Brands/Ford/Ranger/2nd generation

Ford Ranger 2nd generation (2006–2012)

Generation-specific owner insights from 101+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.

Photo: JOHN LLOYD from Concrete, Washington, United States / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Should I buy a 2006–2012 Ranger?

1,591

US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2006–2012

recall campaigns

air bags

most-complained area

What owners say about this generation

Our take, from owner reports

Owners of the 2006-2012 Ranger generally regard it as a simple, durable, and easy-to-work-on compact truck, with the 4.0L SOHC V6 timing chain system as its most frequently cited weakness.

8 problems reported (1 very frequent, 3 recurrent, 4 isolated) · high confidence

Problems owners report

Very frequentTiming chain tensioner and guide failure on the 4.0L SOHC V6, sometimes destroying the engine
RecurrentTransmission failure or rebuild, including coolant leaking into the transmission
RecurrentCatalytic converter clogging and failure, sometimes linked to timing issues dumping fuel

+ 5 more issues

RecurrentRust along the body and frame, including leaf spring hangers
IsolatedClutch hydraulic problems involving the master and slave cylinder on manual trucks
IsolatedHeat shield rattle on the catalytic converter
IsolatedTPMS sensor failure due to battery age
IsolatedEngine replacement at around 180,000 miles on a 4.0L

The version owners recommend

Insufficient owner data available to declare a consensus. Partial signal favors the 2009-2011 model years with the 4.0L SOHC V6, since owners state the improved timing chain design arrived by 2009, and the 5-speed automatic and M5OD manual are both described as reliable. Some owners prefer the 3.0L V6 as "dead reliable," though that engine was not offered in 2009.

Competitors to consider

Owners compare it most often with the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Jeep Cherokee (XJ) and Ford F-150.

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Full owner report

Overall sentiment

Owners of the 2006-2012 Ranger generally regard it as a simple, durable, and easy-to-work-on compact truck, with the 4.0L SOHC V6 timing chain system as its most frequently cited weakness. Praise centers on longevity, low running costs, and the fact that by this generation most earlier problems had been ironed out. Criticism focuses on the 4.0L engine's timing chain guides, transmission failures in some trucks, and the model's age relative to its price in the used market. Late model years (2009-2011) are viewed more favorably than earlier ones because the 4.0L is said to have received an improved timing chain design by 2009.

Positioning vs competitors

Owners position the Ranger as cheaper and simpler to maintain than the Tacoma, but acknowledge the Tacoma's stronger resale value and reputation. Against the Colorado and Canyon, owners suggest those as alternatives when Ranger prices are inflated. Against the F-150, the Ranger is seen as smaller, less powerful, and less safe in a crash, but easier on fuel and cheaper to buy. Against the Jeep Cherokee XJ, owners favor the Ranger for being a decade newer at the same price. The Ranger is generally described as mechanically sound and reliable, though not as refined or as safe as newer competitors.

Recommended configurations

Owners recommend the 4.0L V6 with the 5-speed automatic for towing, citing a rating of roughly 5,560-5,800 pounds depending on axle ratio and drivetrain. The 5-speed manual M5OD is described as a light-duty but long-lived unit. Owners advise checking for rust, confirming regular oil changes on 4.0L trucks, and verifying that timing chain service or the improved design is present. For buyers prioritizing simplicity, the 3.0L V6 is mentioned as reliable, though it was not available in the final model years.

General recommendations

This generation suits buyers who want an inexpensive, easy-to-repair compact truck and who do not need modern safety features or refinement. Owners suggest preferring 2009-2011 trucks for the updated 4.0L timing chain design, and caution that any 4.0L truck needs documented regular oil changes. Inspection advice includes checking for rust along the body and frame, examining the leaf spring hangers, confirming transmission fluid condition, and having a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection with a compression test. Owners repeatedly warn against paying premium prices for low-mileage examples, with several stating that $12,000-$20,000 is far too much for this generation.

Remarks

Owners note that the 2011 model was the last year of US Ranger production, with the final truck built at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant and the end of the Cologne V6. Several owners describe the truck as outdated by this generation because Ford invested little in updates after 2005. Crash safety is a recurring concern, with owners noting the lack of side airbags until 2009 and describing the Ranger as less safe than full-size trucks. The truck is widely described as a good platform for learning to work on vehicles. Analysis based on approximately 101 substantive owner discussions about this generation.

Complaints and recalls by model year

Year	Complaints	Recalls	Most-reported area
2011	235	6	air bags
2010	320	9	air bags
2009	169	8	air bags
2008	326	6	air bags
2007	270	6	air bags
2006	271	12	air bags

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.

Recall notices for this generation

2011 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 19V001000

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.

2011 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 16V384000

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.

2011 · exterior lighting:tail lightscampaign 11V352000

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.

2011 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 21V158000

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.

2011 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 21E013000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang, 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion, 2010-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2011 Ford Ranger, and 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX vehicles. Please see Ford's recall report for the specific part numbers. These parts may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

2011 · air bags:frontalcampaign 21V081000

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.

2010 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 19V001000

2010 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 21V158000

2010 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 21E013000

2010 · air bags:frontalcampaign 21V081000

2010 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 18V046000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 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 2010 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles 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 2009 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming 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.

2010 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 16V384000

14 more recalls not shown. Check nhtsa.gov with your VIN for the full history.

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Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.