risk (affecting the engine block heater), rearview camera malfunctions, incorrect tire and loading information, and improperly tightened lug nuts that could lead to wheel detachment. Complaint patterns indicate issues across several critical components. The POWER TRAIN is the most frequently cited component with 4 complaints, including reports of unintended acceleration, hard downshifts, and indecisive acceleration. SERVICE BRAKES also account for 2 complaints, with reports of brake pedal fade, unintended acceleration while braking, and even a brake pad detaching. AIR BAGS have 2 complaints, including a critical instance where airbags failed to deploy in a crash resulting in an injury. The recall history highlights several manufacturing and design flaws that could severely impact safety. The recall for loose lug nuts on driver's side wheels is particularly concerning, as it directly increases the risk of a crash due to wheel detachment. The engine block heater recall also poses a fire risk, which is a severe safety hazard. The combination of early-life complaints, including crashes and a fire, and multiple safety-critical recalls, suggests potential underlying quality control or design issues that buyers should be aware of.

Our recommendation: Given the early complaints, multiple safety recalls, and absence of official crash test ratings, potential buyers should exercise caution and thoroughly investigate all recall remedies and reported issues before purchasing a 2023 Ford Ranger.