Ford Ranger Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 523 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Ford Ranger across 23 model years. The 2001 model year has the most (87). The words owners use most often: “leaf spring” (16% of reports).
- 523suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 20mention a crash
- 12mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $1,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Leaf spring: mentioned in 82 of 523 complaints (16%)
- Spare tire: mentioned in 72 of 523 complaints (14%)
- Frame rusted: mentioned in 54 of 523 complaints (10%)
- Fell off: mentioned in 35 of 523 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the Ford Ranger at $1,200, and half of them between $970 and $1,800.
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 315 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 523 complaints, 20 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 12 an injury.
Ford Ranger suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ranger | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2024 Ranger | 4 | 4% | — |
| 2023 Ranger | 1 | 6% | 10,000 |
| 2021 Ranger | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2020 Ranger | 5 | 4% | — |
| 2019 Ranger | 19 | 7% | 21,000 |
| 2011 Ranger | 1 | 0% | 31,159 |
| 2010 Ranger | 2 | 1% | 1,600 |
| 2009 Ranger | 1 | 1% | 37,000 |
| 2008 Ranger | 3 | 1% | 8,300 |
| 2007 Ranger | 4 | 1% | 28,000 |
| 2006 Ranger | 20 | 7% | 90,000 |
| 2005 Ranger | 26 | 9% | 60,000 |
| 2004 Ranger | 29 | 7% | 80,756 |
| 2003 Ranger | 23 | 9% | 98,120 |
| 2002 Ranger | 36 | 10% | 94,000 |
| 2001 Ranger | 87 | 17% | 106,500 |
| 2000 Ranger | 72 | 11% | 90,000 |
| 1999 Ranger | 67 | 9% | 102,000 |
| 1998 Ranger | 52 | 9% | 114,000 |
| 1997 Ranger | 25 | 6% | 121,000 |
| 1996 Ranger | 21 | 5% | 200,000 |
| 1995 Ranger | 21 | 7% | 194,032 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint
Model years: 2024, 2025
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Bronco and Ranger vehicles. The front upper control arm ball joint fastener may be missing or tightened improperly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly.
Risk: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the ball joint fastener as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 23, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S45.
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint
Model years: 2024
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Ranger, and 2024-2025 Bronco vehicles. The front upper control arm ball joint nut may not have been installed or tightened properly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly.
Risk: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and verify that the ball joint fastener is tightened properly. If a fastener is loose or missing, the dealer will replace the ball joint and knuckle assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 20, 2024. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S64.
Suspension:multiple axle
Model years: 2009
Problem: Ford is recalling 11,134 my 2009 4x2 ranger vehicles. Some front wheel spindles were improperly manufactured creating the risk that a spindle may fracture during the normal useful life of the truck.
Risk: If a spindle fractures, the wheel may separate from the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front spindle if necessary free of charge. The recall began on february 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
While operating my 2019 Ford Ranger under completely normal driving conditions without a heavy payload or trailer, the rear driver-side suspension suffered an instantaneous, catastrophic structural failure. The vehicle emitted a sudden, loud metallic clanking sound as the rear main mono-leaf spring…
On [XXX], my 2024 Ford Ranger Lariat, with approximately 25,000 miles, experienced a catastrophic front suspension failure while traveling at highway speeds. I suddenly felt what seemed like a tire blowout and was forced to pull onto the shoulder. Upon inspection, the driverâs-side front wheel…
I was driving at approximately 25 MPH and all of a sudden the truck automatically went into 4 wheel drive low which altered my ability to keep up with traffic and caused me to pull over to figure out why. I had to restart my truck to get it out of 4 wheel drive. This has happened approximately 5…
Driver side rear leaf spring cracked at front mount. This happened with low mileage 20k and no towing or off-road driving. In town driving only.
Left rear leaf spring broke at the axel. When left the house truck was acting funny. Crossed a RR track and the truck became eratic/hard to steer. Pulled into shop across the street. They inspected the truck and found the broken spring. No rust, just a clean break.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Rangers have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 523 owner complaints about suspension for the Ford Ranger. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Ranger suspension?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the Ford Ranger?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,200 (half paid between $970 and $1,800), from 13 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Ford Ranger?
The most frequent phrase is “leaf spring”, in 82 of 523 complaints, followed by “spare tire” (72).
Other Ford Ranger problems
- Air Bags problems (1,882)
- Power Train problems (745)
- Tires problems (701)
- Structure problems (668)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (486)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (483)
- Electrical System problems (434)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (334)
See all Ford Ranger problems.