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2019 ford Ranger vs 2019 nissan Leaf

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-04-29 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
The 2019 Nissan Leaf edges ahead clearly on reliability data

2019 ford Ranger

3.1/5
Reliability score
251 complaints
6 recalls (0 critical)
$11,700 repair exposure
vs
More reliable

2019 nissan Leaf

3.7/5
Reliability score
231 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$7,250 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

If you're putting a gun to my head, I'd take the 2019 nissan Leaf. Reliability score's a solid 3.7 versus 3.1 on the 2019 ford Ranger, and the complaint counts back it up — 231 versus 251. That's not noise, that's a real gap.

If you're leaning 2019 ford Ranger, know what you're getting into on powertrain and visibility. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than what the 2019 nissan Leaf sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2019 nissan Leaf? Watch the electrical. The 2019 ford Ranger has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

On the dollars-and-cents side, total repair exposure across the top problem areas runs 1.6x higher on the 2019 ford Ranger. That's the number to keep in mind when you're pricing the deal — a $2,000 difference in purchase price disappears the first time you're staring at a transmission rebuild.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2019 ford Ranger
2019 nissan Leaf
electrical
33 reports
severe · ~$850
149 reports
moderate · ~$850
powertrain
82 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
12 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
visibility
15 reports
moderate · ~$350
11 reports
moderate · ~$350
engine
16 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
3 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
brakes
13 reports
severe · ~$450
5 reports
severe · ~$450
suspension
15 reports
moderate · ~$900
No reports
lighting
11 reports
moderate · ~$250
No reports
cruise control
7 reports
severe · ~$600
No reports

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2019 Ford Ranger or the 2019 Nissan Leaf?

Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2019 Nissan Leaf comes out ahead with a reliability score of 3.7 versus 3.1. The margin is clear, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.

What goes wrong more often on the 2019 Ford Ranger?

Compared to the 2019 Nissan Leaf, the 2019 Ford Ranger sees more reported issues in powertrain and visibility. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2019 Nissan Leaf?

Compared to the 2019 Ford Ranger, the 2019 Nissan Leaf has more complaints in electrical. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2019 Ford Ranger has more active recalls (6 vs 0). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $11,700 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary auto-generated from the data and reviewed by ASE-certified contributors. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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