2020 Ford Ranger Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 12%of 130 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 29,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the engine of the 2020 Ford Ranger, 12% of the 130 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 29,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Exactly what is described in TSB 22-2025 and 21-2147. Ford did not put an engine cover on my truck, and water has intruded into the spark plug wells and corroded the equipment. Ford is refusing to fix the issue, as the NHTSA didn't include my VIN in the two previously issues TSBs about this.”
NHTSA complaint #11527452, filed 2023-06“It’s been about 4 months on the forward collision alarm and 4 1/2 weeks on the jerking going when taking off the transmission seems to jerk and when driving down a highway when nothing what so ever is on front of me all the sudden my front collision alarm goes off with a sudden breaks being applied by themselves.I spoke to dealer about it and all they told me it was probably from a shadow of trees or a sign which is bull crap.”
NHTSA complaint #11539932, filed 2023-08“On more than one occasion but still infrequently, I have been coming to a stop and while braking, the engine revs and lurches forward while I'm attempting to stop. It is rare that it happens but it is very scary when it does happen. No warning lights appear. I have submitted a request to the dealer who sold us the truck. But it happens to infrequently that it would be difficult to reproduced by a dealer. It has happened approximately 5 times since purchasing the vehicle in December 2020. Approximate date of most recent event below.”
NHTSA complaint #11675521, filed 2025-07“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. The cost they informed me for replacement was $10k +/= indicating the Power Train warranty had expired in 2025. …”
NHTSA complaint #11734620, filed 2026-04“When I start the car, it makes a rattle noise and when the engine warms up, it goes away, but every time I accelerate, you can hear the rattle again and when I remove my foot from the acceleration pedal, the rattle goes away and like that every time I accelerate. I took the car to the dealer and explained them about the noise and later that day, they called and told that in the 2019 and 2020 Ford Ranger, the engine came with a noise and it's normal in the engine, that they were told by Ford not to attempt to fix it because the noise is part of the engine. …”
NHTSA complaint #11383782, filed 2020-12Related service bulletins
- 11036545Aug 25, 2026Customer Satisfaction Program 26L01 Certain 2018-2024 Model Year Various Vehicles 2.0L Panther Diesel Engine Timing Belt and Tensioner Interval Change
- 11033577May 9, 2026Certain 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco, 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco Sport, 2020-2022 Model Year Corsair and Escape, 2016-2024 Model Year Explorer, 2019-2020 Model Year Fusion…
- 10179344Aug 12, 2020Some 2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a TCU may exhibit incomplete user authorization, no authorization pop-up on the SYNC infotainment system, vehicle connectivity…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 13% |
| 2025 | 12 | 27% |
| 2024 | 10 | 11% |
| 2023 | 3 | 17% |
| 2022 | 6 | 16% |
| 2021 | 13 | 11% |
| 2020 | 16 | 12% |
| 2019 | 27 | 10% |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% |
| 2010 | 4 | 3% |
| 2009 | 3 | 2% |
| 2008 | 4 | 1% |
| 2007 | 1 | 0% |
| 2006 | 12 | 4% |
| 2005 | 7 | 2% |
| 2004 | 7 | 2% |
| 2003 | 9 | 4% |
| 2002 | 6 | 2% |
| 2001 | 6 | 1% |
| 2000 | 6 | 1% |
| 1999 | 5 | 1% |
| 1998 | 3 | 1% |
| 1997 | 4 | 1% |
| 1996 | 2 | 0% |
| 1995 | 1 | 0% |
| 1993 | 1 | 0% |
| 1992 | 1 | 1% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
| 1989 | 2 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2020 Ford Ranger
49 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsForward collision avoidance
7 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsSuspension
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Ford Ranger
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology