908 of the
10,532 complaints filed about the Ford Ranger
are about the transmission —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
908
Complaints
100%
Share of all complaints
52
Crashes
8
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
While driving from [XXX] to [XXX] on XXX my 2021 Ford Ranger's dash light came on and I noticed harsh shifting and the vehicle began jolting unpredictably while I was driving at highway speeds. To avoid imminent danger, I pulled off the 101 and slowly drove to the closest Ford dealership, Vista Ford Lincoln of [XXX], in order to have the truck assessed. Technicians performed a diagnostic evaluation and retrieved DTC P0766 (shift solenoid "D" performance/stuck off) and P2703 (transmission friction element "D" apply time.) These codes are the documented engineering signature of internal CDF clutch drum bushing migration- a known, widespread manufacturing defect inherent to Ford's 10R80 transmission platform. Vista Ford confirmed the transmission required a complete replacement, but assured me that I could slowly drive the truck home to [XXX] for the repair. [XXX] of [XXX] confirmed the error codes and quoted me $9,857.86 to repair the existing transmission and $13,295.84 to replace the transmission. I reached out to Ford Corporate (case number: [XXX]) who explicitly refused a reasonable goodwill remedy, offering only a 10% discount against [XXX]'s replacement quote. This left me with an untenable $11, 966.26 bill for a known factory defect, therefore I transferred the truck to B'N'C Mobile Auto Repair where the transmission replacement cost me $7, 954.73 Although the 5 year express powertrain warranty concluded on XXX, a major vehicle powertrain components failing at just 48,820 miles under normal during conditions is dangerous and unacceptable. I have preserved all diagnostic sheets, including trouble codes, paid receipts and my original 2021 sale contract. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11763949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yes this is my second time filing a complaint regarding my new truck switching drive modes on its own. The first time it tried going into 4 low while i was going over 45 mph, with only 800 miles. The next time it did it was at around 1200 miles it switched drive modes completely and tried switching into 4 wd while at hoghway speeds. This is clearly a safety issue, their are numerous threads on reddit, facebook and ranger forums regarding it. Ford cannot replicate so they dont fix, what will it take one of us getting killed before we get a recall for whatever part or module is broken.
NHTSA complaint #11763583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
lariat ranger 2024 changes modes without input from driver. This has happened dozen times btu not consistent It has happened at 80mph on interstate ,35 mph on road, leaving parking space, and turning corner after stopping for stop light This time went in to 4wheel drive low on dry pavement very difficult to steer until stopped and put back into 2 wheel drive. Has happened in dry weather and rainy weather. 50 degrees and 100 degrees dealer says ford has no reported problems to dealers. dealer says can not do anything without replicating problem while they test drive I am not leaving my Ranger with them to test drive for weeks. It is an inconsistent problem that can not be replicated by any one action
NHTSA complaint #11763219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2019 Ford Ranger with 10 speed transmission has been harsh shifting and will not always find the right gears. It will sometimes Surge forward or at other time not respond to acceleration. It has 100,000 miles. Never used it for towing or hawling heavy items.
NHTSA complaint #11762203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2019 Ford Ranger, VIN 1FTER4FH2KLA63893, experienced a major transmission failure at approximately 35,000 miles. I took the vehicle to a Ford dealership for diagnosis and was advised that the transmission required major repair/replacement, with an estimated cost approaching $9,000. I also obtained an independent transmission repair estimate of approximately $6,700–$7,000. Given the extremely low mileage and the repair cost relative to the vehicle’s value, repairing the truck no longer made financial sense. The transmission failure substantially reduced its trade value and is forcing me to replace a vehicle that I otherwise intended to keep. I estimate the resulting loss of equity at approximately $7,000, in addition to the financial impact of prematurely taking on another vehicle and associated financing. After the failure, I learned of ongoing litigation involving Ford’s 10R80 10-speed transmission, including allegations involving 2019 and 2020 Ford Rangers. I am reporting my experience so this failure is formally documented and can be considered in connection with any investigation, litigation, warranty extension, recall, or other potential remedy involving the 10R80 transmission.
NHTSA complaint #11761924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving my 2020 Ford Ranger, the transmission has repeatedly exhibited unexpected and unintended gear changes, including sudden downshifts or gear changes without driver input, hesitation, and abrupt loss of power during acceleration. These problems have occurred during highway merging, pulling into traffic, and city driving. On 08/14/2026, while accelerating to pull into traffic, the vehicle suddenly lost power, creating a hazardous situation as vehicles approached from behind. I have also experienced instances in which the transmission unexpectedly shifted or hesitated without warning, causing the vehicle to lurch or slow unpredictably in traffic. This condition creates a serious safety hazard because an unexpected loss of power or unintended gear change can prevent the vehicle from accelerating when needed, such as when merging, passing, pulling into traffic, or avoiding a collision. The unpredictable behavior increases the risk of a crash and endangers both the driver and surrounding motorists. The vehicle was taken to Crossroads Ford of Indian Trail on 08/14/2026, where it was diagnosed with a failed or failing 10R80 automatic transmission. At the time, the vehicle had approximately 57,500 miles and was approximately 5 years and 7 months old, which is 7 months beyond the manufacturer's bumper-to-bumper warranty. I have maintained the vehicle according to Ford's recommended service schedule throughout my ownership. I am aware that Ford has issued prior service bulletins and customer satisfaction programs related to 10R80 transmission issues, including TSB 18-2274, 20-2339, 22-2139, 23-2250, and 24-2254, although I have not confirmed whether any of them directly apply to this VIN. I am filing this complaint because the symptoms I experienced—unexpected gear changes, hesitation, lurching, and sudden loss of power—present an immediate safety risk to me, my passengers, and other drivers on the road.
NHTSA complaint #11760265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On multiple occasions while driving the vehicle will randomly change drive modes by its self. It will try to go into 4x4 low gear (rock crawl mode) at highway speeds. This has happened a dozen times since I purchased the vehicle new.
NHTSA complaint #11760214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle occasionally will change drive modes while in motion. In the past three months, it has switched from Normal to Baja mode three times and from Normal to Rock Crawl mode one time. The issues occured while driving on the freeway in construction traffic, driving slowly down rural county roads, and driving slowly in my subdivision.
NHTSA complaint #11760253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
8/4/2026 @ approximately 0630 When making a right hand turn vehicle (transmission) stalled for approximately 3-4 seconds before restarting. Reported to Corwin Ford Service Dept. here in RENO,NV who declined to investigate. Said it was my responsibility even though vehicle is under warranty. 8/27/2026 @ approximately 0830 while entering high traffic roadway with 55mph speed limit with foot depressed on gas pedal transmission completely stalled while traffic rapidly approached. Transmission engaged at last minute before rear end impact.
NHTSA complaint #11760002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The transmission under several circumstances will just stall out. Will NOT allow the vehicle to accelerate. Flooring the gas pedal does not do anything. RPM may go up a couple hundred RPM (not thousand) but the truck just will not move. After this now happening several times I can tell you that it happens when making a left or right hand turn without coming to a complete stop and the area turning into is an up hill section. Watching the gear indicator normally shows a very high gear of 8 or higher. Trans needs to down shift but it will not. Stomping accelerator to the floor does nothing. On and off to the floor does nothing. Pulling the shifter to manual and flicking the change gear does work and if you don't have on coming traffic bearing down that's fine. But if you have on coming traffic and you can't move it is a major safety issue in my mind. The vehicle feels like you have pulled up to a parking curb and after stopping you try to go over it with little to no power being applied. This has happened now seven times. Ford dealer says the vehicle shows no codes.
NHTSA complaint #11758986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The drive mode randomly changes by itself while drive. When this occurs it can shift to 4 wheel drive will moving on dry pavement. This this not been checked out by the dealer because based on online forums others have the same issue and Ford can not reproduce or provide any fixes. I'm assuming there have been other complaints for this same issue reported to NHTSA. I'm adding a date for when this happened below, but it has happened at least six times since I have owned the truck online forums [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11757275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle received and installed an over-the-air software update to the Body Control Module, identified on the vehicle screen as BCM-26.6.3 and associated with Safety Recall 26S29 (A-pillar/sun visor wiring, NHTSA 26V238000). The update screen displayed a status of "Not Completed." Since that update the vehicle will not start and is inoperative. Current condition: opening the driver door wakes the center infotainment screen only. The instrument cluster does not illuminate. Pressing the brake pedal produces no response - no cluster illumination, no warning lamps, no chimes, no messages, no crank. 12V power is present; the manufacturer's telematics app still reaches the vehicle and returns status. Symptoms are consistent with a Body Control Module that is powered but not communicating on the vehicle network. No warning lamps, messages, or symptoms were present before the update. The vehicle operated normally until the update was installed. Safety risk: the vehicle became immobile without warning immediately following installation of a manufacturer-pushed safety recall remedy. The transmission cannot be shifted electronically, requiring the manual park release to move or tow the vehicle. Had this occurred away from home or in a traffic lane, the vehicle would have been stranded and unable to move under its own power. The BCM also governs exterior lighting and hazard lamp function. Note: the update screen header displayed "25S29" while the body text referenced completing Safety Recall 26S29. The vehicle has a dealer-installed Ford Performance ProCal calibration. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the dealer or manufacturer. It is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11757184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and shifting gear, the transmission shifted hard. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the transmission was operating as designed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recalls on the VIN associated with the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was traveling south on I-35 going up a long steep hill and my transmission started to hard shift and then I would lose power and when I would accelerate, I had no power it would just stall out so I merged to the right side in case I had to pull over because I thought the engine had died. When I reached my destination, I looked under my truck to discover fluid on the under carriage at that point I knew the transmission had blown a seal or a high-pressure hose. So, I left the truck there and the next day had it towed back to my house. There were times I had slowed down so much that traffic almost hit me.
NHTSA complaint #11756209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. Transmission is going out dealership never said a word about the 6 recalls on it one being transmission 2. Front seat belts are in backwards and the child safety hook in back seat has a recall on it that the 3 of the 6 I know of Ford had told alm to replace the entire transmission before they ever sold it they did not do that they didn't take care of any of the recalls
NHTSA complaint #11756331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hello, I have a 24-ford ranger raptor, this incident happened twice, I was driving approximately 60 MPH and vehicle on its own started changing drive modes. It switched itself to baja mode which is 4-wheel drive and very dangerous at these speeds. I took my truck to local ford dealer in Valencia Ca, Dealer stated no codes or issues found. This is deeply concerning to me; I Have family that also drives this vehicle. I have read online that other same vehicle owners are experiencing same symptoms and heavy concerns. Not sure where to go from here, any help or feedback would greatly appreciated. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11755976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Auto transmission is failing to shift when taking off from a stop or hesitating to shift to next year causing traffic behind me to get close to rear bumper.
NHTSA complaint #11755076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission hard shifts in low gear and sometimes slips gears or revs up engine without accelerating then slams into gear lurching forward. Had transmission oil checked by dealer and they said it looked great. Happened 29 July several times and again 5 Aug all throughout the day.
NHTSA complaint #11755122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.