2022 Ford Ranger Problems and Top Complaints – Is Your Car A Lemon?

By Brian Jones | Updated on November 9th, 2022

The 2022 Ford Ranger is a smaller truck that is meant to fill a niche market on the roads. The automaker claims it is “built for adventure.” However, faulty components and a shoddy structure are causing quite a stir.

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Most Common Problems with the 2022 Ford Ranger

Complaints about the 2022 Ford Ranger are very varied, ranging from windows that shatter spontaneously to serious exterior lighting problems that impede safety.

Several different components and systems are referenced in consumer complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These relate to equipment, exterior lighting, the powertrain, seats and seat belts, and service brakes. There are also some scathing consumer reviews on other platforms including Kelley Blue Book (KBB) and Edmunds.

Problems with the Electrical System

The electrical system in any vehicle affects a multitude of functions. As a newer model, the Ford Ranger should have everything working in harmony for a smooth ride. Yet, drivers are finding it is full of electrical system glitches.

Vehicle warning systems are powered by the electrical system as is the exterior lighting. When these systems malfunction, the safety of those traveling in the vehicle is at risk.

Faulty Exterior Lighting

According to an owner from Missouri, Ford stopped installing the lights that illuminate “Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive” on the shift lever in 2021. The function of this lighting was to show which transmission mode was selected.

“This is a serious safety issue because, at night, the driver cannot look down to determine what mode is being selected. The dealer stated to me the selected mode is in the driver console at night. I’m a 5’9″ male and any time the wheel is turned or my hand is on the wheel, I cannot see the mode selected. I quickly realized this the first time I drove the vehicle at night, none of the lighting on the shifter was on. I thought it was broken!”

His take is that Ford is cutting costs and suggests they supply a retrofit kit that will provide this lighting. “This would not incur a great expense or time, however, this could prevent the driver from selecting the wrong mode causing abrupt forward or backward movement injuring another person or vehicle when moving the vehicle out of park, in particular, backing in or out of parking spots for example that require you to turn the vehicle.”

He is also adamant that the “current standard equipment lighting presents a safety hazard.” Because it is directly related to the movement of the vehicle, “the likelihood of injury or occurrence are both high.”

Malfunction Seat Belt Warning Light and Rear Seat Alarm

A 2022 Ford Ranger owner from Pennsylvania experienced problems with the seat belt warning indicator when the vehicle had only 250 miles on the clock. What happens is that the indicator for the rear passenger seat stays on and won’t clear, even though nobody is in the seat. “Tried buckling seat belt for rear passenger seat – warning cleared. Unbuckled and (a) warning appears again and won’t clear.”

The complaint states that Ford “has nothing documented for clearing this.” To make matters worse, the dealership won’t acknowledge the problem and cannot suggest a fix. The owner’s primary concern is that “The resulting warning may now affect how safety/collision systems will operate in an actual collision.”

A comment on the KBB website maintains that the “most unwanted, constant annoying feature of auto-engine shutoff ‘check the rear seat’ alarm that goes off at every stop sign or light. There is no way to permanently turn this off.

Design & Structural Issues

When it comes to initial reports on the 2022 Ford Ranger, even automotive publications see where it lacks.

Here’s how Car and Driver reviewed the Ranger. “Bland cabin design, other rivals offer more off-road prowess, (the) base model lacks modern infotainment features.”

Now that it’s been on the road for a while, we’re getting feedback from consumers.

Windshields and vehicle windows are part of the design, and when they fail it may be considered a structural issue. A Florida owner states in a complaint that the rear window “completely shattered” while the Ford Ranger was stopped at a red light, motionless. All the glass was shattered except for the small center slider.

An NHTSA complaint about brakes also appears to be structural or design-related rather than a fault with the braking system. An owner from Kansas says that the brake pedal gets closer to the floor than the accelerator pedal. So, when coming to a stop, if “your foot is a little off on the brake pedal you can simultaneously hit the brake and the accelerator pedal causing the vehicle to not stop properly.”

A user on Edmunds gives a rented 2022 Ford Ranger only 2 out of 5 stars. The complaints are varied, but a lot has to do with the design and structure of the truck.

For example,

• The truck is cramped. “Getting in the truck where normal sized get in is obstructed by the front pillar. you have to contort yourself off balance.”
• “The center console was an afterthought fitting into the leftover space of the design.”
• “Back-up visibility was terrible and with the steering a total nuisance.”
• Overall, “the awkwardness was something of a hardship. I think it was designed for more petite folks looking for the strength of a 1/2 ton truck.”

What if your 2022 Ranger is a Lemon?

If you think you have a lemon Lemberg Law will assess your case free of charge. Every year, auto manufacturers like Ford replace or buy back vehicles, or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners.

The reason we don’t charge is that the law says Ford must pay lemon law legal fees. Call our Helpline or fill in our contact form and we’ll see where you stand.

About the Author:

Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.

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