Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Ford Ranger
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Ford Ranger has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 326 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V158000 Driver's Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V081000 Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21E013000 Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V024000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V384000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V352000 STEERING COLUMN MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 295 complaints
- Structure 10 complaints
- Electrical System 7 complaints
- Unknown or Other 5 complaints
- Engine 4 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 3 complaints
Of the 326 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 326 complaints, owners report 8 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,200–$6,800AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Ford Ranger has a prominent issue with airbag recalls, specifically with inflator modules, leading to a below-average reliability rating. Owners have reported numerous airbag complaints, indicating a significant risk. While other problems are minor in frequency and cost, the focus on airbag recalls suggests a need for caution regarding safety.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | N/A | No reliable estimate | very common |
| Electrical system | 75,000–100,000 miles | $150–$450 | occasional |
| Suspension | 80,000–120,000 miles | $300–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission service
- Differential fluid change
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Intermittent electrical issues
- Unusual suspension noise
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Ford Ranger at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.