Used car safety, rank #43 of 181
Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD Safety Rating (2019-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2019-20 Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD, a small pickup, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2019-20 Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 14 per million registered vehicle years against a small pickups average of 28.0, which is 50% below the class average. That places it #43 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 72.9/100.
What the Ford Ranger Crew Cab death rate means
At 14 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD beats the small pickups average of 28.0 by 50%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 31, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 43 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Ford Ranger Crew Cab. It is higher than the Ford Ranger Crew Cab's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used pickups
The safest small pickups in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD highlighted. It ranks 3 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the GMC Canyon Crew Cab 4WD at a death rate of 5.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Canyon Crew Cab 4WD | 2017-20 | 5 (0 to 14) | 84.6 | 4.0/5 | $22,000 to $35,000 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab long bed 4WD | 2018-20 | 6 (0 to 18) | 82.7 | 3.5/5 | $26,000 to $38,000 |
| Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD (this page) | 2019-20 | 14 (0 to 31) | 72.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Gladiator 4WD | 2020 | 15 (0 to 37) | 71.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab 4WD | 2017-20 | 21 (10 to 32) | 67.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab short bed 4WD | 2018-20 | 24 (13 to 35) | 62.8 | 3.5/5 | n/a |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab short bed 2WD | 2018-20 | 27 (8 to 46) | 58.9 | 3.5/5 | n/a |
| Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab 2WD | 2017-20 | 34 (8 to 59) | 50.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab 2WD | 2017-20 | 36 (10 to 62) | 48.1 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small pickups: 28.0 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Ford Ranger Crew Cab
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Ford Ranger Crew Cab we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ford Ranger | No award | 62.4 (provisional) |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 72.9 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
7 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering equipment, back over prevention, seat belts, seats, power train.
-
Equipment: electrical, engine block heater
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026.
-
Back over prevention: software
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge.
-
Equipment: other, labels
Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail a new TREAD label to install over the existing label, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the new label installed, free of charge.
-
Seat belts: front, webbing
Risk: A misrouted seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will provide owners with instructions to perform a preliminary inspection of their front seat belts. Owners that detect an issue with the driver's seat belt, are unsure of the results, or do not want to perform an inspection, should not drive their vehicles and contact a Ford dealership. Dealers will inspect the front row outboard seat belts and replace them, if necessary, free of charge. Interim
-
Seats: mid/rear assembly
Risk: An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear-lower child restraint anchorages for correct alignment and adjust as necessary. Separately, dealers will replace the non-removable head restraints with removable head restraints, free of charge. Interim
-
Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021.
-
Power train: automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)
Risk: If the transmission selection does not match the indicated gear selection, and the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the shift cable locking clip installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 14 per million registered vehicle years for the 2019-20 Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD, 50% below the class average (28.0 for small pickups). That earns a used-car safety score of 72.9 out of 100 and rank #43 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD driver death rate?
14 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 31. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Ford Ranger Crew Cab died at a rate of 43 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2019-20 models.
How does the Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD compare with other small pickups?
The small pickups class averages 28.0 driver deaths per million; the Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD sits at 14. Among the 9 small pickups compared above it ranks 3 by safety score; the top of that group is the GMC Canyon Crew Cab 4WD with a death rate of 5.