2021 Ford Ranger: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Ford Rangers, from 15,990 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
What stands out
Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Ford Rangers than on all cars registered in 2021.
- Coil springs33.5× usualFord Ranger6.7% All 2021 cars0.2%
Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.
- Ball joint8.7× usualFord Ranger5.2% All 2021 cars0.6%
Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
- Number plate lights6.3× usualFord Ranger3.8% All 2021 cars0.6%
Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £5–£40 our estimateAt the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.
- Engine oil leaks6.5× usualFord Ranger2.6% All 2021 cars0.4%
Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £80–£600 our estimateAt the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.
- Shock absorbers2× usualFord Ranger3.4% All 2021 cars1.7%
Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.
Tyre condition: 4.5% here, against 11.5% of all 2021 cars.
By area
The share of 2021 Ford Ranger MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres22% of testsRough price £70–£150
At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
- Suspension15% of testsRough price £120–£400
At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
- Brakes15% of testsRough price £150–£350
At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
- Lights and electrics10% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors5% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Oil and fluid leaks4% of testsRough price £80–£600
At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.
Known faults
Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.
- Oil pump failure (3.2 diesel)3.2 diesel
The most common problem: the 3.2 diesel's oil pump fails. Watch for ticking, low oil pressure or the engine light. Owners often fit a geared pump.
At the viewing: Listen for ticking at idle and make sure the oil light goes out.
- Timing belt (2.0 diesel)2.0 EcoBlue diesel
The later 2.0 diesel's timing belt can give trouble around 70,000 miles, and a snapped belt can wreck the engine.
At the viewing: Ask when the belt was changed, with an invoice.
- Chassis and wheel arch corrosionAll engines
Corrosion is common on the chassis and in the wheel arches.
At the viewing: Look underneath at the chassis rails and in the arches.
- Oil pump belt that runs in oil (2.0 EcoBlue diesel)2.0 EcoBlue diesel (most Ford 2.0 diesels from about 2018)
The 2.0 EcoBlue diesel drives its oil pump with a belt that runs in the engine oil. As it wears it can shed rubber and cut oil pressure, which can wreck the engine. Ford has shortened the change interval on the Transit to 6 years or 100,000 miles.
At the viewing: Ask when the oil pump belt was last changed, and watch for an oil-pressure warning light.
Source: Parkers: everything you need to know about the Ford wet belt
- Gearbox and turbo problemsAll engines
Both manual and automatic gearboxes have had problems, and turbos can fail, shown by poor pulling and blue smoke.
At the viewing: Feel for slipping and harsh changes, and look for blue smoke.
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Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 513 | Tyres 13% |
| 2022 | 15,140 | Tyres 23% |
| 2020 | 11,398 | Tyres 20% |
| 2019 | 14,131 | Tyres 20% |
| 2018 | 13,682 | Tyres 21% |
| 2017 | 10,386 | Tyres 21% |
| 2016 | 10,171 | Tyres 22% |
| 2015 | 6,022 | Suspension 30% |
| 2014 | 3,878 | Suspension 34% |
| 2013 | 2,787 | Suspension 40% |
| 2012 | 1,790 | Suspension 43% |
| 2011 | 1,415 | Brakes 43% |
| 2010 | 1,295 | Lights and electrics 45% |
| 2009 | 2,032 | Lights and electrics 48% |
| 2008 | 1,798 | Lights and electrics 49% |
| 2007 | 2,400 | Lights and electrics 48% |
| 2006 | 1,997 | Lights and electrics 47% |
| 2005 | 1,667 | Lights and electrics 46% |
| 2004 | 1,439 | Lights and electrics 45% |
| 2003 | 848 | Lights and electrics 44% |
| 2002 | 615 | Suspension 43% |
| 2001 | 468 | Brakes 44% |
| 2000 | 395 | Brakes 43% |
| 1999 | 165 | Suspension 45% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Ford Rangers registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score