2019 Ford Ranger engine problems
moderate 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Of the 7 model years of Ford Ranger we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 16.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Water pooling in spark plug wells is a known design defect on lower-trim 2019 Rangers, causing stalling and misfires as early as 28,000 miles and typically requiring spark plug and cover replacement. Crank sensor failures tied to oil seepage can shut down the entire vehicle with no warning at highway speeds; transmission and head gasket failures also appear in this model year's complaint cluster.
Owners of 2019 Ford Rangers report engine troubles concentrated in two problem areas: water intrusion and sensor/electrical failures. The most common complaint is water pooling in spark plug wells, causing misfires, stalling at highway speeds (50–70 mph), and illuminated check engine lights. Owners note this occurs as early as 28,000 miles. Several discovered the issue only at routine maintenance; others lost power while driving. One owner had rainwater invade cylinders twice, including after repair. A dealer noted the higher-trim Rangers came with an upper engine cover from the factory to prevent this, but lower trims lacked it—suggesting a design gap. Owners cite Technical Service Bulletin 23-2011 as Ford's known response.
A second major issue involves crank position sensor failures linked to oil seepage from a front timing cover. One owner experienced three complete engine shutdowns at highway speed over months, losing all power, steering, brakes, and safety systems with zero limp mode. Dealers attributed it to oil permeating the sensor and requested $2,200 for repairs after an earlier $1,500 fix.
Other reported troubles include failing head gaskets with coolant leaking into cylinders (one case persisted through two replacement attempts), transmission failures (hard shifts, jerking, fluid leaks, metal debris in transmission after drum failure), and EGR failure at high mileage. One owner reported a strong fuel smell in the garage after driving.
Failure modes owners describe
Water intrusion into spark plug wells
Rainwater pools in spark plug wells and corrodes electrical components, causing misfires, stalling, and power loss at highway speeds. Occurs on lower-trim 2019 Rangers lacking upper engine cover that higher trims received from factory.
When: 28,000 to 81,000 miles; early failures reported at 28,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine misfire; Check engine light flashing or illuminated; Loss of power at highway speed (50–70 mph); Engine stalling while driving; Vehicle deceleration; Corrosion on electrical components
Codes mentioned: P0300 (misfire, implied by dealer diagnosis and check engine light)
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs, spark plug boots, coil packs, and boot covers replaced; dealer recommended or installed upper engine cover. One case required engine replacement due to coolant intrusion severity.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Service Bulletin 23-2011 issued; Extended Warranty coverage offered on some VINs; Ford referred owners to NHTSA; one owner denied warranty coverage
Crank position sensor failure / oil seepage from timing cover
Oil permeates from front timing cover onto crank position sensor, causing sensor malfunction and complete engine shutdown with no limp mode at highway speeds. All vehicle systems (steering, brakes, ABS, adaptive cruise, radar) fail simultaneously.
When: Multiple incidents over several months; first incident around 65 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown at highway speed (65 mph); Loss of power steering; Loss of anti-lock brakes; Loss of traction control; Loss of adaptive cruise control; Loss of forward-facing radar; No limp mode; complete loss of all systems
Codes mentioned: Crank position sensor fault (implied; dealer diagnosis)
Repairs/costs cited: First repair cost $1,500; second repair attempt quoted at $2,200. Oil seepage on sensor attributed to leak in front timing cover design.
Failing head gasket with coolant intrusion
Head gasket failure allows coolant into cylinders and engine oil into spark plugs. One case persisted after two head gasket replacements and transmission replacement, with dealer unable to duplicate or resolve failure.
When: Approximately 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle deceleration from 65 mph to 35 mph; Check engine light briefly illuminated; Coolant entering cylinders; Engine oil entering spark plugs; Engine failure
Codes mentioned: Head gasket fault (dealer diagnosis)
Repairs/costs cited: Head gasket replaced twice; transmission also replaced (transmission failure diagnosed concurrently). Failure persisted; vehicle not fully repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer opened case and extended transmission warranty; referred owner to NHTSA
Transmission failure / hard shifts and slipping
Transmission slips gears, shifts hard, jerks abnormally, and develops fluid leaks. One case involved CDF drum breakage at 68k miles, just past 5-year warranty, scattering metal debris in transmission and requiring full transmission replacement.
When: 65,000 to 68,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Gear skipping; Gear slipping; Hard shifting; Abnormal jerking when shifting into park on incline; Transmission fluid leak; Vehicle attempting to shift into first and second at 80 mph
Codes mentioned: Transmission failure (dealer diagnosis)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replaced in multiple cases. One case involved CDF drum failure with metal debris circulation in transmission, requiring full transmission replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer extended transmission warranty in one case
EGR failure
Exhaust Gas Recirculation system failure causes loss of motive power at highway speeds.
When: Approximately 185,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power at 65 mph; Check engine light illuminated
Codes mentioned: EGR failure (dealer diagnosis)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and case opened; related to Customer Satisfaction Program 21M03
Check engine light with undiagnosed cause
Check engine light illuminates continuously; dealer reprogrammed computer system but failure persisted and cause remained undetermined.
When: 426 miles (extremely early failure)
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light continuously illuminated
Codes mentioned: Unknown (computer reprogramming attempted but did not resolve)
Repairs/costs cited: Computer system reprogrammed; vehicle not repaired as root cause undetermined
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified
Engine bucking and speed loss at highway speeds
Vehicle bucks and loses speed momentarily while cruising at highway speed, then resumes normal operation. Repeated twice.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle bucking at highway speed; Loss of speed (temporary)
Fuel smell in garage after driving
Strong fuel odor in garage appears after driving truck, lingers 2–3 days if parked. Occurs 3–4 times over ownership period.
When: Multiple occasions; not mileage-dependent
Symptoms owners cite: Strong fuel smell in garage after driving; Odor persists 2–3 days when parked
Repairs/costs cited: Owner had appointment scheduled at Ford dealer
Transmission whining noise during acceleration
Long whining noise precedes every transmission shift during acceleration. Occurs both at stop lights and when slowing before accelerating again. Owner confirmed same model loaner did not exhibit the noise.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Loud whining noise before transmission shift; Occurs every time during acceleration
Engine stalling on shift from park
Engine shuts off when attempting to shift from park to forward or reverse. Vehicle stalls several times during normal driving operation. Dealer unable to identify cause after weeks of diagnosis.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalling when shifting from park to forward or reverse; Engine attempting to stall during normal driving; Multiple stall events
Repairs/costs cited: Unresolved after weeks at dealership; cause unidentified
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2019 Ford Ranger?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 28,000 and 81,000 miles, with the median around 44,825. A quarter of owners report trouble before 28,000; a quarter make it past 81,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.