2011 Ford Ranger Problems

What owners report

Almost all complaints on file for this model year involve the Takata air bag inflator recalls, and most of them are about parts not being available and repair appointments falling through rather than a new mechanical fault. Beyond the air bags, the sampled complaints cover smaller clusters: exterior lighting faults, brake pedal switch problems, door and bumper hardware, and a few early-life air conditioning failures. Reports are spread from very low mileage up past 100,000 miles, with the air bag recall concerns appearing at any mileage.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Takata air bag inflator recall not completed

   • 177 complaints (75%)
   • median 49,750 mi at 7.0 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners describe receiving recall notices for driver or passenger frontal inflators and then being unable to get the repair done. Complaints say dealers had no parts, gave no date for availability, cancelled appointments, or did not call back, and some say the replacement was made on one side only. A few mention an air bag warning light staying on, smoke from the air bag area, or an inflator that released fragments in a low-speed impact. Reported from near-zero mileage up past 160,000 miles, most commonly between roughly 20,000 and 100,000 miles, often years after the notice arrived.

   Recall 21V158000Recall 21V081000Recall 19V001000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V384000 · DO NOT DRIVE2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the driver and passenger inflators were both replaced under recall and get the paperwork; confirm with a dealer by VIN that no open air bag campaigns remain. Watch for a persistent air bag warning light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall I have been twice to a Ford dealer and called two Ford dealers concerning my passenger airbag problem. They say that they do not have the part. I have sent a letter to the Ford company. I did not hear back from them. My wife will not ride with me as a passenger. What can I do. I did not have an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11043898, filed 2017-11, 22,100 miles

   “Takata recall - no Ford dealers in my area have any replacement air bags since my calls starting in 8-22-17 and today. When they get them in, I was told Ford will mail me a letter to bring my Ford Ranger xlt in to get it installed. I don't want to miss out on this free replacement.”

   NHTSA complaint #11044106, filed 2017-11, 39,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights and rear lighting not working

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe brake lamps that did not light when the pedal was pressed, and in some cases tail lights, turn signals and hazard flashers stopping together. Owners report a brake pedal switch or the multifunction switch behind the steering column as the diagnosed part, and some note their vehicle was not covered by the lighting recall. A few link the light failure to a headlight or combination switch that overheated and smoked. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 110,000 miles, with a few at very low mileage shortly after purchase.

   Recall 11V352000

   What to check: With a helper, check that all brake lamps, tail lights, turn signals and hazards work, and ask whether the brake pedal switch or multifunction switch has been replaced. Ask a dealer whether the brake light recall applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 lights work and all dash lights and lights to the vehicle front work. The VIN for this 2011 truck apparently is not part of the recall even though it sounds like it could be the same problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11253816, filed 2019-09, 65,547 miles

   “High beam lights failed on, the hi-lo beam switch in turn, hazard, wiper combo switch later overheated, burn up, smoke in cabin causing complete loss of lamps, wipers at night in rain. Clearly a common issue based on web. If you are going to send full load current with no control relays force a higher standard on design margins and and mttf. You have (4) head lamps on a car no reason a design should be allowed to cause all (4) to failure. Force multiple relays, modules, and contacts, wiring circuits and fuses. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11618410, filed 2024-10, 110,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Stalling or surging at low speed when braking

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine stalling when slowing to a stop, or the truck surging forward or backward while the brake pedal is pressed, with engine speed staying high before dropping. Some owners report the transmission not shifting into second gear in cold weather, and a few mention a transmission fluid leak. Dealers in several complaints said they could not duplicate the problem. Reported from about 3,000 to 80,000 miles, with the surging and stalling described as intermittent.

   What to check: Test drive from cold and include several full stops to check for surging or stalling, and check under the truck for transmission fluid leaks after the drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My truck has 55,000 miles on it and has been babied and not driven hard and has a transmission leak located on my garage floor ' I feel this is an issue that should not have occurred ' I located the leak this morning on my garage floor on 4/14/2019”

   NHTSA complaint #11196128, filed 2019-04, 55,000 miles

   “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 900 which is the normal range. I took it to a local dealer and complained and they said they could not duplicate the problem during a test drive. The problems continues and I am afraid one day it will cause an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10532256, filed 2013-07, 29,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Door latches opening and bumper coming loose

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report doors that unlocked on their own or came open while driving, with the latch assembly identified as the cause, and doors that would not stay closed. Other complaints describe the front bumper detaching from the vehicle on more than one occasion and a bed liner coming off at speed. One report notes deteriorated lower ball joints and boots found at relatively low mileage. Reported from roughly 31,000 to 105,000 miles.

   What to check: Open and close each door firmly and check that the latches hold and the locks stay set; look at the bumper mounting points and fasteners for looseness or makeshift repairs, and have the front suspension joints inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Door opened while driving straight due to faulty latch assembly made of plastic. Door was closed and there were no indicators of it being ajar until it opened at 35 m.p.h. On a busy roadway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11291794, filed 2019-12, 103,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the lower ball joints and the boots deteriorated prematurely which might result in a potential fracture of the parts. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 31,159.”

   NHTSA complaint #10762303, filed 2015-09, 31,159 miles

Buying note. The main thing to settle before buying is the air bag recall paperwork: confirm both inflators were replaced and no campaign is still open. Have any remaining brake light, door latch or A/C faults checked on a test drive, since those are the other issues owners report.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.