2021 FORD RANGER Power Train Problems
36 complaints about Power Train
High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
All Power Train Complaints (36)
While driving car shifted from 2nd to neutral. Engine rpms went up but no power was transfered to tires. Had to put car into park and then back into drive to regain power transfer to tires. Luckily no one was injuried. Took car to local mechanic. Diagnostic came up with no error messages. Service tech took it for a brief test drive and noticed issue with transmission. Recommended transferring to dealership where truck was purchased. To date all maintenance has been performed by dealership. Followed their 'recommended' maintenance schedule.
Vehicle has no gears and will not move. Was able to pull into parking lot. Transmission has acted jerky and slipped gears since I bought it.
I was driving and all of a sudden I lost acceleration in the middle of an intersection. My truck had no gears and gave me zero indication there was an issue. I then was told Ford has a newly designed part that fixes the issue and I would have to pay $7500. How does a manufacturer knowingly sell such a dangerous product, and not have a recall for that product after updating a faulty design?
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle hesitated, with an abnormal sound coming from the transmission. The contact stated that the vehicle functioned as intended afterwards. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at 65 MPH, the yellow wrench warning light illuminated, and the RPMs fluctuated; however, the vehicle failed to move, and the vehicle stalled. The contact turned on the hazard lights and coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
Mileage: 76,000
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Complete transmission failure due to low transmission fluid filled from factory, yes report and vehicle available for inspection upon request How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Transmission failed while on highway, causing vehicle to fail to accelerate to maintain safe highway speed. Was able to cruise off highway before blocking traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, Maplecrest Ford of Mendham dealership Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, see above Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, there was a misfire coming from the engine, and the vehicle shuddered violently. The contact stated that the failure increased while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The service manager at the dealer was contacted and informed the contact that he had remote access to the DTC that was displayed after the failure had occurred. The contact verbally provided the DTC, but the information was not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that upon researching the failure online, information related to water leaking into the engine compartment while the vehicle was parked on an incline with the front end facing down, due to the design of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was routinely parked on an incline in the driveway with the front of the vehicle facing down. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
Mileage: 114,000
Existing TSB related incident. While driving 45mph transmission began to disengage and free rev. Vehicle wouldn't/ couldn't select a gear. Speed dropped to 30 (in 45mph zone) Put hazards on until i could safely pull over, was almost rear ended.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact indicated that the failure had occurred while turning at a busy intersection. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000.
Mileage: 86,000
2021 Ford Ranger with 10R80 transmission showing following codes P0733 P0734 90,000 miles on truck. jerky and slipping gear change between 3-4 and 5-6 occasionally no drive. have service records showing my truck was maintained properly.
transmission disengaged on highway causing very dangerous driving condition. There is a Ford TSB 25-2134 issued on 4/15/2025. I am told it is a transmission pump failure and would require a very costly transmission replacement. I am within the time limit of my warranty, but just out of range on my distance warranty.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate, the transmission malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to hesitate while accelerating. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated at reduced speeds. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 91,000.
Mileage: 91,000
When I accelerate after a stop my truck starts jerking when shifting thru lower gears and the check engine light flashes. To increase my speed I have to slowly press the gas until it shifts thru gears. After it shifts thru the lower gears it appears to be okay. It doesn't do it at each stop but is now happening more frequently. I don't know if it's a transmission problem or fuel pump. Current mileage is around 62000. If I'm on the highway it will sometimes start jerking while the using cruise control and I have hit the brakes and take over acceleration. I've now parked the truck because dealer cannot get to it for 3-4 weeks.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the transmission unexpectedly downshifted before slamming into gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed by the dealer to call the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
Mileage: 59,000
Transmission needed to be replaced before 50000 miles. Finally got replaced at 53000. New transmission has 11500 miles in it and is having the same problems as before. Dealership couldn’t replicate the problem and Ford is unwilling to help. Truck rough shifts, clunks, and shudders. At times won’t go into gear at lower speeds. Turned a corner at a slow speed and hit the gas but the truck wouldn’t accelerate for 1-2 seconds and I was almost rear ended by the car behind me. Truck has failed to go into gear and accelerate in traffic more than one time. 4 years old with 64xxx miles and in need of a third transmission.
Transmission looses power when accelerating, usually between 2nd - 4th gears. This is an safe condition when I am entering traffic on highways. No warning lights have appeared.
It started moth my vehicle losing power and chugging , dealership diagnosed as transmission (10 speed ). After all of the Ford appointed tasks to fix said problem, valves were replaced , did not work then entire transmission was replaced . After 7 times in the shop and many missed work hours . Maybe 2 weeks later truck starts bucking as I enter the highway , was close to getting rear ended . Brought vehicle to dealership 2 weeks later diagnosed with the turbo going out in it . And then Friday 3/14 driving home from work the check engine light comes on. Says emission issues ? Also says need to service engine soon . Dealership says it is fine to drive they will call me when they can figure it out ? My vehicle ha less than 25k miles these issues started when I had 17k on it Started 8/5/24
2021 Ford Ranger Transmission slipping during driving . causes vehicle to jerk during shifting in gear 3, 4, 7, which causes the vehicle to jerk also during down shifting it shifts very hard. i looked online and apparently ford will not issue a recall because they will lose money on all the repairs they must do. if they changed the rings in the 2022 transmission they are aware of the issue obviously but refuse to address the problem. for us 2021 owners we are fucked. 9000$ repair for us.
Everyone that I have talked to that owns a 2021 Ford Ranger have transmission issues including me. Clunking/ jumping/ and very harsh shifting..
Transmission failed at 65000 miles on a one owner vehicle. Conveniently just after the warranty expired. Cost to fix transmission $9000.00. Those transmissions are faulty and many people are experiencing problems.
While driving the vehicle started to act like it could not find a its gears in the transmission and made a loud clunk then stopped moving attempted to put it in reverse and it sook a minute before it shifted and made another loud clunk then lost both forward and reverse. Currently at ford getting a new transmission. Vehicle stopped moving while driving and hard to get off the road, No warning lights came on in the vehicle.
Increasingly the transmission, when cold, was experiencing difficulty shifting between 3-4-5 and not shifting into 9-10. When the weather started reaching zero degrees overnight, the vehicle was reluctant to move and, once it began moving, would not shift out of 1st. After allowing the vehicle to warm up, it would reluctantly shift from 3-4-5 and then, without any speed reduction, suddenly downshift with a shudder and bang. Vehicle is in the Ford dealer while they preform the TSB related to this universally known problem with the 10R80 transmission. Despite the TSB “approving” significant part replacements, including clutches, modules and converter, the dealer is required to proceed a few steps at a time and then test the vehicle to document the need to replace more components, before proceeding the the TSB. Ford is avoiding what should be a full recall involving providing the dealers with a rebuilt transmission and converter with the dealer’s responsibility only being the replacement of the transmission. Ford’s dealing with this very well know problematic transmission with a TSB is grossly unfair to the dealers and exceedingly unfair to the consumers who eventually bear the financial burden.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that at first there were no warning lights illuminated; however, after a while the "Power Train Malfunction - Reduced Power" message was displayed. The dealer and an independent mechanic were notified of the failure and acknowledge that the defect was a common failure. The contact was provided an estimate for a new transmission. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was offered financial assistance if the vehicle was serviced by a Ford dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
Mileage: 37,000
Transmission issues that are known to the manufacturer. Backed out onto a road while there was no traffic, shifter into drive and the transmission made a banging noise and refused to shift. Cars started coming in behind me and I was blocking traffic. Was able to get it into neutral then into drive so I could pull away. This is a well known issue to Ford and they have only offered service bulletins that provide temporary fixes until vehicles are out of the factory warranty period and Ford no longer has to cover repair costs. Vehicle only has 50,000 miles and the transmission issues started around 30,000
We love Ford Rangers. This is my 4th. It has been wonderful, until [XXX]. We had to replace an A/C, but that's normal. We've also noticed a very few times that when the transmission shifted, there was a little jolt. But that was rare. But on [XXX], after stopping at a light at the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] in Indianola, MS., we had a frightening experience. After crossing the busy highway I began to accelerate and suddenly the truck jolted forward and quickly accelerated to 70 mph. I hit the brakes, and after a couple of taps it slowed down. But when I gave it more gas, it only roared twice, and no power...with big trucks beside and behind me. That was frightening. Then it returned to normal, and I went on to Isola, MS. Upon leaving it didn't want to move forward, only roaring, but then quickly responded and was back to normal. I was scheduled for a 12:30 lunch meeting in Leland, MS and my wife and I proceeded. All normal. Upon leaving Leland, same thing. No power at first, then it moved forward, normally. We noticed it was a rough shift at 45 mph as we got out on freeway. I called the service department at Hallmark Ford, Batesville, and told mgr. my problem. Thought it might be fuel pump, filter, or transmission. Upon arrival at home, it wouldn't go in reverse. I sent it to dealer on wrecker. Got second opinion. Both say it needs a new transmission at $8900. My concern is will the new transmission have same problems...reading now on internet of other people who have had similar events. Money matters, but MY CONCERN is the danger this could have inflicted upon us. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2021 Ford Ranger - 10R80 Transmission Failure while driving. Hard shifting, lurching, slipping gears then abrupt failure. It is available. Currently at Diehl Ford in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. - It went from being 90% drivable to coming to complete stop with no transmission engagement at all. Break down occured while climbing a grade and the complete stop happened over a blind crest with guard rails on either side. Leaving myself vulnerable to being struck from behind and another driver having minimal time to see then avoid me or potentially have no where to go but through me. Can I add documents later as I get them?
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!
This is what is going on with my 2021 Ford Ranger automatic 10-speed transmission and the vehicle's drivability. When bringing the vehicle to a stop, the shifting down to a 1st gear is often executed so harshly that I can hear the driveshaft ringing in reaction to the transmission hard shift nearly locking the rear wheels. The whole act resembles "slamming" a shifter into a gear without disengaging a clutch that can be achieved on a standard (stick-shift) transmission "bangs" at a full stop feeling like being rear-ended. After a full stop, the take-off is “sluggish” - The truck gets moving in the 1st gear, the engine revs up to 2500 - 3000 RPM the transmission hesitatingly shifts into 3rd (always skipping 2nd), the noticeable sound of ‘gear grinding’ is heard when the 3rd gear is engaging. The whole process usually takes 2 to 3 seconds, the truck would literally "drift" before any noticeable acceleration is achieved. Lastly, since the day days of ownership, in the area around 2K miles and above, the truck, when the gas pedal is “floored” (ea. on the highway), would get a hard "mallet-like: kick with a significant audible, hard knock somewhere in the drivetrain and at times during this even the "explosion-like" could be heard from the engine compartment making the vehicle shudder.
Truck has hard shifting and loss of power, usually on startup and at low speeds (like in a parking lot) that cause lurching and no response from gas pedal. These events are not reliably repeatable, and result in no dash lights. Sequence of events, start truck, place in reverse, back out of parking spot, place in drive, apply throttle/gas pedal, while driving slowly, car will hard shift, sometimes resulting in a lurch forward, approach exit to parking lot, truck rolls down slight incline of parking lot entrance and throttle is unresponsive to gas pedal, no power, release pedal, wait a second or two, apply pressure and it works. Driving at low speeds in parking lots, truck cannot decide what gear to be in, and sounds horrible, 5-10 mph. Approaching stops on an incline, driving forward, release gas, start to apply brakes, truck will shift and apply power while under braking. Once, pulled in to parking space, backed out to straighten, placed in drive, wrench light came on, no power. Turned the truck on and off again, and that fixed the issue. All incidents between 20k and 40k miles.
The critical level of FUEL DILUTION (Fuel% = 5.5) in the motor oil of this vehicle's 2.3L EcoBoost engine poses a Safety Hazard due to its system's Fuel Leaks and Fire Danger probability existing since the vehicle purchase. I am concerned for the safety of everyone because this vehicle has been evaluated to be a Fire Hazard with 104.5C via ASTM D93 Closed Cup Flash Point. The Motorcraft's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is listed as >185C. Ford Motor Company (FMC) inspected the vehicle numerous times but safety issues remain. For this reason, I took it out of service and parked at my residence until this problem would be resolved entirely in according with the law. The vehicle mustn't be driven on its power.
Harsh shifting into D, loss of power when accelerating while cold. Sometimes would start across an intersection then buck, loose power and slow down then SLAM back into gear and chirp the rear tires. Technical Service Bulletin 23-2350 was performed on 11/15/2023 which updated the trans tables and cleared some codes. This helped the issue for about a week but then truck was in again on 1/22/2024 for TSB 23-2350 a second time which replaced the CDF drum. A month later, 800 miles, 2/18/2024 truck shifted HARD while in cruise control on the turnpike in traffic and lost power. DTC P0766 check engine light came on and truck would no longer move. Transmission fluid sprayed under truck. Had to be towed to dealership. Clutch Valve D was replaced. Two months have gone by and the hard shifting into D and occasional complete loss of power still occurring. Waiting for the next check engine light to appear to take it in again. I now drive very conservatively because I don't know if it will stop moving half way across an intersection again.
10 speed transmission issues: hard shifts, feels like slipping while in gear and driving, transmission "lunged" at a STOP sign jerking the truck forward, transmission "bangs" during some upshifts, transmission "bangs" at a full stop feeling like being rear-ended. Erratic shifting and unexpected forward lunging are a safety issue of myself and other drivers. Have not asked dealer to investigate yet. No warning lamps or messages. Unable to reliably replicate the issues.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been involved in a crash due to unintended acceleration, which caused the contact to rear-end another vehicle. The vehicle had body and paint repairs performed; however, the vehicle later experienced jerking, and the transmission was seized while driving. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
Mileage: 79,000
The contact leased a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he noticed a cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact then stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear. Additionally, the contact stated that while shifted into drive(D) or reverse(R), he heard a clunking sound and while shifted into park(P), the vehicle rolled several inches further than normal. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the contact was not informed of what needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he noticed a cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust. No warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and the vehicle was then towed from the residence back to the dealer where the contact was then informed that the transmission was previously replaced. The vehicle was then towed to a different dealer where it remained. The contact stated that service was denied. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Mileage: 40,000
vehicle has a hard shift and jerks when shifting up and down
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 .
There is gasoline in my oil. I had an oil analysis from a lab, and they confirmed there is too much gasoline in my oil.