Equipment Related Problems of the 2020 Ford Ranger

Table 1 shows one common equipment related problems of the 2020 Ford Ranger.

Table 1. Equipment related problems of Ford Ranger

Problem Category Number of Problems
Equipment problems
14

Equipment problem #1

Back up camera intermittently fails to operate giving a squiggly picture or a blank black screen. I have seen many articles involving the same issues with Ford broncos and where recalls have been issued for those vehicles. When will the ntsb be calling for Ford to recall other vehicles models having the same issues?.

Equipment problem #2

Rear view camera screen freezes, has distortion and is sometimes blank. This has been an issue for several months and I keep seeing articles regarding this problem and that Ford is recalling various vehicles for the same issue but have not been notified of a recall for my vehicle model and year.

Equipment problem #3

I bought the 4x4 Ford Ranger specifically to be towed behind my motor home and followed the directions on how to set up the flat-tow feature that allows the Ranger to be towed behind my motorhome. I had traveled to a number of good same rallys without any trouble with the Ranger. I use it also as my main vehicle at home to go to store, church etc. On my last trip to branson, mo while coming home there was a noise that sounded like my brakes on the Ranger were locked up. I took my foot off the gas pedal and it stopped, I proceeded on home when it did this several times. Each time it would stop. I got home disconnected the Ranger and it started fine, I drove it almost 200 miles when I began to notice a jerking from the transmission and took it to my dealer. They proceeded to check it out and told me that the transmission and universal were bad and needed to be replaced at a 17k price. According to the computer readout my battery had failed 2 times. How can a battery fail two time??? apparently this caused my flat tow in nuetral tow to go into normal range and at that time made my truck act like it was in normal range, towing a dead truck. This could have caused me to have a bad accident, end up in a ditch. The shop checked and the batter was low but ok. The computer on board did this to my truck and lied on the readout. Three (3) other Rangers had this happen to them and one blew up. I am sure other Ranger owners have had this happen to them too. This can cause a serious accident. I have filed a complaint to our attorney general in my state.

Equipment problem #4

Rearview camera malfunction. Screen on rearview mirror goes from blue color to blank. The vehicle's air conditioning does not blow cold air. Stays at warm temperature. Cannot hear pump kick on for a/c.

Equipment problem #5

Rear camera sometimes freezes or blacks out. Have seen recall notices for this issue on 2024 year models of the same vehicle model but not for the 2020 model.

Equipment problem #6

While driving on the highway the tensioner pulley snapped off from the timing cover. Losing the pulley caused my serpentine belt to become tangled in the radiator fan. My engine over heated and I lost power steering. This left me stranded on the side of the highway for hours. I took the truck to Ford, the origional quote was 3900, but they worked with me and got it down to 1765.

Equipment problem #7

Vehicle has 51,532 miles and a blend door actuator needs to be replaced - inconsistent air flow coming in. The desired air wanted whether it be hot or cold, is being diverted incorrectly, so we are not getting a consistent temperature out of the a/c system. This item was recalled previously in the 2019 Ford Ranger.

Equipment problem #8

Car has a terrible mold and musky smell in the cabin. Cleaned carpet several times and checked for water in truck smell didn't dissipate. Took to Ford where the linked it to the air condition dripping or gathering. The cleared line and emptied. Smell was milder for short time. After running the air a few days it was getting stronger. Local Ford dealers couldn't see us for some time so we took to outside ac car repair and they found the following issue related to ssm 50603 an improperly wrapped evaporator coil or small leak. Can't run air condition as we were advised smell would increase and possibly ruin carpet. Smell also is difficult to get out of upholstery and anything left in car. Ford dealers won't repair and require us to pay. Told by Ford corporate through chat that dealers are independently owned and it is their choice. This is an issue Ford is aware of but won't repair. No help at the corporate level. This could become larger issue as we don't know what buildup, leak or incorrect wrapped coils could lead to.

Equipment problem #9

This is the second time I'm hearing the climate control system click before I can adjust the temperature gauge. It was replaced less than 1,000 miles ago and it already broke again. You already put notice on the issue, ssm 49264, but it needs to be recalled with better parts. Im afraid ill be having to pay out of pocket if it keeps breaking. Please recall this.

Equipment problem #10

There is a known issue with 2019 and some 2020 model year Ford Rangers. The Ford ssm is #50629. I have been waiting for a Ford service center to fix this issue for 3 months. This issue does not allow for the heater to work properly. Because of that, the defroster and defog doesn't work. This allows for limited or zero visibility through the windshield and side windows in winter conditions that require defrost or defog. I have to had to pull over and scrape ice off my windshield on short trips. Also, this winter has had some of the coldest days on record. Reaching in the -20f range. Having no heat at a time like this could possibly result in frostbite or hypothermia. I use my vehicle as sparingly as possible this winter, but there are times I absolutely need to drive around.

Equipment problem #11

I checked oil level on Nov 9 2021. Oil level was clearly past the "full" mark on dip stick and smelled of un burnt fuel. Took to dealer same day. Got truck back on Nov 12 2021. Dealer says no fuel in oil bit couldn't explain why the oil level had risen past "full" mark. Clearly they lied. I had dealer do an oil change. Will send sample out next time. Checked today, Nov 15 2021. Smells like fuel still. Cause: unknown.

Equipment problem #12

I was in the driveway of my home. My family had entered and closed the front passenger door and opened the rear driver door. I opened and then closed the driver front door which caused the rear window with the glass sider to completely shatter. The vehicle had at the time 9,686 miles on it. It had no damage visible prior to this and there were no signs of any vandalism or other activity that would have caused this situation to occur. No vehicle alarm was activated either that would have indicated forced entry. In addition to our personal security system on our property providing no indication of such. This window should not have shattered. The cost to replace this window is $985 plus installation by a glass repair company. I contacted Ford customer care and was referred to a dealership service center to get the vehicle inspected, file a claim and then be referred to a glass shop. After contacting a couple of dealerships, was able to clear away glass to safely drive this vehicle to a third dealership to complete this process. Shattered, tempered glass from a rear window is difficult to clear and sharp. I then learned I was denied the claim of coverage under warranty because there are no other complaints regarding glass breakage. I am lodging this complaint with a relevant third party to ensure this is not true and if others have this issue of a defective window, they are not denied a true and substantial claim as I was. I will be attempting to use the coverage the dealership I bought the vehicle from to cover the cost of this repair. I don't believe this is an insurance claim. It is defective equipment from Ford on a new vehicle. It's a statement on how Ford backs the quality of their vehicles. I will be considering my vehicle purchases going forward.

Equipment problem #13

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal squeaking sound was coming from the rear passenger’s side of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was given a case number. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

Equipment problem #14

On several occasions in the last three weeks, I've felt severe shaking--almost as if the truck was heaving at virtually any speed. This has occurred on surface streets and freeways. Over the weekend, it occurred so frequently that my wife and I abandoned an out of town trip for fear the transmission was about to fail completely.


Equipment related problems in other Ford Ranger model year vehicles:



Ranger Service Bulletins
Ranger Safety Recalls
Ranger Defect Investigations