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Ford · NHTSA safety record

2011 Ford Ranger

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

235

Complaints

9

Crashes

1

Fires

9

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Ford Ranger have filed 235 safety complaints with NHTSA between August 2011 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 196 of them (83%). The typical failure was reported at 49,500 miles, the median across the 67 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (5)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

21V158000 · March 10, 2021

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.

Ford Motor Company · up to 2,602,668 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

21V081000 · February 16, 2021

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,067 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V001000 · January 7, 2019

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.

Ford Motor Company · up to 782,384 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

16V384000 · May 31, 2016

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,892,343 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

11V352000 · July 13, 2011

The defect
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.
The risk
NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY · up to 26,715 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 235.

AIR BAGS 196 83%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 9 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 8 3%
STRUCTURE 8 3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 2%
POWER TRAIN 5 2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 2%
ENGINE 2 1%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2 1%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2 1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 1%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 91.

2011 2017 2026
2011 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

3 injured · crash · towed · 39,875 miles

DRIVING 40 MPH DOWN CITY STREET, STRAIGHT, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, WHICH I HAD 4 CAR LENGTH BETWEEN HIM AND ME, STOP FAST, I PUT ME BRAKES ON AND MY TRUCK WAS NOT RESPONDING. I PUTT BOTH OF MY FEET ON THE BREAK PEDDLE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STILL NO RESPOND TO THE BRAKES. WELL, MY TRUCK HIT THE TRUCK IN FRONT AND THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK WAS ALL MESSED UP, NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING TO THE STREET. AFTER THE TRUCK WAS FIX, THEY TESTED THE BRAKE BY PILLING EACH TRIES OFF CHECK ALL THE SPEC, PULLED THE ROTORS OFF AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO EACH WHEEL ONE AT A TIME AND RAN THE CALIBERS OUT TO IT LIMITS AND INSTALL THE ROTORS, TIRES AND ROAD TESTED THE BRAKES

NHTSA complaint 10874375, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · 35,619 miles

MY VEHICLE (1 )WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE( 2) FAILING TO YIELD AT AN INTERSECTION, THE NON-YIELDING VEHICLE(2) WAS SIDESWIPED AS I WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE HIM HEAD ON, THE FRONT END AND SIDE PANELS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE (1) AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND QUARTER PANELS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE FROM FORCE OF IMPACT, DRIVER, PASSENGER, AND SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT CAUSING INJURY TO VEHICLE (1) OCCUPANTS. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10483781. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 117,000 miles

I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. THE FRONT WHEEL ON DRIVERS SIDE FELL OFF CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ROLL GOING AIRBORNE AND LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN A CREEK DOWN A 20 FT EMBANKMENT. THE AIRBAG WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED AT A LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS GENTLY TAPPING MY BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA complaint 11330244. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

The airbags did not deploy during accident. I was injured. No, the problem was not reproduced or confirmed by dealer or independent service center yet. The vehicle was inspected by police. There were no prior warnings.

NHTSA complaint 11523837. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
I received a letter from FORD identifying my Ranger as in need of an airbag replacement under recall, for free installation and parts. I called the only Ford dealer in town, Capitol Ford, Santa Fe, NM, and was told they were unable to replace my airbag because they did not have the parts for it and did not know when they would get the parts. That was about 4 years ago. Recently, I called the same FORD dealer and made an appointment via a text message to get the airbag replaced under recall. When I took my Ranger in for service at the time arranged, the dealer did not give me any paperwork or receipt or work order. The service dept. personnel just asked for my keys and agreed that I would

NHTSA complaint 11744306, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
I'm looking to buy this truck from a private sale. If I do, and the recall has not been completed, will the manufacturer still fix it for free?

NHTSA complaint 11670841. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

110,000 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. ALSO FIX THE BLINDING HEADLIGHT ISSUES. I SEE ALMOST NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LO AND HI BEAMS ON NEW CARS AND SEE SPOTS FOR 30 SECONDS AFTER PASSING CARS ON LO. SET STANDARDS AND FORCE

NHTSA complaint 11618410, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash · 235,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer wanted to charge the contact to complete the repair because the air bag was deployed. The contact stated that prior to the recall appointment, he had a crash with a deer which deployed the driver's side front air bag. The contact stated that he was driving at approximately 20 MPH during the impact. The contact stated that the deer crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle and only cracked the passenger side front headlight. The contact stated that the dealer was unwilling to complete the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The

NHTSA complaint 11604223, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

161,484 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The dealer informed the contact that the system needed to be reset. While driving, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the air bag module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The failure

NHTSA complaint 11532929, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Ranger

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 34 13 —
2024 69 13 —
2023 18 4 —
2022 37 5 —
2021 112 6 —
2020 125 7 —
2019 264 11 —
2010 156 8 —

Other 2011 Ford models

Fusion 2,783 F-150 2,184 Edge 1,801 Escape 1,314 Explorer 1,195 Fiesta 729 Mustang 466 F-250 248

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst