You Messed Up If You Purchased One of These Ford Ranger Model Years

Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford, has recently come under fire for driving an electric vehicle from China called the Xiaomi SU7 rather than driving a Ford vehicle. While he shared that he hates talking about the competition, there’s just something about the Xiaomi SU7 that calls to him. That being said, Ford is actually working on developing an electric version of its Ford Ranger, which Farley seems to have confirmed will be launched in 2027. This highlights Ford’s overall commitment to move towards more sustainable transportation options. (See the top 10 electric vehicle brands right now.)

Ford has been known over time for its reliability and smooth driving. For people who love the F-150 but are looking for a slightly smaller version, the Ford Ranger is the most attractive choice. This versatile pickup truck now comes with amazing features like four-wheel power disc brakes, a 2.7L EcoBoost engine, and selectable drive modes. But the Ford Ranger hasn’t always been as great as it is today. In fact, if you’re purchasing an older Ford Ranger model, there are some model years that you should completely avoid – and even Ford would love to forget. Using data from CoPilot, Consumer Reports, and Car Complaints, we compiled all of the Ford Ranger model years that aren’t worth your money.

Why We’re Sharing This With You

Americans love trucks. In the U.S., trucks sell in higher numbers than any other type of vehicle. A poll by YouGov Survey: Serviced revealed that almost half of adult Americans (47%) own a truck. Despite love for these vehicles, 41% of individuals polled say trucks have grown too large in recent years. Even truck drivers themselves agree these vehicles are too large, with 39% of truck owners stating as such. Though the Ford Ranger might be a good option for these consumers, a handful of years on certain models are not worth owning.

Here are the Ford Ranger model years you need to avoid:

Avoid: 1999

• Total NHTSA complaints: 963
• Major problems: Electrical issues, tire blowouts

With 963 NHTSA (National Highway Transportation & Safety Administration) complaints, 1999 is safely one of the worst years for the Ford Ranger. There is no question that this model year was poorly received by Ranger owners, who let Ford know in every possible way. It might even be fair to say that the 1999 Ford Ranger is one of the worst vehicles Ford has ever made, at least in recent history.

At the top of its lengthy problem list were electrical issues. Whether it was the windshield wipers activating by themselves or the dome light staying on continuously, the Ranger had multiple electrical headaches. Things did not improve when you looked at tire concerns with the 1999 Ranger, as tires would spontaneously blow out while driving. Needless to say, avoid the 1999 Ford Ranger like the plague.

Avoid: 2000

• Total NHTSA complaints: 853
• Major problems: Tire blowouts, defective airbags

The 2000 model year was expected to bring about change to combat the difficulties of the 1999 Ford Ranger. Unfortunately, 853 NHTSA complaints filed in 2000 showed any changes made by Ford were insufficient. Tires remained a significant and expensive problem in 2000. Some spontaneously exploded and, on other, the tread wore thin well before it should.

The same can be said for airbag issues, which failed to deploy in a front-end collision. This was problematic enough that CarComplaints indicates that at least 36 injuries were reported due to failed airbags. Consumer Reports called the 2000 Ford Ranger a vehicle that “falls far short of modern pickup-truck standards.” This makes it easy to call the 2000 Ford Ranger another model year to avoid.

Avoid: 2001

• Total NHTSA complaints: 682
• Major problems: Defective airbags, faulty speed control, rust, safety scores

For the third year in a row, the Ford Ranger was incredibly disappointing and came with several significant issues. While only 682 NHTSA complaints were filed this year, many of these gripes relate to issues Ford still did not fix. This includes the same issue with airbags not deploying in frontal collisions. According to CarComplaints, in 2001, there were at least 31 crashes resulting in 26 injuries because of improper airbag deployment. Between the airbag issues and subpar safety scores from the NHTSA and IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), the 2001 Ford Ranger should be skipped altogether.

Amplifying this message were additional headaches that came from engine problems. Owners of the 2001 Ranger said that vehicle speed control was faulty. Ranger owners could not shift gears and speed up properly. Though a recall was identified, it was an issue that 2001 Ranger owners would have preferred not to deal with altogether. Lastly, Ranger owners complained of rust forming on the frame before the vehicle hit 100,000 miles.

Avoid: 2002

• Total NHTSA complaints: 447
• Major problems: Safety scores, defective airbags, speed control

Moving into a fourth year in a row of deeply troubling Ford Ranger models, it’s clear there were headaches Ford was struggling to address. The only good news is that NHTSA complaints continued to drop, with only 447 reports received in 2002. Safety issues bubbled to the top again, with the IIHS giving the Ranger scores of “Marginal” and “Poor.” It also only scored two stars for its rollover protection, according to NHTSA safety testing, which put drivers at risk.

Safety aside, 91 total NHTSA complaints relating to engine issues were made in 2002. Vehicle speed control returned as a major headache during this model year, so much so that, according to CarComplaints, at least 6 crashes and 2 deaths are related to this problem. When you factor in lingering issues with frontal airbags not properly deploying, there’s truly no point in buying a 2002 Ford Ranger (or any of the surrounding model years).

Avoid: 2003

• Total NHTSA complaints: 301
• Major problems: Safety scores, defective airbags, rust

The 2003 model year caps off an awful five-year run for the Ford Ranger. With 301 NHTSA complaints filed this year, things began moving in the right direction, but not fast enough. The still-subpar safety records in 2003 show in the IIHS scores of both “Acceptable” and “Marginal.” The same two-star rating from 2002 from NHTSA for rollover protection also carried over, so drive carefully with this model.

Unfortunately, safety isn’t the only reason to avoid the 2003 model year. Rust was again a common complaint, resulting in holes across various frame parts. However, this wasn’t as problematic as the frontal airbags still failing to deploy in 2003, which marked the fifth year in a row this major safety concern was near the top of Ranger owner complaints.

Avoid: 2007

• Total NHTSA complaints: 282
• Major problems: Defective airbags

For a few years, things were on the up-and-up for Ford. Then came the 2007 model year. While this added some benefits like a new anti-theft system, LATCH seats, and added safety standards, there was one glaring problem. In fact, out of 282 NHTSA complaints, 233 were related to the defective airbags. This is obviously an issue that’s hard to ignore and this is precisely why the 2007 Ford Ranger joins the list of model years to avoid.

It wasn’t until 2017 that the first airbag recall was initiated, with a second recall ordered in 2021. This was too long of a gap to be satisfactory to 2007 Ford Ranger owners. What makes this all the more difficult is that safety scores were even worse in 2007 than in 2003. This time around, the Ford Ranger receives “Acceptable,” “Marginal,” and even one “Poor” score for rear protection.

Avoid: 2008

• Total NHTSA complaints: 293
• Major problems: Safety concerns, defective airbags, rust

It’s hard to imagine a worse year for airbag complaints than the 2007 Ford Ranger model year, but this is precisely what happened in 2008. A total of 293 complaints were filed specifically relating to airbag concerns.

Regarding safety, you can copy and paste the same frustrations from 2007. Ford wasn’t making enough progress to enhance Ranger owners’ safety, making it easy to label 2008 as a model year to avoid. When you factor in additional concerns around rust forming in random places around the frame, there is just enough room for concern beyond the airbags to label the 2008 model year a definite year to avoid.

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