Model year 2023 · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD

2023 Ford Ranger: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2023 Ford Ranger at 19–23 mpg combined across 5 versions. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 18 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

19–23

NHTSA overall rating

4/5

Recall file dated Oct 28, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 28, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Ford dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2023 Ford Ranger recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 4 safety recalls for the 2023 Ford Ranger, newest first.

Equipment: Electrical: Engine block heater

NHTSA 25V685000 Reported Oct 10, 2025

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25SA4)
Units affected: 59,006 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Remedy: 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 December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Back over prevention: Software

NHTSA 25V442000 Reported Jun 27, 2025

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25S72)
Units affected: 200,237 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Remedy: 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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Equipment: Other: Labels

NHTSA 23V379000 Reported May 26, 2023

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 23C18)
Units affected: 29,607 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Remedy: 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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Wheels: Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

NHTSA 23V283000 Reported Apr 20, 2023 Do not drive

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 23S17)
Units affected: 1,434 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Remedy: 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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2023 Ford Ranger fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2023 Ford Ranger EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Ranger 2WD	2.3L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 10-speed	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/26/22 mpg	$3,050	397
Ranger 2WD	2.3L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 10-speed	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	21/26/23 mpg	$2,900	387
Ranger 4WD	2.3L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 10-speed	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	Regular	19/24/21 mpg	$3,200	420
Ranger 4WD	2.3L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 10-speed	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/24/22 mpg	$3,050	410
Ranger Tremor 4WD	2.3L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 10-speed	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	Regular	19/19/19 mpg	$3,550	471

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2023 Ford Ranger crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2023 Ford Ranger NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2023 Ford Ranger (Super Cab) PU/EC 4WD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	3 stars	25.6%	Standard & Optional
2023 Ford Ranger (Super Cab) PU/EC RWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	3 stars	29.2%	Standard & Optional
2023 Ford Ranger (Super Crew) PU/CC 4WD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	3 stars	25.6%	Standard & Optional
2023 Ford Ranger (Super Crew) PU/CC RWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	3 stars	29.2%	Standard & Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2023 Ford Ranger owner complaints

Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Ford Ranger, most recently on Aug 9, 2026. 2 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2023 Ford Ranger complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Power train	4
Engine	3
Air bags	2
Electrical system	2
Service brakes	2
Fuel system, gasoline	1
Lane departure: Lane keep: Steering assist	1
Power train: Automatic transmission	1
Service brakes, hydraulic	1
Suspension	1

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Ford Ranger model years

Ford Ranger by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2026 Ranger	17–23 mpg	8	9	4/5
2025 Ranger	17–23 mpg	13	44	4/5
2024 Ranger	17–22 mpg	13	96	4/5
2022 Ranger	19–23 mpg	5	38	4/5
2021 Ranger	18–23 mpg	6	119	4/5
2020 Ranger	18–23 mpg	7	130	4/5
2019 Ranger	18–23 mpg	11	270	4/5

All Ford Ranger years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2023 Ford models

2023 Ford Bronco 2023 Ford Bronco Sport 2023 Ford Edge 2023 Ford Escape 2023 Ford Expedition 2023 Ford Explorer 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning 2023 Ford F150 2023 Ford Maverick 2023 Ford Mustang 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E 2023 Ford Transit Connect

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 28, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Ford.