IllustrationAt about 40,000 miles truck started jumping and hesitating under 30mph and has now gotten worse and jumping and hesitating at 65mph had it in the shop 3 times and they can't find the problem they came up with driveshaft and pinion flange. It came from Detroit and I believe it is a problem with the transmission.
2020 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2020 Ford Ranger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 144.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
190–25K
425–50K
450–75K
575–100K
1100–150K
0150K+
33 reports with mileage · 94 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
Power Train complaints
48 reports1.) 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 …
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1.) 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. 2.) 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.' 3.)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.' 4.) 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.' NHTSA# FOR REPORTING 21V811000 21V765000 20V575000 20V197000
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving between 40-45 MPH, the vehicle began jerking and the transmission was skipping. Additionally, the vehicle lost power and was consuming an excessive amount of fuel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not no…
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The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving between 40-45 MPH, the vehicle began jerking and the transmission was skipping. Additionally, the vehicle lost power and was consuming an excessive amount of fuel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,900.
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 diagnosed …
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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 diagnosed with transmission failure again. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact shifted into neutral(N), and then shifted back into drive(D). The contact stated that the vehicle responded, then jerked forward and backward. The contact stated that the failure…
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The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact shifted into neutral(N), and then shifted back into drive(D). The contact stated that the vehicle responded, then jerked forward and backward. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving from a complete stop; however, on the latest failure, the vehicle failed to respond and stalled. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.
The Transmission in this truck has problems the 10 speed shifts hard on down shifts and slips on up shifts. This should have a recall to be addressed
Transmission has difficulty moving through gears- powertrain failure noted via alert system x2 when vehicle stopped abruptly while driving. "Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power". Fortunately no one injured. 60k miles on the vehicle and Ford reporting need a 6k new transmission.
Vehicle has hard jerking when increasing speeds. Vehicle takes several seconds to gain power from being stopped at red light and shifts very hard. Sometimes feels like gear slips into neutral and loses power after accelerating slowing. Takes several seconds to recognize being in reverse and jerks hard when it gets going. Starte…
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Vehicle has hard jerking when increasing speeds. Vehicle takes several seconds to gain power from being stopped at red light and shifts very hard. Sometimes feels like gear slips into neutral and loses power after accelerating slowing. Takes several seconds to recognize being in reverse and jerks hard when it gets going. Started at around 37,000 miles and getting worse at 45,000. Been told several times it's normal, but it very obviously is not and feels very unstable and unsafe.
Problem shifting,jerky motion or no response at all with the transmission had to pull over almost was rear ended because of no response.
The 10 speed automatic transmission has a problem. Yes the problem was verified by the Dealer. Yes the Dealer has had the car 3 separate times and worked on the issue. The transmission when starting out from a stop will fall on its face with no power to move from the stop. 2-4 seconds and then it takes off. When pulling out into…
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The 10 speed automatic transmission has a problem. Yes the problem was verified by the Dealer. Yes the Dealer has had the car 3 separate times and worked on the issue. The transmission when starting out from a stop will fall on its face with no power to move from the stop. 2-4 seconds and then it takes off. When pulling out into traffic this condition is very unsafe and could cause an accident. Now it is starting to do it as traveling at speed and light acceleration it will hesitate before it goes. This is an intermittent problem not doing it all the time .
Official recalls
725V685000 · Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater
Oct 10, 2025
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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 Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
25V442000 · Back Over Prevention:software
Jun 27, 2025
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
23V379000 · Equipment:other:labels
May 26, 2023
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
21V811000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing
Oct 15, 2021
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A misrouted seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 this recall is 21C25.
21V765000 · Child Seat:vehicle Latch Anchor; Seats:mid/rear Assembly
Sep 30, 2021
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Child Seat:vehicle Latch Anchor
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."
Consequence: An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Seats:mid/rear Assembly
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."
Consequence: An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: 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.
20V575000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Sep 23, 2020
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
20V197000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Apr 3, 2020
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ21002 · Rearview Camera Fmvss 111 Noncompliance
Opened Aug 3, 2021 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
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 Part 573, during the period February-April 2020, Ford identified and monitored warranty claims pertaining to intermittent or inoperative rearview cameras. Ford reviewed supplier product changes, focusing on changes introduced by the supplier in the October-November 2019 time frame. The Part 573 stated that the issue was brought to Ford's Critical Concerns Review Group (CCRG) for review on May 12, 2020.On July 7, 2020, NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Testing Center (VRTC) informed the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a trend of MY 2020 Escape vehicles with rearview camera malfunctions. ODI contacted Ford the next day, providing five Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging inoperative rearview cameras. On July 15, 2020, Ford met with NHTSA to discuss the rearview camera issue. In a subsequent August 24, 2020 meeting, ODI and NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) met with Ford to discuss the recall status and additional VOQs. Ford presented rate and scope data for many of its MY 2020 products during the August 2020 meeting indicating high failure rates for certain models.This RQ is being opened to investigate both the timeliness and scope of Ford's rearview camera recall (20V-575), and Ford's compliance with reporting requirements.The subject reports referenced in the opening resume are identified by the following ODI reference numbers which can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov: 11349813, 11344126, 11342696, 11341486, 11340254, 11337274, 11331444, 11330875, 11329235, 11316960, 11343521, 11341884, 11337226, 11344018, and 11339573.