2020 Ford Ranger
Safety ratings, recalls, and consumer complaints from NHTSA
NHTSA Safety Ratings
2020 Ford Ranger Super Crew PU/CC 4WD
- Overall
- ★★★★☆
- Front Crash
- ★★★★☆
- Side Crash
- ★★★★★
- Rollover
- ★★★☆☆
2020 Ford Ranger Super Cab PU/EC 4WD
- Overall
- Not Rated
- Front Crash
- Not Rated
- Side Crash
- Not Rated
- Rollover
- ★★★☆☆
2020 Ford Ranger Super Crew PU/CC 2WD
- Overall
- ★★★★☆
- Front Crash
- ★★★★☆
- Side Crash
- ★★★★★
- Rollover
- ★★★☆☆
2020 Ford Ranger Super Cab PU/EC 2WD
- Overall
- Not Rated
- Front Crash
- Not Rated
- Side Crash
- Not Rated
- Rollover
- ★★★☆☆
Recalls(7)
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."
Campaign: 21V765000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
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."
Campaign: 21V811000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
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."
Campaign: 20V575000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
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.
Campaign: 20V197000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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."
Campaign: 23V379000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
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.
Campaign: 25V442000
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
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.
Campaign: 25V685000
Consumer Complaints(127 total, showing 10)
SUSPENSION
Left rear leaf spring broke at the axel. When left the house truck was acting funny. Crossed a RR track and the truck became eratic/hard to steer. Pulled into shop across the street. They inspected the truck and found the broken spring. No rust, just a clean break.
POWER TRAIN
While driving my 2020 Ford Ranger, the transmission has repeatedly exhibited unexpected and unintended gear changes, including sudden downshifts or gear changes without driver input, hesitation, and abrupt loss of power during acceleration. These problems have occurred during highway merging, pulling into traffic, and city driving. On 08/14/2026, while accelerating to pull into traffic, the vehicle suddenly lost power, creating a hazardous situation as vehicles approached from behind. I have also experienced instances in which the transmission unexpectedly shifted or hesitated without warning, causing the vehicle to lurch or slow unpredictably in traffic. This condition creates a serious safety hazard because an unexpected loss of power or unintended gear change can prevent the vehicle from accelerating when needed, such as when merging, passing, pulling into traffic, or avoiding a collision. The unpredictable behavior increases the risk of a crash and endangers both the driver and surrounding motorists. The vehicle was taken to Crossroads Ford of Indian Trail on 08/14/2026, where it was diagnosed with a failed or failing 10R80 automatic transmission. At the time, the vehicle had approximately 57,500 miles and was approximately 5 years and 7 months old, which is 7 months beyond the manufacturer's bumper-to-bumper warranty. I have maintained the vehicle according to Ford's recommended service schedule throughout my ownership. I am aware that Ford has issued prior service bulletins and customer satisfaction programs related to 10R80 transmission issues, including TSB 18-2274, 20-2339, 22-2139, 23-2250, and 24-2254, although I have not confirmed whether any of them directly apply to this VIN. I am filing this complaint because the symptoms I experienced—unexpected gear changes, hesitation, lurching, and sudden loss of power—present an immediate safety risk to me, my passengers, and other drivers on the road.
POWER TRAIN
I was traveling south on I-35 going up a long steep hill and my transmission started to hard shift and then I would lose power and when I would accelerate, I had no power it would just stall out so I merged to the right side in case I had to pull over because I thought the engine had died. When I reached my destination, I looked under my truck to discover fluid on the under carriage at that point I knew the transmission had blown a seal or a high-pressure hose. So, I left the truck there and the next day had it towed back to my house. There were times I had slowed down so much that traffic almost hit me.
POWER TRAIN,SEAT BELTS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1. Transmission is going out dealership never said a word about the 6 recalls on it one being transmission 2. Front seat belts are in backwards and the child safety hook in back seat has a recall on it that the 3 of the 6 I know of Ford had told alm to replace the entire transmission before they ever sold it they did not do that they didn't take care of any of the recalls
ENGINE
Coolant intrusion defect that affects other 4 cyl ecoboost Ford engines occurred on this regularly serviced per Ford recommendations vehicle as well. Engine failure at highway speeds could cause a severe accident as the engine can seize when coolant mixes with the oil. The vehicle has been inspected by a Ford dealership. The only warning sign that there was a problem was a coolant temperature threshold exceeded warning.
POWER TRAIN
The truck is currently at a certified ford dealer for diagnosis with a drive train fault. I suspect it is transmission-related, but was not given the history of all stored, pending and history of the codes. The truck exhibits unprovoked forward acceleration/violent lunging when braking to a stop and when driving at low speeds, making intersection control dangerous. It also has severe delayed gear engagement, causing high engine RPM spikes followed by sudden gear slamming, creating a sudden loss of acceleration power while attempting to merge into active highway traffic. The transmission symptoms have been repeatedly reported to and reproduced by certified Ford franchises (Mullinax Ford and Coggin Deland Ford). Technicians previously performed superficial adaptive memory software clears (KAM resets) rather than fixing the physical mechanical defect, which has persisted. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by factory-trained dealership technicians. The initial symptoms first appeared on May 25, 2023, when the vehicle had 38,575 miles (fully within the factory powertrain warranty window). Persistent symptoms include: 1. Harsh gear engagement/slamming at various speeds. 2. Delayed shifting with sudden RPM spikes before catching gears. 3. Sudden low-speed lurching and acceleration when slowing down. The vehicle has now triggered an active "Drivetrain Fault" warning lamp on the dashboard illumination cluster.
ENGINE
Transmission replacement needed. Truck has been at dealership going on 3 months with continued delays. It was acknowledged cooperate was covering replacement now story changed that owner/myself having to pay $4000+. Cooperate covering $000 . Current owner/myself bought 2 years ago with 13000 miles and has only put 6000 miles on it. Dealership and cooperate admitted to known problem assured coverage however put fixing on hold because they are behind due to staffing issues. I have been bounced around to 3 different people at dealership who have taken case over. Dealership and cooperate blaming each other for lack if communication and delays.
POWER TRAIN
I previously submitted another complaint about a 2020 Ford Ranger I own (tracking number 11707667). I own a 2020 Ford Ranger and had to have the transmission replaced at 86k miles. Since having it replaced, I have experienced all the same problems with the transmission. There have been extremely aggressive shifts, jolts, and lags. It has stalled when going through intersections and more. It has been extremely dangerous. The truck is now back in the shop and the new transmission is undergoing a valve body replacement. The new transmission has less than 15k miles and it is undergoing major repairs as I type this. These Ford 10R80 transmissions are completely and utterly garbage and a total liability to the public. They pose as an extreme safety hazard to everyone on public roads.
POWER TRAIN
Transmission is awful jerky, jumps in and out of gear, causing engine rpm’s to go really high. Shifts erratically, causing me to almost rear end other vehicles. Very dangerous situations a many occasions. Won’t accelerate at times when pulling out in to traffic, causing other drivers to slow down or get in to another lane suddenly. This has happened on many occasions
POWER TRAIN
Truck was shifting weird the day before incident got really bad. The next day on the way home from my newborns dr appointment it began shuddering really badly and would make a loud thud noise when shifting so I had to pull off to the side of the road. There was never a warning lamp or message prior. I took the truck to a reputable transmission shop and they found the issue to be the CDF drum that had shifted out of place. CDF drum and valve body was replaced. Truck had just over 35000 miles at time of repair. I can provide receipt from shop if needed. While speaking to the mechanic at the shop he informed me that this is a common occurrence for these 10 speed transmissions and there was another vehicle there for the same issue
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