The latest thing to go wrong with the Ranger

[Mike9816]

Major issue with mine is a flat tire with less than 500 miles on the truck. It was a rugged mine road!!!

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[GFran]

I hear everyone on various fit & finish claims. We're all grown-ups (or we should be...), but it certainly IS frustrating when you drop $40k-$80k (depending on your model & trim) when there is STILL poor workmanship, poor quality or utter lack of HUMAN intelligence - forget AI (maybe THAT IS the very problem...).

My new 2024 XLT, loaded, has dash components that don't line up -"Sorry...not a warranty issue...". Next, showing off my new Ranger to my F-150 brother, he noticed: "Hey! Do you know that you have this (a cluster of wires & plug in the left rear wheel well) hanging down, unplugged ???" Went straight to my local dealer (who wasn't who sold me the truck). The service guy crawled underneath, "Hmmm... well this plugs in right here..." He couldn't get the plastic plug/nipple to stay plugged into its socket, so he grabbed a zip-tie strap & fastened it to the frame.

AGAIN, NOT a warranty issue. Just WHAT DOES Ford warranty anyway?? Shitty materials? Shitty design?? Shitty workmanship??

I'll go one even BETTER: great that the new Ranger has a hydraulic piston on the RH inside of the tailgate so that you can actually let go of the tailgate and it gently lowers to a stop with no "OH SHIT! I dropped the tailgate AGAIN..". But - wait... Oh, that pretty red, rubber wrapped restraining cable attaching the tailgate to the hind end of the bed - well sure looks like NOBODY bothered to measure the tolerances for the space required to accommodate BOTH the handy piston AND the red rubber-wrapped cable. NEGATIVE clearance room, i.e., the rubberized cable has to be FORCED between the side of the bed wall and the piston. Consequently, with all of 1,300 miles on my month old truck, the metal components holding the piston & the restraining cables in place are literally chewing up the rubber sheathing, exposing the metal cable strands inside.

"Oh, now THAT IS a warranty issue". Imagine my surprise!

Apologies for the issues Brother, QC just isn’t what it used to be. You’re also right, for the money we’re putting out for these vehicles, we shouldn’t have to be frustrated over so many issues. I believe it’s due to Ford being behind so far in production, it appears things are being over looked at the cost and aggravation of the consumer. I feel your frustration, apologies. I’m sure whenever I receive my truck, if I find similar issues as well, I’m gonna blow a gasket!

 

[GFran]

Drive it long enough? Sure…except it’s not even a month old and it’s been back to the dealership 3 times already. That’s not including the excessively rusted drive shafts…I don’t give a crap if “that seems normal” for a brand new almost 60k truck there shouldn’t be anything like that on it. Paint is now chipping in places it has no reason to chip(edge of hood facing driver, door edges etc. parts hanging loose inside cab, fuel injectors(supposedly) making it sound like a desire, sluggish trans shifting to where it acts like it’s skipping 2nd gear then jerks into downshift…..God forbid you’re going uphill when this happens and the cherry topping of the random “Advanced front lighting system not available” popping up twice so far in the last couple weeks

This Ranger is gone once I have my full trade-in equity back. It’s the last Ford I’m buying, which is sad because it’s all I’ve owned over the last 30 years

I’m happy that you have no issues with yours…however my case is the exact opposite unfortunately

don’t get me wrong, if I didn’t have/experience all these issues, I would absolutely love this truck.

So sorry to hear Nate. My dad Bless is heart was a total Ford man as well. I’ve only owned two, the 2011 F150 I’m in now and an Explorer. No serious issues with either one of them. Apologies for all the issues you’re having. It’s ridiculous to be honest. I haven’t received my Ranger Lariat yet, but if there’s issues as well, trust me, I may be driving something else as well. As much as I am really looking forward to the ownership of this vehicle. The complaints and issues I’m hearing from you guys are real! Thank you so much for sharing.

 

[wnytaxman]

If you want real buyer's remorse, go to some of the RV forums and check out the complaints. These are guys who have shelled out a quarter of million (That's entry level) and up and can't get 100 miles down the road without some issue. Sadly that's the state of workmanship today. And it isn't just the US. My Korean made Genesis has been loaded with issues and at times I just swear it is haunted. There isn't much out there in vehicles that will be worry free.

 

[Nate]

If you want real buyer's remorse, go to some of the RV forums and check out the complaints. These are guys who have shelled out a quarter of million (That's entry level) and up and can't get 100 miles down the road without some issue. Sadly that's the state of workmanship today. And it isn't just the US. My Korean made Genesis has been loaded with issues and at times I just swear it is haunted. There isn't much out there in vehicles that will be worry free.

And just the other day I was behind a Genesis and thought man those look like really nice cars

 

[1986YellowRanger]

Some of the defects posted to this forum are mind-blowing. The crooked Raptor logo is the one that is the most amazing to me. There is an assembly video floating around on this forum, and in the video you can see the lady applying the logo with no guides, no reference points, nothing. it’s such and easy process to control, but somehow Ford just has their employee eyeballing it on the most visible feature of a $60,000 truck.

 

[Mikknj]

Should have bought a Frontier....

 

[Justamessenger]

Should have bought a Frontier....

I’m waiting to see if Ford makes a 2025 extended cab 6’ bed Ranger, but have driven my 2007 Infiniti G35S largely trouble-free for 138,000 miles. I think if the 6’ bed doesn’t happen it’s a green light for the Frontier, which has a similar normally aspirated V6 engine.
Don’t get me wrong, the Ranger looks better and is clearly better on paper; overall size, comfort, V6 torque, payload, towing, bed width, etc.

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

Should have bought a Frontier....

i've had multiple close friends rent frontiers on their vacations in the last year and every single time they tell me how it is a huge piece of shit and not enjoyable to drive at all.

 

[Mikknj]

i've had multiple close friends rent frontiers on their vacations in the last year and every single time they tell me how it is a huge piece of shit and not enjoyable to drive at all.

Wow! That is literally the first time I've ever heard anybody complain about the Frontier. It has zero issues. It's got naturally aspirated V6, w/ plenty of pep. Rides and drives great. Shifts are smooth and consistent. And is cheaper..

 

[Newaz]

I was holding out for the 2.7 Ranger in Lariant trim, but now that the order books are open.. I seem to have lost interest. I thought about looking at alternatives, so test drove a Frontier on my way home, a couple of days ago. I didn’t have expectations of it being comparable to a Lariat, in terms of luxury. Infact, my expectations were low.
It drove like how I’d expect an old school type of truck would. To elaborate, the steering was heavy, the turning radius was not good. The reverse camera was horrendous. It did have some creature comforts however, But all in all, I liked it for being a regular no nonsense truck at an affordable price.

 

[GFran]

My previous truck was a 22 Colorado ZR2. Bought it brand new and had nothing but issues with it the first 3 months of owning it. It was in and out of the dealership constantly. From leaks in the rear window, to the infotainment center not working, to a clunk in the rear end, to a weird noise in the front end, it seemed endless.

However, after those initial problems were addressed, I never had another single issue with it. Drove it for another 20,000 miles with no problems.

It really does seem like these car manufactures aren't doing enough QA in the factory, and are relying heavily on dealership service centers to finish out the builds.

Long story short, I traded it for a 24 Ranger Raptor and have already found a few QA issues with it as well. Nothing that the dealership won't be able to quickly resolve.

I know someone with a brand new 2024 Tacoma and it hasn't been problem free either. Every week he's got the engine light coming on for some new issue.

Yeah I think it’s the time we’re in right now. Sorry for the issues you’ve had to deal with. My neighbor and I were talking about this Saturday. He has a 2023 F150 Platinum. No manufacturer is clear of QA issues right now, they’re happening all across manufacturers right now. I believe you’re right though, the manufacturers are sending them out and letting the dealerships deal with it. Which is time consuming for the consumers.

 

[jrRaptor]

2 months and a few days of possession for me. Took it in for the 5th time Friday and got it back unresolved. And it will be trip number 6 whenever they get the part in. I suspect this is not the last for this particular issue. Maybe Ford needs to QA hold every vehicle moving forward.

 

[Mikknj]

Drive it long enough? Sure…except it’s not even a month old and it’s been back to the dealership 3 times already. That’s not including the excessively rusted drive shafts…I don’t give a crap if “that seems normal” for a brand new almost 60k truck there shouldn’t be anything like that on it. Paint is now chipping in places it has no reason to chip(edge of hood facing driver, door edges etc. parts hanging loose inside cab, fuel injectors(supposedly) making it sound like a desire, sluggish trans shifting to where it acts like it’s skipping 2nd gear then jerks into downshift…..God forbid you’re going uphill when this happens and the cherry topping of the random “Advanced front lighting system not available” popping up twice so far in the last couple weeks

This Ranger is gone once I have my full trade-in equity back. It’s the last Ford I’m buying, which is sad because it’s all I’ve owned over the last 30 years

I’m happy that you have no issues with yours…however my case is the exact opposite unfortunately

don’t get me wrong, if I didn’t have/experience all these issues, I would absolutely love this truck.

Oh wow! That's a bit surprising.
Remove the bed dampener.. who needs that anyway - build some muscles!
then get the cable replaced under warranty

 

[Mikknj]

I was holding out for the 2.7 Ranger in Lariant trim, but now that the order books are open.. I seem to have lost interest. I thought about looking at alternatives, so test drove a Frontier on my way home, a couple of days ago. I didn’t have expectations of it being comparable to a Lariat, in terms of luxury. Infact, my expectations were low.
It drove like how I’d expect an old school type of truck would. To elaborate, the steering was heavy, the turning radius was not good. The reverse camera was horrendous. It did have some creature comforts however, But all in all, I liked it for being a regular no nonsense truck at an affordable price.

What's interesting - the camera, the steering and turning radius all can be fixed ( wonder why Nissan isn't laser focused on that...) But anyway this is a Ford forum. First year model for the Ranger - I think will have all bugs ironed out next year. This is unfortunately expected of a new model year. I've been purchasing Rangers my entire life. I'm sure these trucks will last a good long time. I think the difference is that $60K comes with higher expectations.

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