2020 Ford Ranger Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report problems with the 10-speed automatic transmission, describing harsh or delayed shifts, hesitation from a stop, jerking, and in some cases loss of power or transmission replacement at moderate to higher mileage. A second theme is water getting into the engine and causing misfires or coolant-related stalling, along with scattered electrical, camera, climate-control and lighting complaints.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   10-speed automatic transmission harsh shifts and loss of

   Mentioned in 15 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe harsh or delayed engagement when shifting from park or from a stop, jerking and shuddering during upshifts and downshifts, hesitation when pulling into traffic, and intermittent loss of power. Several owners report the vehicle going into a reduced-power or limp mode, and some were told by the dealer that the transmission needed replacement. A number of complaints say the dealer could not reproduce the concern, while others had the transmission rebuilt or replaced and in some cases the noise or symptoms returned. Reported from low mileage up to roughly 110,000 miles, with many complaints clustered between about 20,000 and 90,000 miles.

   Recall 20V1970004 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, start from a stop and accelerate moderately, and try shifts from park to drive and into reverse when the truck is cold; note any clunk, delay or surge. Ask whether any transmission reprogramming or repair has been done and request service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Internal component failure of the 10R80 transmission. While driving one evening on a highway the vehicle while in cruise began bucking, surging and reduced gears. The vehicle began spraying transmission fluid on vehicles behind me and what was once a 10 speed transmission became a 7 speed transmission. Prior to failure there was zero indication of an issue. Nearly getting into an accident I had to make my way to the side of the road where there wasn’t much of a flat shoulder. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11688593, filed 2025-09

   “Bought 2020 Ford Ranger Lariat in March 2024 with 13k miles. I have had no issues and have kept up maintenance needed. Vehicle currently has 19,128 miles and on 4/17/26 while driving the vehicle lost power. I was able to pull over and immediately called the dealership where vehicle was purchased and had towed to their facility for diagnosis. There we no warning lights prior to losing power. The dealership informed me a new transmission is needed pulling codes P0751 and P2700. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11734620, filed 2026-04
2. 2
   Engine

   Water in spark plug wells causing misfire and stalling

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 38,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the engine misfiring, shaking or losing power under load, in some cases with the check engine light on and the truck stalling. Complaints say dealers found moisture in the spark plug wells or water entering a cylinder, replaced coils and plugs, and in some cases recommended installing an engine cover to keep water out. Some owners report the work was not covered or not completed. Mostly reported between about 10,000 and 50,000 miles, sometimes after rain or a car wash.

   What to check: Ask whether an engine cover is fitted and whether coils or spark plugs have been replaced for moisture. Listen for a rough idle or misfire on a cold start and after washing the truck.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The Ignition Coil and spark plug failed and caused the vehicle to misfire & lose power under load. The vehicle is available for inspection. Sudden loss of power could have caused a collision due to the vehicle suddenly slowing without warning in traffic conditions. Ford Motor company is aware of the problem and has a service bulletin describing how the lack of an engine cover allows water to get into the spark plug wells causing the failure to occur. Ford's fix is to install the engine cover and replace the damaged components. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11553010, filed 2023-11

   “The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine, which caused a failure with the spark plugs. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11607514, filed 2024-08, 50,000 miles
3. 3
   Forward collision avoidance

   Forward collision warning and camera messages

   • 5 complaints (4%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2025

   Complaints describe a 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' or sensor blocked message appearing at various speeds, sometimes with cruise control dropping out on its own. Some owners report random imminent-collision warnings in clear weather, and a few describe the system not warning or braking before a low-speed rear-end impact. Dealers reportedly told some owners to clean the camera or could not find stored codes. Reported from very low mileage up to about 21,000 miles.

   Recall 25V442000Recall 20V5750002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that no warning messages appear on the cluster during a drive, and ask whether any camera or driver-assist software updates have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 MPH.”

   NHTSA complaint #11375688, filed 2020-11, 2,250 miles

   “I get an ''imminent collision warning display and aural sound at random times, approximately 1x week, while driving straight, moderate speeds, dry weather.”

   NHTSA complaint #11378678, filed 2020-12, 10,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Rearview camera blank, frozen or distorted

   • 11 complaints (8%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners report the rearview camera image going blank, freezing or showing distortion, often intermittently and becoming more frequent over time. Complaints mention being told the vehicle was not covered by a recall they had read about, and some describe the screen or infotainment system failing to update or losing electrical power. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 13,000 to 45,000 miles in the sample.

   Recall 25V442000Recall 20V5750001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Put the truck in reverse and watch the screen for a blank or frozen image. Ask whether the rearview camera recall or any related software update has been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear view camera screen freezes, has distortion and is sometimes blank. This has been an issue for several months and I keep seeing articles regarding this problem and that Ford is recalling various vehicles for the same issue but have not been notified of a recall for my vehicle model and year.”

   NHTSA complaint #11695059, filed 2025-10

   “The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while reversing, the back over prevention camera was inoperable. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera displayed a black screen. The contact stated that occasionally the back over prevention camera failed to operate. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become more frequent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11558426, filed 2023-12, 45,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Climate control clicking and weak defrost or heat

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 86,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe a clicking noise from behind the dash when the temperature is adjusted, followed by the inability to change airflow so the windshield does not defrost properly. Some owners report the heater or blower not working and were told the blend door actuator or blower motor needed replacement, sometimes repeatedly. Reported from roughly 29,000 to 86,000 miles in the sample.

   What to check: With the engine running, sweep the temperature control from hot to cold and listen for clicking, then switch to defrost and confirm air reaches the windshield and the fan runs at each speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is the second time I'm hearing the climate control system click before i can adjust the temperature gauge. It was replaced less than 1,000 miles ago and it already broke again. You already put notice on the issue, SSM 49264, but it needs to be recalled with better parts. Im afraid ill be having to pay out of pocket if it keeps breaking. Please recall this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11509027, filed 2023-02

   “Early model 2019-2020 Ford Rangers have a known defect where the blend door actuator fails. The assembly was redesigned mid 2020 and is now the common fix for all who are affected by this issue. During this failure the blend door cannot and will not actuate as it should causing in ability to defrost the windshield causing visibility issues. Additionally, it causes unbearable heat to be released inside the vehicle with no warning causing additional safety issues for drivers and passengers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11615914, filed 2024-09

Buying note. Give a used example a thorough test drive that includes cold starts, stop-and-go acceleration and a check of the rear camera and climate controls, and ask for service records covering transmission work and ignition components. Because transmission symptoms are often intermittent, a pre-purchase inspection by an independent shop is worthwhile.

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.