2023 Ford Ranger
Gas Pickup truck
The 2023 Ford Ranger is sold in the U.S. as a gas pickup truck with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Ranger 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 18 complaints, most often about power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger 2WD | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 26 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Ranger 2WD | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,850 |
| Ranger 4WD | Gas | Part-time 4WD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 24 | 22 | $2,850 |
| Ranger 4WD | Gas | Part-time 4WD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 19 | 24 | 21 | $2,950 |
| Ranger Tremor 4WD | Gas | Part-time 4WD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 19 | 19 | 19 | $3,300 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
Out of factory warranty soon?
The 2023 Ford Ranger is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (4)
Equipment
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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
Back Over Prevention
minorProblem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Equipment
minorProblem: 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."
Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Wheels
criticalProblem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Bronco and Ranger vehicles. The lug nuts on the driver's side wheels may have been improperly tightened.
Risk: Loose lug nuts may result in wheel detachment while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, retighten the lug nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 2, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S17.
Owner complaints
18 complaints filed
2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2023: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 3
Most-cited components
- Power Train — 5
- Engine — 3
- Air Bags — 2
- Service Brakes — 2
- Vehicle Speed Control — 2
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 26% |
| PU/CC RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 29% |
| PU/EC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 26% |
| PU/EC RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 29% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking.
Compare the 2023 Ranger with
Other Ranger model years
2026 Ranger
7 recalls · 5 complaints
F2025 Ranger
13 recalls · 36 complaints
F2024 Ranger
13 recalls · 75 complaints
F2022 Ranger
5 recalls · 37 complaints
F2021 Ranger
6 recalls · 112 complaints
F2020 Ranger
7 recalls · 127 complaints
F2019 Ranger
11 recalls · 266 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 46168, 46167, 46187, 46186, 46188). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.