Is your defective Ford Ranger actually a LEMON?

Find out in 30 SECONDS or less if it qualifies for a REFUND or a CASH SETTLEMENT.

Print this page

8.2

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,496 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 Ford Ranger brakes problems

brakes problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2021 Ford Ranger:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2021 Ford Ranger Owner Comments

problem #11

Nov 272023

Ranger

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The two rear brake rotors were 75% rusted through, this truck only had 5,642 miles on it at the time. Brake pedal was soft, went to the floor to stop. Asked local ford dealer to look at and they wanted to charge me for two rear rotors and brake shoes. I informed them that I thought this would be a factory defect, they determined it wasn-??t. This was unexceptable to me. So I took it to dealership where I purchased truck and they agreed that this was a factory defect and replaced. The only reason I-??m writing you is due to all the complaints listed on your site for this truck, not one issue about rusted (badly) rotors. Unless this is an issue but just not being found.? I did read quite a few complaints about soft brake pedals though

- Winslow, ME, USA

problem #10

Oct 012021

Ranger

  • miles
I am, yet another of numerous Ford Ranger owners with the same brake issue. I completely concur with the November 3, 2023 complaint (NHTSA ID Number: 11553431) and everything stated in it. I must add that a few times I got pretty scared that I would not be able to stop in time as planned. The brake pedal travels (literally falls) far deep to the floor before ANY, however slight, breaking effort is achieved. Disturbingly, if I don-??t keep the brake pedal firmly pressed the truck will move forward!

- Crossville, TN, USA

problem #9

Nov 032023

Ranger

  • miles
Brakes pedal is soft and keeps going down as you push on it. The peddle does not pump up. Ford dealer says that that-??s the way Ford Ranger brakes feel. There are no warning lights and no noise coming from the brake system. Engine idle, the engine idles at 900+ rpm-??s, if you don-??t keep the break pedal firmly pressed the truck moves forward. I found myself in the middle of an intersection at a stop light this morning. Ford dealer says that is what Ford specifically requires that the idle be set at. I have found numerous similar complaints on the internet from Ford Ranger owners.

- Rogersville , MO, USA

problem #8

Jun 142021

Ranger

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It is quite easy to depress the brake pedal in such a way that one's foot also engages the accelerator pedal. This has happened to me several times, causing the truck to lurch forward rather than stopping dead as is my intention. Looking online, I see this has also happened to many others on Ford trucks. I have been driving for over 50 years and this has never happened on any other vehicle.

- Shelburne Falls, MA, USA

problem #7

May 212022

Ranger 4-cyl

  • 19,408 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving in the morning at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal would depress below the gas pedal. The contact stated that the brake pedal was soft while attempting to slow down and stop the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, but the mechanic found the brakes tested within Ford recommended specifications(Mechanics can only test per Ford prescribed method). The contact continued to experience failure. The contact took the vehicle to another local dealer: Varsity Ford (3480 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103: (734) 996-2300) but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact continued to experience a failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,408.

- Whitmore Lake, MI, USA

problem #6

Oct 012022

Ranger

  • miles
On multiple occasions the transmission has slipped when changing gears.This has happened when trying to merge into traffic. One time almost causing someone to rear-end me. It also fails to downshift some times when stopping, causing me to brake much harder than normal. I will be taking it to the dealer soon, to see if this can be fixed. These issues can be a little scary at times. There have been no warning lights or messages. This has happened at least a dozen times now. The first incident with the transmission I think started in 10/2022. it was sporadic at first, but seems to happen almost daily now.

- Prospect Park, PA, USA

problem #5

Jun 152021

Ranger

  • 30,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the brakes were inspected. The dealer informed the contact that the brakes were in good condition; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #4

Dec 172021

Ranger

  • miles
The brake pedal is mushy when applied. When you have to press the brake pedal hard, then the brake pedal is about 0.75 inches below the accelerator pedal. I took it to the ford dealer and he said it is working fine.

- Chanute, KS, USA

problem #3

Oct 192021

Ranger

  • miles
The brake pedal is very soft. It needs 1 or 2 pumps to get it to where my former vehicles were.

- Fitchburg, WI, USA

problem #2

Aug 292021

Ranger

  • miles
Brake pedal travel is excessive, similar to a much older vehicle. Brakes to not slow the vehicle until you press past the gas pedal, which introduces significant risk as the driver often simultaneously presses the gas pedal when making emergency or even normal stops and because this requires you to sit closer to the steering wheel than normal so you can reach the very long travel of the brake pedal, even if you are tall like me. Braking with even a moderate weight trailer requires very heavy depressing of the brake pedal to the point where you expend all travel and still don't feel as if you're slowing down as quickly as a modern vehicle should. My 2002 Chevy Tahoe with 210K miles had better brake performance than this 2021 truck. Brake pedal has heavy resistance during initial travel but no stopping power until 1/2 way through full travel range and there is almost no fidelity for slow, controlled braking after that. Worst of all, the brake pedal, which is electronically connected to trail management features, has a tendency to want to sink to the floor when you've stopped and/or there's a feeling that something is vibrating or trying to control the pedal when you are stopped. Additionally, even slight movement of the brake pedal causes the engine to start even though there's no reason for doing so as the vehicle is still stationary. THIS BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT SOMETHING YOU GET USED TO. I FEEL UNSAFE AND HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED VEHICLES NUMEROUS TIMES... EVENTUALLY IT WILL HAPPEN! THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN A RECALL IMMEDIATELY!!!

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #1

Mar 112021

Ranger 4-cyl

  • 50 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, excessive effort was needed while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to West herr Ford of hamburg (5025 camp rd, hamburg, NY 14075) where a service manager acknowledged the brake failure and stated that he would alert the manufacturer of the failure. The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer himself however, he was unsuccessful. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50. Consumer says that when depressing the brake pedal it takes at least 2 inches before the brakes apply. This causes the brake pedal to go below the gas pedal. Also, consumer states that vehicle can be shifted out of park without the brake pedal being applied. This causes the vehicle to lunge forward.

- Hamburg, NY, USA

Not what you are looking for?