KnownCarProblems2011 Ford Ranger Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 235 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Ranger, most often about the air bags (83% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles). It is 11th of 23 Ranger model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2011 Ford Ranger problems
Air bags
196 complaints · 83%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, air bag/restraint control module.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact observed smoke coming from the air bag compartment and pulled the vehicle over to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
According to your site, the recall was issued june 1, 2016 but as of august 26, 2016 I have received nothing from Ford. My local dealer acknowledged the recall but said "Ford has no replacement parts for it".
Lights
9 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles. Parts named most often: turn signal, brake lights.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the brake lights failed to illuminate. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle behind the contact, causing that vehicle to crash into the rear of the contact's vehicle and…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights, taillights, and horn became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was like NHTSA campaign number…
Brakes
8 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles.
Driving 40 MPH down city street, straight, the vehicle in front of me, which I had 4 car length between him and me, stop fast, I put me brakes on and my truck was not responding. I putt both of my feet on the break peddle and it went to the floor and still no respond to the brakes. Well, my truck hit the truck in…
Takata recall recieved letter from Ford july 2016 saftey recall notice 16s26/NHTSA recall 16v384 stating followup letter to be sent when part availiblity for appointment and presently nothing has been recieved about status feb 2017. To make this situation more adverse I have experienced another issue of total brake…
Body and structure
8 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, the front bumper detached from the vehicle without incident. The first time the failure occurred, the contact noticed the failure before entering the vehicle. The contact placed the bumper into the bed of his truck and drove to the…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. On several occasions, the driver and passenger door latches failed and the door locks would independently unlock sometimes while in traffic. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be repaired. A unknown dealer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer was not…
Fuel system
6 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles.
Nylon fuel line rubbed against metal return line to create a hole and very large fuel leak due to high pressure. The close contact between the nylon and metal tubes appears to be a design error. We live in a rural area with sandy roads that act as an abrasive.
My wife was driving into fairbanks when the fuel tank exploded. The damage was extensive enough to cause the frame to be replaced. Ford will not tell US what happened or if it will happen again. We are afraid to drive the vehicle.
Transmission
5 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles.
Truck shifter is sticking, the antilock light trouble light comes on and truck will not shift from park. My son who is a mechanic says the brake switch is bad, you have to step on brake and wait for a click then the vehicle will shift into gear. So I tried this and indeed is the issue. This truck only has 40k miles on…
When coming to a stop the vehicle surges forward and I have to stand on the brakes until the surging stops. This only happens about every 2 to 3 hundred stops. At first I thought it was driver error but after doing it several times I noticed that the rpms on the tach would stay at app. 2000 then it would drop down to…
Electrical
5 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 58,000 miles.
2011 Ford Ranger could be related to Ford's safety recall no. 11c18. : on 09-06-19, during night time, a co-worker following this vehicle reported to the owner that all rear tail lights; brake lights, and emergency flashers have stopped working. On-09-07- 2019, the fuses were checked and appear to be good. Back up…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the ignition wiring rubbed against the emergency brake mechanism and caused the vehicle to shut off. The contact replaced the fuse, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed…
Speed control
4 complaints · 2%When braking vehicle accelerates in forward and reverse. October 2011, I was slowly backing and upon applying the brakes vehicle surged backward almost hitting two men directing me. The next day I carried vehicle to an open field and tried unsuccessfully to duplicate the problem. I assumed driver error. Several days…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. While coming to a stop, the vehicle did not respond when the brake pedal was depressed. In addition, the vehicle accelerated without warning and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Ford Ranger recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on april 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and november 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s12.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 ranger, 2006-2012 fusion, lincoln zephyr, lincoln mkz, 2006-2011 mercury milan, 2007-2010 ford edge, and lincoln mkx vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began march 17, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s05.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 mustang, 2004-2011 ranger, 2009-2011 mercury milan, 2006 ford gt, 2008-2012 fusion, 2007-2010 edge and lincoln mkx, and 2009-2010 lincoln mkz vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began february 13, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2014 ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, ford is recalling certain 2011 ford ranger and mercury milan vehicles, 2011-2012 ford fusion and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles and 2011-2014 ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia or "zone b." ford is also recalling certain 2010 ford edge and lincoln mkx vehicles, 2010-2011 ford ranger and mercury mi
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on july 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 ford ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 ford fusion, mercury milan and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2007-2010 ford edge, lincoln mkx vehicles, 2005-2006 ford gt vehicles, and 2005-2011 ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 ford ranger, edge and lincoln mkx vehicles, 2006-2008 ford fusion, mercury milan and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2005-2006 ford gt vehicles and 2005-2008 ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana,
Lights: brake lights
Risk: Non-functioning lights could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the switches free of charge. The safety recall began on august 15, 2011. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 ranger trucks built from january 25, 2011, through april 25, 2011 at the twin cities assembly plant, and service parts distributed to dealers for certain 2004 through 2011 model year ranger trucks, 2002 through 2005 model year excursion vehicles, and 2002 through 2007 model year f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the multi-function switch was shipped with a subcomponent (slider) that may experience deformation. A multi-function switch with a deformed slider may malfunction causing the turn signal, tail lights, hazard warning signal flashers and/or brake lights not to activate.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2011 Ford Ranger
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Ranger?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (196 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); lights (9 complaints, typically around 42,500 miles); brakes (8 complaints, typically around 40,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Ford Ranger have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 10, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Ford Ranger?
- It is 11th of 23 Ranger model years by number of complaints, with 235 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.