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KLUNK

2008 Ford Ranger

The Verdict

42 Proceed with Caution

The 2008 Ford Ranger has 316 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (288 complaints) and body (19 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 42/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Ranger, consider the 2020 model year which has 62% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2020 has 62% fewer complaints

View the 2020 Ford Ranger dashboard →

42

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000368701086961
200128748876747
200216018535956
200311032424415
2004116212004025
2005728139645
2006564174323
200723123352
200819228870
200910514172
201113719195
20198517443678
2020398161739

By Category

Electrical
288
Body
19
Engine
7
Brakes
2

By Severity

1
165
2
141
3
1
4
8
5
1

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2008 Ford Ranger stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Electrical 4

Car accident on 6/21/2023 - Richardson Texas Air bags never deployed. The truck hit a tree head on . The air bags were maintainced at the Ford dealership a couple of years ago when we got the recall notice Passanger air bag never deployed

37mo ago
Electrical 2

Several attempts have been made to attain an appointment to remedy this recall with a local dealership (Long-Lewis) in Corinth, MS. As of today, I have made six attempts to talk with service about this recall, no response has yet been offered. My concern is that I have been driving this vehicle since I purchased new in February 2008 with a potential grenade imitating an air bag and Ford Motor company and or their dealerships do not seem to take this concern seriously. Why is the Federal government (NHSTA) so passive about safety?

46mo ago
Electrical 1

Recently purchased this truck and apparetly the passeenger air bag was missing or had previosly failed by imploding. I do not now the history of vehicle. I Carried the truck to Rockwall Ford in Rockwall, Texas to have the air bag recall taken care off. After being there for a week the service manager called me and said Ford would not pay for this since passenger air bag was missing. Ford said I would need to pay for the service myself. I have a major problem with Ford now because they are obligated by law to repace the air bags regardless any of prior events. Priors are totally irrevelant and meaningless. End result I want Ford Motor Company to replace the 2 air bags a no cost to me the consumer. I will continue to pursue the above until there is a satisfactory resolution Please advise Sincerely Larry Kinsey Ph. 214 650 3301 [email protected] 3951 Fm 550 Royse City, Tex. 75189 Rockwall Ford ph. 972-290-2200 or 972-290-2257

47mo ago
Body 2

The rear frame is rotted I am a retired ASA certified in 5 categories Mechanic and I have my ranger apart now but I need new rear frame where the spring hangers rotted out and the bracket that runs the top of the gas tank is rotted out that holds the 2 frame rails is rotted out. THESE PIECES CANNOT BE WELDED. Needs a new frame.

49mo ago
Electrical 1

This recall has been unresolved for over 2 years.

56mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that after lending the vehicle to a neighbor, the neighbor informed the contact that the vehicle was making an abnormal noise. Upon inspection, the contact became aware that the rear spring hangers had detached. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Invalid VIN.

59mo ago
Electrical 1

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Ford Ranger. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. Several dealers including AutoNation Ford Littleton (8252 S Broadway, Littleton, CO 80122), Schomp Ford (150 S Havana St, Aurora, CO 80012), O'Meara Ford (400 W 104th Ave, Northglenn, CO 80234), Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood (11595 W 6th Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215) and Phil Long Ford (1114 Motor City Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80905) were contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

60mo ago
Electrical 1

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2008 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to the recall was unavailable. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

62mo ago
Electrical 1

WE ARE STILL GETTING RECALL NOTICES EVEN THOUGH THE AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. WE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE RECORD OF THE REPAIR BEING COMPLETED BUT WE NEED TO CONTACT DMV TO GET IT RECORDED.

67mo ago
Body 2

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT TEARING IN HALF OVER PAST 2 YEARS

71mo ago
Body 2

REAR END OF TRUCK IS ROTTING AWAY SPARE TIRE HOLDER BROKE WHILE DRIVING SPARE WAS HANGING DOWN HAD TO BE REMOVED LUCKILY IT STAYED ATTACHED TO THE TRUCK WITH THE CABLE AND DIDN'T HIT ANY VEHICLE'S THE BED IS EXTREMELY RUSTED IF I GET IN THE BACK OF THE BED IT CRACKS AND FEELS LIKE YOUR GOING TO FALL THROUGH BED IS BECOMING LOOSE AND LEANING TO ONE SIDE. ITS A 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SO I EXPECT SOME PROBLEMS BUT NOT THIS EXTENSIVE I FEEL LIKE ITS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A NEW BED ON IT

79mo ago
Body 1

FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.

79mo ago
Electrical 2

PURCHASED USED 2008 FORD RANGER THAT HAS ISSUES WITH MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING OR HIGH BEAMS ENGAGING ALTHOUGH THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT AFFECTED AS OF YET. THIS HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AS WELL AS MOVING . THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING SAME WITH HIGH BEAMS. I NOTIFIED AND ASKED FORD TODAY IF THIS WAS NORMAL .

80mo ago
Body 1

2008 FORD RANGER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO RUST OVER FRAME OF VEHICLE WHICH ATTRIBUTED TO OUR PROBLEMS. *AS *JS

82mo ago
Electrical 1

I WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. BUT AFTER REPAIR THE AIR BAG RATTLES. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED WE R GOING ON YEAR 3. WHEN I REACH OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR FAR TOO LONG

84mo ago
Body 2

TOOK TRUCK IN FOR SMALL REPAIR ON POWER STEERING HOSE. MECHANIC TOLD ME THE UNDERSIDE IS SO RUSTED IT ISN'T EVEN SAFE TO DRIVE HOME. RECOMMENDS JUNKING VEHICLE.

84mo ago
Body 1

FRAME RUSTING ON THE BED. IT IS LOOSE AND WOBBLY AND MAY COME OFF. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT. NOTICED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKING OVER MY SHOULDER TO PASS. SAW THE BED OF THE TRUCK MOVING ABOUT.

84mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V024000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CLEVELAND FORD (2496 S LEE HWY, CLEVELAND, TN 37311 (423) 472-5454) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

87mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE REMEDY AND PART REPLACEMENT FOR MANUFACTURER AIR BAG RECALL NUMBER: 16B15 (DRIVER'S AIR BAG). THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (KELLY FORD, 776 MAGNOLIA AVE, MELBOURNE, FL 32935, (321) 216-2042) REGARDING SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS AT THE DEALER FOR THE ALIGNMENT, THE INVOICE INDICATED THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS IDENTICAL TO A JOINT INVESTIGATION ON AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS; THEREFORE, THE PART FOR THE AIR BAG WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

91mo ago
Electrical 1

TAKATA RECALL - I RECEIVED A SETTLEMENT NOTICE FROM A DISTRICT COURT IN FLORIDA STATING I MAY HAVE BEEN PART OF A RECALL - CHECKED MY VIN ON NHSTA SITE AND IT DID INDEED HAVE A RECALL FROM JUNE 2006. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY FORD ABOUT THIS RECALL. ON THE NHSTA WEBSITE IT STATES THAT IF THEY DO NOT NOTIFY MY WITHIN A TIMELY MANNER TO MAKE REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE, THAT I SHOULD LOG A COMPLAINT. I AM UNSURE THE STEPS I SHOULD GO ABOUT GETTING THIS FIXED AND IF FORD WILL HANDLE THE REPLACEMENT. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL

93mo ago

316 total

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