2022 Ford Ranger Powertrain (other) Problems

Vehicle was placed into Ford’s Neutral Tow mode according to the owner’s manual before being recreationally towed behind a motorhome. The instrument cluster displayed Ford’s confirmation that Neutral Tow was enabled and the vehicle was ready for four-wheel-down towing. The transmission failure occurred during the second day of towing. After highway travel, the transmission severely overheated, expelled transmission fluid and lost all ability to move in forward or reverse. Diagnostic code P0218, transmission over-temperature, was present. Neutral Tow was no longer enabled when the vehicle was subsequently checked. The Ford dealer states that the vehicle does not retain logs confirming whether Neutral Tow was enabled or remained enabled. Ford’s GSB 22-7086 directs the dealer to inspect for transmission damage associated with the drivetrain being rotated during recreational towing. However, the resulting damage cannot establish whether the owner failed to activate Neutral Tow or whether Ford’s electronically controlled Neutral Tow system confirmed activation and later failed to maintain the required mechanical state. The fact that the vehicle was successfully towed during the first day before failing on the second day raises concern that the transfer case, shift-control system or related electronics may have lost or failed to maintain Neutral Tow after it had been successfully activated. There are other reported incidents involving Ford Ranger, F-150 and Bronco vehicles in which owners state that Neutral Tow was confirmed but the drivetrain subsequently re-engaged, overheated or suffered catastrophic transmission damage during recreational towing. This condition presents a safety risk because Ford’s system may display that the vehicle is ready and safe to tow while potentially failing to keep the drivetrain mechanically isolated. In this incident, extremely hot transmission fluid was expelled onto the vehicle, tow equipment and surrounding roadway, creating a poss

NHTSA ID

11753520

Incident

Jul 19, 2026

Transmission. Total mechanical failure. TSB. 23-2250 TBS 24-2101 TBS. 25-2134. Transmission fluid was replaced at 83709. Replaced at 104263. Factory schedule 150000. Ford is aware they are selling a product that has Factory mechanical issues.

NHTSA ID

11748529

Incident

Jul 3, 2026

Complete transmission failure with normal driving use just outside of warranty

NHTSA ID

11733138

Incident

Jan 20, 2025

Engine Valve Cover has Cracked. High Pressure Pump Seals and gaskets needed to be replaced. Confirmed by 2 dealerships It has been inspected No warning lamps messages.

NHTSA ID

11713696

Incident

Jan 20, 2026

Several occasions, pulling out into traffic and giving it gas the truck jerks repeatedly and won't go and then we'll kick into normal speed several times driving out of nowhere RPM shoot up truck almost comes to a complete stop in the middle of traffic but no Code is popping up saying there's anything wrong with the vehicle and in order to have Ford looking at it. It's gonna cost $399 since as of now there is no recall on anything for this.

NHTSA ID

11710384

Incident

Dec 23, 2025

We where driving down the PA Turnpike Pike when the transmission began to shift between 8 and 9th gears. A wrench icon turned on. I pulled over and the transmission stayed stuck in 9th gear even when parked. I turned off the truck and opened the door which turned the ignition off. When I opened the door I heard a click from the transmission. Turned the truck back on and it ran normal and the wrench went away. I use a code reader at all times and was able to record the code. This occurred while overtaking another car and almost caused a multi car and semi accident.

NHTSA ID

11704938

Incident

Dec 13, 2025

While driving my 2022 Ford Ranger, the transmission failed to engage Drive. I started my morning as usual, letting the vehicle warm up and the RPMs settle before leaving my neighborhood. As I pulled onto the main road, the truck began acting strangely—I noticed it wasn’t accelerating normally and felt constant gear shifting without gaining speed. To avoid blocking traffic, I pulled over at a local store and shifted into Park. When I tried to shift back into Drive, the transmission would not engage. Pressing the gas felt like the truck was in Neutral. I turned the vehicle off for about a minute and restarted it, but the same issue occurred. I then called my local dealer, who suggested using Sport mode and manually selecting gear 2. This worked, and I was able to drive home safely since I was only about a minute away. After that, I contacted the warranty company and arranged for a tow. Component/System: Transmission Safety Risk: Loss of acceleration on a main road created a risk of collision with other vehicles. Reproduced/Confirmed: UNKNOWN until December 15th if the issue has been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer. Inspection: Dealer is scheduled to inspect the vehicle on December 15. Warning Lamps/Messages: None appeared prior to the failure. None After. Until repairs are completed, I am without a vehicle and will only be reimbursed for a rental while repairs are worked on

NHTSA ID

11702974

Incident

Dec 3, 2025

Started having issues with 10R80 transmission at 40k then a complete replacement at 53k, nothing but continued problems, now back at shop a week later for knocking and transmission.

NHTSA ID

11702894

Incident

Nov 17, 2025

Harsh/Delayed Engagement and Harsh/Delayed Shifting from 3rd to 4th and sometimes 5th to 6th There's a Ford service bulletin out for this #25-2134 My truck was built on 08/26/2022 but this bulletin only covers trucks built before 08/15/2022 It occurs daily. My dealer tells me to live with it.

NHTSA ID

11663593

Incident

May 29, 2025

Five separate incidents where the truck suddenly accelerated to 4500 rpm while in drive. Usually at low speeds. Last incident occurred in driveway where the truck left skid marks on the pavers.

NHTSA ID

11607226

Incident

Apr 27, 2024

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle revved but failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact came to a stop with the engine still running. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle several times, but when the gear shifter was shifted into drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who ran a scan on the vehicle and retrieved several transmission codes and referred the contact to a dealer for assistance. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The diagnostic tests determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11587499

Incident

Mar 16, 2024

Mileage

80,000 mi

The trans mission just died on the middle of the road

NHTSA ID

11578798

Incident

Mar 4, 2024

I purchased a new 2022 Ford Ranger it has 6000 miles. I had it back to the dealer twice it hesitate when taking off from start at red light- stop sign and entering highway this in my mind is a safety problem when a care/truck hesitate in traffic there seem a problem with there new ECO-BOOST engine/transmission my truck will return again on 8/1 for another service call for the same problem.

NHTSA ID

11531868

Incident

Jul 12, 2023

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact heard a clicking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle, but no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over on the side the roadway but found no failure with the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but no failure was found. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 2,000.

NHTSA ID

11529322

Incident

Feb 14, 2023

Mileage

2,000 mi

I have experienced the transmission hunting for a proper gear, skipping gears while driving and, at times, hear a clunk when the gear is put into place.

NHTSA ID

11519584

Incident

Mar 15, 2023

The transmission and or converter on the vehicle continue to have harsh vibrations in all gears. The unit has a difficult time finding the right gear for the traveling speed. Some times accelerates slightly from a stopped position which requires excessive force on the brake. At highway speeds downshifts are very slow and sometimes not at all when trying to pass slower vehicles. Employee's refuse to drive this vehicle due to excessive vibration felt through the steering wheel and foot pedal's when coming to a stop. They don't feel that the vehicle is going to come to a stop. I would agree. It's as if the transmission does not start downshifting as the vehicle slows, and then drops into first very hard as the vehicle is coming to a stop. The vehicle started doing this at 220 miles and continues to get worse. It has been to the Dealer four times, with the first being a driveshaft shim placement to the driveshaft per a TSB. Second visit, the dealer states there is nothing wrong with the vehicle. Third visit, complete drive shaft and components replaced, with no remedy. Fourth visit, an engineer from Ford came to the dealership and determined there is nothing wrong with the vehicle. These problems have been occurring since the vehicle had 220 miles on it. The vehicle has 1700 miles and note being driven very much.

NHTSA ID

11505415

Incident

Oct 13, 2022

The lighting on the shift lever that shows what mode the transmission is being selected is missing. Apparently Ford stopped installing the lighting that lights the "Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive" in the shifter beginning in 2021. This is a serious safety issue because at night, the driver cannot look down at determine what mode is being selected. The dealer stated to me the selected mode is in the driver console at night. I'm a 5'9" male and any time the wheel is turned or my hand in on the wheel, I cannot see the mode selected. I quickly realized this the first time I drove the vehicle at night, none of the lighting on the shifter was on. I thought it was broken! Basically Ford has skimped a few dollars and NOT installed internal night lighting on the lettering. A simple correction for this is require ford to install the lighting in the unit as a retrofit kit (basically put back what they stopped installing). This would not incur a great expense or time, however, this could PREVENT the driver from selecting the wrong mode causing abrupt forward or backward movement injuring another person or vehicle when moving the vehicle out of park, in particular, backing in or out of parking spots for example that require you to turn the vehicle (AKA WHEEL NOT CENTERED). If not requiring a recall, FORD should make this retrofit available to owners because as of right now, I was told there is none. I included a short video showing the impeded view of the shift mode selected on the driver panel when the steering wheel is being moved and not at wheel centered. At night, this would be the only lighted shifting reference. I also included a day photo of the same view, a view of an earlier 2020 ranger (that had the shifter lighting standard) and my 2022 ranger shifter at night with no lighting. The current standard equipment lighting presents a safety hazard and is directly related to the movement of the vehicle so the likelihood of injury or occurrence are both HIGH.

NHTSA ID

11461578

Incident

Apr 2, 2022