2020 Ford Ranger Lighting Problems

Rear brake lights did not work, but high mount brake light functioned normally. I found a safety recall for the 2019 Ford Ranger for the same condition (19S43). This safety recall identifies connector C442 as the root cause for the incident. Based on this information, I located the connected. I disconnected the connector, did visual inspection. Visual inspection did not find any bent pins, so I reconnected connector. After inspection and reconnection of connector C442 the brake light now work. A little background on me. I’m a retire Service Engineer from Nissan and I have extensive background in vehicle service issues, recalls and campaigns. Based on my experience, I believe that the incident I confirmed on my vehicle may indicate that the Ford Ranger may continue to have brake light inoperative condition beyond the current Safety Recall window of vehicle. I have already contacted Ford to advise them of this condition. I offered to make my vehicle available to Ford for inspection, Ford declined.

The taillight on the driver's side has never worked properly. Took it for repair to get a replacement bulb. Personnel at local auto parts store were aware of problems on this model vehicle. They stated no replacement bulbs were available because it required an electronic "bulb." Was informed that the part was VERY expensive, so was unable to get replacement part. Was pulled over by local police and told no lights in rear of vehicle, including brake lights were working. Consumer reports reported same problem with 2019 Ford Ranger and had article "Ford Recalls Ranger Pickup Trucks for Taillight Problem." November 25, 2019. Ford recalled 78,264, year 2019 Rangers. My truck is a 2020 Ranger and the problem with the taillights0030 described for 2019 is IDENTICAL TO THE ONE DESCRIBED FOR 2019.

I purchased a 2020 Ford Ranger truck which had, either a faulty "bulb," or other type of device which caused the driver side tail light to not illuminate. I was not made aware of this, as I do not commonly check to see if the taillights were when I turn on the lights to drive at night. However, I observed the faulty taillight probably a year or so after owning the vehicle. The vehicle is not frequently driven, as I brought the 2020 Ford Ranger truck new, and it presently as of April 2025 has about 7300 miles on it. When I became aware of the faulty taillight, I went to the local AutoZone store to purchase a replacement bulb, and was informed by a fairly knowledgeable individual that my vehicle did not have a standard "bulb" which could be replaced. I was told the unit which housed the component which caused the lighting to occur was an integrated compounded which had to be totally replaced, at a significant cost. I have not made any attempts to remove the component, and was informed there would be a significant cost to do so. On March 29, 2025 I was pulled over by a local sheriff's office indicating there was a problem with not only the taillight on the driver side not operating, but also problems with operation of my brake lights and other lights in the rear of the truck. I was informed that I should get the problem fixed as soon as possible. I did explain that I had previously made an attempt to get the driver side taillight fixed, but the component, was not available to do so. I then began to research the problem, and found an article was online which was attributed to Consumer Reports entitled "Ford recalls Ranger pickup trucks for taillight problem, automaker says loose electrical connections could lead to a crash" the basis of the November 25, 2019 article stated "Ford is recalling 78,264 of its 2019 Ranger pickup trucks because electrical connector may be loose or not properly installed. As a result the taillights may be inoperative or work intermittently.

Regular headlights are excessively bright. Oncoming traffic is constantly flashing their bright lights with implications that my Ford Ranger's lights are on bright and not normal setting. This seems to be dangerous to oncoming traffic. It happens repeatedly every morning I am driving in the dark (5:00am-6:30am) Dealer said that there is nothing they can do. No indications that the bright lights are on (bright light symbol not appearing)

REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE. MY SEVEN YEAR OLD CAN'T OPEN IT WITHOUT HELP ON THAT SIDE. WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES WHEN IT IS CLOSED. AFTER PARKING THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE REAR TAILGATE TO STAY ON TO DRAIN BATTERY BECAUSE TRUCK REGISTERS THE DOOR AS AJAR. HAVE TO SLAM AND RELOCK SEVERAL TIMES TO GET WARNING AND LIGHTS TO TURN OFF. WHEN AN OBJECT IS IN THAT DOOR'S POCKET THE PROBLEM IS WORSE AND IT MAY MAKE THE ALARM GO OFF HOURS AFTER PARKING. OFTEN TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS AND TURNING INTERIOR LIGHTS ON AND OFF TO GET THE TRUCK LOCKED WITH ALL THE LIGHTS OFF.