NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED
2019 Ford Ranger Safety Ratings
The 2019 Ford Ranger scores 62 out of 100 on the NHTSA Safety Index (Below Average), with a 4-star overall NHTSA crash rating, 11 recalls, and 258 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
The 2019 Ford Ranger scored 62/100 on the NHTSA Safety Index, placing it in the Below Average category. While side-crash protection was solid and the overall NHTSA rating respectable, the Ranger's rollover score was weak. It also lacked crash-avoidance technology. Its defect record sub-score suffered significantly from 11 recall campaigns.
The 2019 Ford Ranger holds a NHTSA Safety Index of 62/100 and a 3-out-of-5-star NHTSA rollover rating, according to NHTSA crash-test and recall data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
Among the 119 Sedans from 2019 that NHTSA has crash-tested, the 2019 Ford Ranger ranks 118 for overall NHTSA Safety Index.
- urban drivers exposed to side-impact risk
| NHTSA Safety Index | 62 / 100 (Below Average) |
|---|---|
| Overall crash rating | 4 of 5 stars |
| Frontal / Side / Rollover | 4 / 5 / 3 stars |
| Rollover risk | 29.2% |
| Recalls on file | 11 |
| Owner complaints | 258 (unverified allegations) |
| Class rank | 118 of 119 Sedans tested for 2019 |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2019 Ford Ranger?
A 29 percent rollover risk probability contributes to the 2019 Ford Ranger's 3-star rollover rating, pulling down an otherwise competent crash protection score. This first-year re-entry for the Ranger resulted in a Below Average Safety Index of 62/100. While its crash protection sub-score reached 57 out of 70, buoyed by a 5-star side impact result, the rollover performance specifically diminished that outcome. A significant factor in the overall assessment is the avoidance technology sub-score of just 2 out of 10. The 2019 Ranger model did not include forward collision warning or lane departure warning as standard equipment. Electronic stability control was the sole standard active safety feature. This omission represents a notable gap in the vehicle's safety technology as it left the factory. The defect record sub-score of 3 out of 20 reflects 11 recall campaigns. Several of these were issued years after the vehicle's initial sale. Among these, a recall addressing seat belt webbing and two distinct recalls concerning the back-over prevention system hold particular operational significance for owners. The 2019 Ranger thus presents with decent passive crash protection, but its active safety features are limited, and its recall history warrants attention.
NCAP // CRASH TESTHow did the 2019 Ford Ranger perform in crash tests?
The 2019 Ford Ranger scored 3 out of 5 stars in rollover protection, with a 29 percent rollover risk. This result stands in contrast to its 5 out of 5 stars in side impact tests. NHTSA awarded the Ranger 4 out of 5 stars in overall and frontal crash protection. The dynamic tip test concluded with No Tip.
Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 14075
Index breakdown
NCAP // CRASH IMAGESCrash-test images
Crash-test images are US federal government works (NHTSA / NCAP), public domain.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2019 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
Yes, 11 recall campaigns cover this model year. Named components include the engine block heater, back-over prevention camera sensing system, back-over prevention software, tire and loading information labels, and front passenger outboard seat belt webbing. The seat belt recall is particularly safety-critical. Shoppers should verify remedy completion by VIN before purchase.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER25V685000
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
Reported 2025-10-10
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA25V572000
Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identificatio
Reported 2025-09-04
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE25V442000
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.
Reported 2025-06-27
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS23V379000
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.
Reported 2023-05-26
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING21V811000
Risk: A misrouted seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will provide owners with instructions to perform a preliminary inspection of their front seat belts. Owners that detect an issue with the driver's seat belt, are unsure of the results, or do not want to perform an inspection, should not drive their vehicles and contact a Ford dealership. Dealers will inspect the front row outboard seat belts and replace them, if necessary, free of charge. Int
Reported 2021-10-15
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR20V137000
Risk: A resistive electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the HVAC blower motor, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S12.
Reported 2020-03-09
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS19V839000
Risk: Intermittent or inoperative tail lamps can result in loss of stop, turn, rear position, and reverse lamp functions, which reduces the vehicle's visibility and may not fully alert other drivers that the vehicle is braking, turning, or reversing, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inline connector for loose terminals and replace the connectors, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 5, 2020. A renotification was sent on July 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S43.
Reported 2019-11-21
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR19V726000
Risk: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HVAC blower motor production date, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S34.
Reported 2019-10-10
SEAT BELTS19V518000
Risk: Improperly assembled seat belts may not adequately restrain occupants in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the right front seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S23.
Reported 2019-07-10
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT19V366000
Risk: If the gear shift lever position does not match the actual transmission gear, the vehicle may move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied before the vehicle is exited, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario increases the risk of crash or injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the transmission shift cable bracket fasteners as necessary, and verify the proper transmission shift operation, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S15.
Reported 2019-05-13
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION19V071000
Risk: If the vehicle can be shifted out of Park without the brake applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move. Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the transmission floor shift selector interlock assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C02.
Reported 2019-02-01
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2019 Ford Ranger?
Owners have filed 258 unverified complaints with NHTSA, including alleged reports of 13 crashes, 2 fires, and 6 injuries. The most frequently alleged problem areas are the power train (87 reports), electrical system (38), unknown or other issues (33), engine (25), service brakes (20), and suspension (16). All figures are unverified consumer allegations.
258 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2019 Ford Ranger?
Any shopper considering a 2019 Ford Ranger should run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup tool before purchase. With 11 recall campaigns on record, including one covering front seat belt webbing, confirming that every remedy has been completed at a dealership is a non-negotiable step in evaluating this used vehicle.
- The 2019 Ford Ranger earned a 5-star NHTSA side-crash rating, the strongest result in its test profile, but offset by a 3-star rollover rating and a 29 percent rollover risk probability specific to this model year.
- Neither forward collision warning nor lane departure warning was available on the 2019 Ranger, earning an avoidance technology sub-score of just 2 out of 10 and distinguishing this year from later model years that added such features.
- Eleven recall campaigns are on record for this model year, with the front passenger outboard seat belt webbing recall and two separate back-over prevention system recalls representing the most direct safety concerns for current owners.
- NHTSA has received 258 unverified owner complaints for this model year, with the power train category alone accounting for 87 alleged reports, making it the single largest complaint area by a wide margin.
RANKINGSWhere the 2019 Ford Ranger places
The 2019 Ford Ranger qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2019 Ford Ranger safety questions
Was the 2019 Ford Ranger crash-tested by NHTSA?
Yes. NHTSA crash-tested the 2019 Ford Ranger, and it earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 62 out of 100, placing it in the Below Average band. The index combines federal crash-test stars, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the recall record.
What are the 2019 Ford Ranger crash-test star ratings?
In NHTSA testing the 2019 Ford Ranger earned 4 out of 5 stars for overall, 4 out of 5 stars for frontal, 5 out of 5 stars for side, and 3 out of 5 stars for rollover. Its measured rollover risk is 29.2%. Categories NHTSA did not test show as not rated.
How many recalls does the 2019 Ford Ranger have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 11 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2019 Ford Ranger. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Ford Ranger?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 258 owner complaints are on file for the 2019 Ford Ranger. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash or a fire.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Ranger years
Rivals in Sedan (2019)
| Vehicle | NHTSA Safety Index | Overall stars | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Acura RLX Sport | 100/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2019 Audi A4 Allroad | 99/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2019 Audi Rs5 Sportback | 99/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2019 Audi S5 Sportback | 99/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2019 Audi S4 | 98/100 | not rated | 1 |
| 2019 Tesla Model S 60d | 98/100 | not rated | 0 |
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program crash tests (VehicleId 14075), the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Ford Ranger 2019.
- SCORE The NHTSA Safety Index (0-100) weights crash protection, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the defect record. Full formula on the methodology page. It ranks 118 of 119 in the Sedan class for 2019.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.