2010 Ford Ranger

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

2010 Ford Ranger: common problems and reliability

· 2nd generation

One of the weaker Ranger years.

320 owner complaints, most about air bags. 9 recalls.

Should I buy a 2010 Ranger?

The 2010 Ford Ranger has 320 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and structure. Owners most often flag timing chain tensioner and guide failure on the 4.0l sohc v6, sometimes destroying the engine.

Safety record for the 2010 model year

320
Owner complaints
9
Recalls
12
Crash reports
0
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2010 Ford Ranger vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Ranger years only. How we score it

Is 2010 a good year for the Ranger?

Across the 25 Ranger model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2017) to 818 (1999). With 320 complaints, the 2010 Ranger sits above the model's median of 243.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

air bags
256
structure
12
engine
9
vehicle speed control
8
parking brake
6

Recalls affecting the 2010 Ranger

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 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.

air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Campaign 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.

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 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.

air bags:frontal

Campaign 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.

Show 5 more recalls

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 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.

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 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.

fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Campaign 11V126000

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FORD RANGER TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2009, THROUGH MAY19, 2010. THE ENGINE FUEL LINE IN THE AREA OF THE THROTTLE BODY SHIELD MAY NOT HAVE A PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE (COVER) PROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE ON THE FUEL LINE IS NOT ASSEMBLED IN THE PROPER POSITION, THE EDGE OF THE SHIELD MAY CONTACT THE FUEL LINE. OVER TIME THIS CONTACT MAY CHAFE THE FUEL LINE, RESULTING IN A FUEL ODOR AND A POTENTIAL FUEL LEAK.

exterior lighting:tail lights

Campaign 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.

parking brake:driveline:hydraulic:actuator

Campaign 10V202000

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 RANGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 8, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE RIGHT REAR ACTUATOR DURING COLD WEATHER. THIS MAY OCCUR WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED IF WET PARKING BRAKE SHOES HAVE FROZEN IN THE APPLIED POSITION. IF THE RIGHT REAR PARKING BRAKE CABLE BECOMES DISCONNECTED, THE PEDAL WILL HAVE EXTENDED TRAVEL AND MAY NOT FULLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.

What owners report on the 2nd generation Ranger

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.

  • 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
  • RecurrentRust along the body and frame, including leaf spring hangers
  • IsolatedClutch hydraulic problems involving the master and slave cylinder on manual trucks

Owner insights for the 2nd generation Ranger. Read the full 2nd generation owner report.

Typical used price

Used Ranger listings typically run $18,998–$27,490.

Other Ranger model years

Compare every Ranger year side by side to see how 2010 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Ranger against its rivals

Looking at a specific car?

We're building a full check by VIN: the exact trim and engine, its known problems and recalls, what to inspect, a fair price, and how it compares with its rivals. Get an email when it's ready.

One email when it launches. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy