Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2011 Ford Ranger
NHTSA data on file today
The 2011 Ford Ranger has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 235 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 2.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 3 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V158000 Driver's Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21E013000 Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V081000 Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode 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 196 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 9 complaints
- Service Brakes 8 complaints
- Structure 8 complaints
- Electrical System 5 complaints
- Power Train 5 complaints
Of the 235 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 235 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2011 Ford Ranger shows an average reliability profile due to frequent airbag recalls and relatively few complaints about other components. The significant focus on airbag issues, with numerous recalls and complaints, somewhat affects its reliability rating. However, other systems have low complaint counts, suggesting moderate maintenance costs beyond the airbag concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 50,000–100,000 miles | $300–$800 | very common |
| Tail lights | 20,000–60,000 miles | $100–$300 | common |
| Braking system | 70,000–120,000 miles | $200–$500 | 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
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Engine air filter replacement
- Transmission fluid check
- Coolant system flush
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Tail light malfunction
- Brake pedal vibration
- Unusual braking noise
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2011 Ford Ranger at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.