How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Ranger have?

The 2005 Ford Ranger has 9 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 2005 Ford Ranger has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 2005 Ford Ranger?

Of 353 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is air bags.

2005 Ford Ranger Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2005 Ford Ranger has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,883,059 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 353 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

AIR BAGS 23V306000 2023-04-28 231,942 affected

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

Consequence

An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S08. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number…

AIR BAGS 23V125000 2023-02-24 98,550 affected

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement frontal passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

Consequence

An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S08. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 23V-306.

AIR BAGS 21V076000 2021-02-17 144,340 affected

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature…

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

AIR BAGS 21V081000 2021-02-16 1,067 affected

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement…

Consequence

Remedy

AIR BAGS 17V787000 2017-12-11 328,213 affected

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. …

AIR BAGS 17V788000 2017-12-11 328,213 affected

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. …

AIR BAGS 16V036000 2016-01-25 361,692 affected

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S03. Note: This recall supersedes 14V-343 and only applies to Rangers manufactured in North…

AIR BAGS 15V322000 2015-05-28 362,327 affected

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger trucks manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S22. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 14V-787.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11V352000 2011-07-13 26,715 affected

Defect

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL…

Consequence

NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS

131

1211

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

213

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUSPENSION

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

111

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

ENGINE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Total complaints353

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact owns a 2005 ford ranger. The contact stated that upon arriving to the residence and applying the parking brake and exiting the vehicle, the vehicle started to roll backwards. The contact stated that the vehicle came to a complete stop after rolling across the street and through the…”

PARKING BRAKE · reported 2025-02-04

“The contact owns a 2005 ford ranger. The contact stated that upon arriving to the residence and applying the parking brake and exiting the vehicle, the vehicle started to roll backwards. The contact stated that the vehicle came to a complete stop after rolling across the street and through the…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2025-02-04

“The contact owned a 2005 ford ranger. The contact stated while driving at 50 mph, the vehicle was rear-ended by a driver who ran the stop sign. The impact caused the vehicle to flip over multiple times. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact suffered severe head trauma and ptsd from the…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2024-05-29

“See attached document for complaint”

AIR BAGS · reported 2023-09-29

“The contact owns a 2005 ford ranger. The contact had taken the vehicle to be repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 23v125000 (air bags). The contact stated that while the vehicle was having the air bag replaced, the contact became aware that the passengerâ€™s side air bag had not been seated…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2023-09-23

“The contact owns a 2005 ford ranger. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v306000 (air bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list because the vehicle was totaled. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted.”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2023-09-12

“The contact owned a 2005 ford ranger. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph, the vehicle struck the rear of another vehicle causing a fender bender. The contact stated that the front air bags deployed, and a powdery substance and metal fragments flew out of the air bag and landed…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2023-05-02

“I was in an accident and the airbags did not inflate. I was going 30-35 mph, there was a patch of ice, and I hit a tree. The truck was totaled. I smashed my face on the steering wheel, fracturing a bone. Some weeks later I received a letter in the mail from ford motor company with regards to a…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2023-03-15