UK's best-selling pickup with genuine workhorse credentials
The Ranger dominates the UK pickup market as the consistent best-seller, valued equally by farmers, tradespeople, and lifestyle buyers. Used Wildtrak models from 2020-2022 trade at £25,000-£35,000, while the Raptor commands £36,000-£50,000 with strong value retention. Most Rangers qualify for commercial vehicle tax benefits (BIK advantage), and the 1-tonne payload rating satisfies HMRC's van classification for business users.
We track 7 known issues across the Ford Ranger range, including 2 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Ford Ranger? Enter the reg to see which of our 7 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
Gen1 (1999–2006) — Engine options included the 2.5L Duratorq TDCi, 2.5L Duratorq TDdi. Our database flags 7 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Chassis mounting point corrosion (£2,000–£4,000 to address).
Gen2 (2006–2011) — Engine options included the 2.2L Duratorq TDCi, 2.2L Duratorq TDCi, 3.0L Duratorq TDCi. Our database flags 7 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Chassis mounting point corrosion (£2,000–£4,000 to address).
Gen3 (2011–2022) — Engine options included the 2.2L Duratorq TDCi, 3.2L Duratorq TDCi. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Leaf spring failure (£600–£1,000 to address).
Gen4 (2019–2024) — Engine options included the 2.0L EcoBlue. We track 1 known issues on this generation, with 1 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Auto gearbox issues (£1,500–£3,000 to address).
The Ranger's chassis suffers from severe corrosion at suspension and body mounting points, particularly where the leaf spring brackets attach to the main rails. Ford used insufficient corrosion protection on these critical structural points. MOT data shows this model fails at 199 times the national fleet average for mounting point corrosion. This is a structural integrity issue that can render the vehicle unsafe to drive and uneconomical to repair.
Failed mounting points can lead to suspension collapse or body separation from the chassis. This presents an immediate safety risk. Repair typically requires chassis section replacement or professional welding, costing £2,000-5,000. Many vehicles are written off as uneconomical to repair once corrosion reaches this stage.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
The Ranger's rear leaf springs are prone to fracturing, particularly the main load-bearing leaf. This affects all generations up to 2022 and shows in MOT data as 181 times the fleet average failure rate. The springs can fracture suddenly under load, causing immediate loss of vehicle control and potential axle displacement. This is exacerbated by corrosion of the spring mounting points and inadequate spring steel specification for the vehicle's payload rating.
Spring failure can cause immediate loss of vehicle control, particularly when loaded. The rear axle may shift position, affecting steering and braking. Complete spring replacement is required, typically costing £400-800 per side. The vehicle should not be driven with fractured springs.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The Ranger's steering rack develops excessive free play, showing 247 times the fleet average failure rate in MOT data. This affects primarily the earlier generations and manifests as wandering steering, poor straight-line stability, and increased steering effort. The rack pinion wears prematurely, and internal seals fail, leading to hydraulic fluid contamination of the rack mechanism.
Excessive steering play reduces vehicle control and increases accident risk, particularly at motorway speeds. Complete steering rack replacement is typically required, costing £800-1,500 including labor. The vehicle remains driveable but should be repaired promptly.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
Duratorq diesel engines suffer from turbocharger failure due to oil starvation, carbon buildup on the variable geometry mechanism, and bearing wear. The variable geometry turbo (VGT) system is particularly prone to sticking vanes caused by carbon deposits and inadequate oil change intervals. This affects all Duratorq variants and typically manifests as loss of boost pressure, reduced power output, and excessive exhaust smoke.
Complete turbo failure results in severe power loss and potential engine damage from oil contamination or over-boost conditions. Replacement with genuine or quality aftermarket unit costs £800-2,000 including labor. The vehicle remains driveable in limp mode but should be repaired to prevent further engine damage.
During a test drive, check for hesitation, lack of power or unusual whining from the turbo area. Watch for blue or white smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration. Check the oil condition and service history — turbos rely on clean oil.
Common rail diesel injectors on Duratorq engines are prone to failure due to fuel contamination, carbon buildup, and wear of internal sealing components. The high-pressure injection system operates at up to 2,000 bar, making injectors sensitive to fuel quality and contamination. Failed injectors cause rough running, excessive smoke, poor fuel economy, and can damage other injection system components if left untreated.
Failed injectors cause progressive engine damage through poor combustion, carbon buildup, and potential damage to catalytic converter or DPF system. Individual injector replacement costs £150-300 per cylinder, with labor adding £200-400. Multiple injector failure often requires complete set replacement costing £600-1,200 plus labor.
Check for fuel smells around the engine bay and underneath the car. Look for staining or wetness around fuel lines and connections. Injector issues may cause rough running or misfires that are most noticeable at idle.
For the full breakdown of all 7 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Ford Ranger common problems page.
Based on 583k real DVSA MOT tests, the Ford Ranger fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is fixings missing or insecure at 546x the fleet average, followed by free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... (371x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Ford Ranger MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt (£400–£600), timing chain service (£800–£1,200), automatic transmission fluid (£200–£300).
See the full Ford Ranger service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Ford Ranger has some well-documented weak points, including 2 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2020-2022 models are the sweet spot — the refined 2.0 EcoBlue diesel, 10-speed auto, modern safety tech, and the VW co-developed platform before the full next-gen arrived. For value, 2016-2019 facelifted models with the 3.2 TDCi offer proven reliability from £12,000-£18,000, but check oil pump history. Avoid early 2012-2015 models where corrosion and fuel system issues are most prevalent. The Raptor holds value exceptionally but check Fox suspension service records.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Ford Ranger, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 7 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 7 known Ford Ranger issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.