Model year guide

2008 Ford Ranger

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Ford Ranger is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 211 on record.

2008 Ford Ranger — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2008 Ford Ranger at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints324
Combined18 mpg
Typical price$7,543

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2008 Ford Ranger recalls 6

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #21V158000 · 10/03/2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #21V081000 · 16/02/2021

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 service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high …

Fix: 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 21…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #21E013000 · 16/02/2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang, 2010-2012 Linco…

Fix: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #17V024000 · 10/01/2017

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford …

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, …

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #16V384000 · 31/05/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, Ameri…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners wil…

Exterior Lighting:tail Lights NHTSA Campaign #11V352000 · 13/07/2011

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 YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTO…

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2008 Ford Ranger common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 324 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

2008 Ford Ranger safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2008 Ford Ranger Supercab. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2008 Ford Ranger MPG & running costs

Combined18 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway21 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,520

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2008 Ford Ranger worth?

Low
$2,500
Typical price
$7,543
High
$12,100

From 208 comparable 2008 Ford Ranger listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Ford Ranger costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,600
Depreciation (5 yrs)$3,650
Total$21,250
Per mile$0.28

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($7,543) with the same model 5 model-years older ($3,887), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2008 Ford Ranger trims & engines on record

Trims
SPORT · XL · XLT · FX4 Off-Road
Engines
4.0L 6-cyl 207 hp · 3.0L 6-cyl 148 hp · 2.3L 4-cyl 143 hp

2008 Ford Ranger vehicles on record

Other Ford Ranger model years

2008 Ford Ranger — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Ford Ranger have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2008 Ford Ranger. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford Ranger?

Based on 324 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, structure, suspension.

What is the 2008 Ford Ranger safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2008 Ford Ranger crash-test ratings of frontal 5★, side 4★, rollover 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2008 Ford Ranger get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2008 Ford Ranger at about 18 mpg combined (16 city / 21 highway).

How much is a 2008 Ford Ranger worth?

Comparable 2008 Ford Ranger listings run roughly $2,500–$12,100, typically around $7,543 (from 208 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.