KnownCarProblems2020 Ford Ranger Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 130 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Ranger, most often about the transmission (38% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles). It is 14th of 23 Ranger model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2020 Ford Ranger problems
Transmission
49 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: driveline.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was repaired but the sound persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer again and…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(r), the vehicle jerked before the transmission responded as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle returned to normal functionality afterwards. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer…
Engine
17 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 24,500 miles.
The contact owned a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that his wife had parked the vehicle in the residence driveway and was bringing purchases into the residence when she returned to the vehicle she observed that gray smoke was being emitted from under the hood. The contact came out to the driveway, observed the…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and violently shook while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where it was discovered that the…
Other or unspecified
14 complaints · 11%The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal squeaking sound was coming from the rear passengerâs side of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the…
Electrical
11 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact became aware that the interior lighting failed to turn off, resulting in the battery becoming drained. A short time later, the contact stated that the center display failed to display the correct information, after which the…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, a message indicating that the computer system needed to be updated was displayed. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving 35 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the computer…
Visibility and wipers
10 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the heating system became inoperable. The contact stated that the heater would not function properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the HVAC blower motor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle…
Brakes
9 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 1,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that on three separate occasions while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated forward unintendedly without warning. The contact was forced to turn off the vehicle to prevent the unintended acceleration from continuing. The contact had taken the…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, he had to depress the brake pedal to the floor to stop the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he had experienced the failure on two different occasions. The contact called the local dealer and…
Driver assistance
8 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: warnings, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection.
Our new 2020 Ford Ranger xlt listed a feature call pre-collision assist w/aeb. The truck did not give a warning nor did it apply the brakes automatically. Nothing occurred before we ran into the rear end of the car in-front of US. The car ahead was stopped at a traffic light and we ran into the rear end at about 20…
I get an ''imminent collision warning" display and aural sound at random times, approximately 1x week, while driving straight, moderate speeds, dry weather.
Speed control
6 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving at 10 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact stated the brake pedal was depressed but failed to effectively stop the vehicle. The gear shifter was shifted into park to stop the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was…
The contact owned a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at 5-10 MPH downhill onto a leveled road and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The vehicle accelerated unintendedly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact continued to depress the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2020 Ford Ranger recalls
Equipment: engine block heater
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed december 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated september 2026. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25sa4. Vehicle identification
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 lincoln mkc, 2016-2023 explorer, 2019-2020 fusion, 2019-2024 ranger, 2020-2022 lincoln corsair, escape, 2021-2024 bronco, bronco sport, and 2022-2024 maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Backup camera: software
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 4, 2025. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25s72.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 transit connect, 2019-2020 mkz, mkx, edge, continental, f-150, nautilus, fusion, 2019-2023 ranger, mustang, 2020-2021 ecosport, expedition, navigator, 2020-2022 escape, f-250 sd, corsair, 2020-2023 aviator, transit, 2020-2024 explorer, 2021-2024 bronco sport, and 2022-2024 maverick vehicles. 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.
Equipment: labels
Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23c18.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 bronco, 2023 super duty f-250, and 2019-2023 ranger vehicles. 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."
Seat belts: webbing
Risk: A misrouted seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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. Dealers will inspect the front row outboard seat belts and replace them, if necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on november 5, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed december 22, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2019-2021 ford ranger super cab vehicles. 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."
Child Seat: vehicle latch anchor
Risk: An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
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 notification letters were mailed on march 17, 2022. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21c24.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 ranger super cab vehicles equipped with rear seats containing fixed head restraints. 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."
Backup camera: camera
Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began november 17, 2020. Remedy became available on february 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on february 1, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20c19.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020 ford f-150, f-250, f-350, f-450, f-550, explorer, mustang, transit, expedition, escape, ranger and edge, and lincoln nautilus and corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 111, "rear visibility."
Transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk: If the transmission selection does not match the indicated gear selection, and the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the shift cable locking clip installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began april 27, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20s18.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020 ranger and f-150 vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions and certain 2020 expedition vehicles equipped with a "police" package. The transmission shift cable lock clip may not be fully seated, allowing the transmission to actually be in a different gear than the gear shift position selected by the driver.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance
Summary
On september 23, 2020, ford motor company (ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 cfr part 573 (NHTSA recall no. 20v-575), recalling 620,246 model year (my) 2020 ford f-150, f-250, f-350, f-450, f-550, explorer, mustang, transit, expedition, escape, ranger and edge, and lincoln nautilus and corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 111, rear visibility. Ford's recall described the noncompliance as insufficient electrical conductivity within the printed circuit board (pcb) internal to the camera leading to intermittent rearview camera operation. The supplier of the cameras was magna electronics.according to ford's chronology in the par
Questions about the 2020 Ford Ranger
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Ford Ranger?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (49 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); engine (17 complaints, typically around 24,500 miles); other or unspecified (14 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Ranger have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 10, 2025 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2020 a bad year for the Ford Ranger?
- It is 14th of 23 Ranger model years by number of complaints, with 130 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.