When it comes to dependability, J.D. Power recently recognized the 2019 Ford Ranger pickup truck in its study. What does the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study look at, and why is it a big deal that the Ranger is high-ranked?

The 2019 Ford Ranger is everywhere right now, even on the J.D. Power VDS

Looking at the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), there were a lot of changes to the usual lineup. In the current automotive world, dependability and reliability are two of the most critical factors. David Amodeo, director of global automotive at J.D. Power, said, “many owners are holding on to their vehicles longer, so long-term dependability is even more critical.” While some automakers have focused on this and made reliable vehicles, that isn’t the case for everyone.

The 2019 Ford Ranger and the rest of the 2019 vehicles have been involved with J.D. Power since the Initial Quality Study (IQS). That runs various tests within the first few months of ownership to help determine the dependability throughout. J.D. Power ranked seven of the 10 brands on the list at the top for the IQS and the VDS.

The highest-ranked truck was the 2019 Nissan Frontier in the midsize pickup truck category. That was followed by the 2019 Ford Ranger and the 2019 Toyota Tacoma.

The 2019 Ford Ranger has a pretty solid reliability history

A pickup truck like the Ford Ranger has a different set of needs than, say, a regular passenger car. Trucks have to tow and carry a lot more weight than a standard car, which often amounts to more wear and tear. Looking at the Consumer Reports listing for the 2019 Ranger, the story isn’t quite as good. The 2019 Ford Ranger has seven recalls already.

These include a problem with the seat belts, exterior lighting, and power train issues. Both the reliability and owner satisfaction came in at an average three out of five. But overall, the Ford truck has a lot of positives. It is fuel-efficient, small enough to maneuver, and comes with automatic emergency braking.

However, the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study is more of an in-depth look at the problems reported by owners. While Consumer Reports uses the Annual Auto Report to collect information, the IQS and VDS follow the vehicles for the first few years of ownership.

Ford made it to the middle of the pack as far as a brand goes. With 188 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), Ford is still above the industry average of 192 PP100. No other Ford trucks landed on the pickup truck and van segment list.

What does dependability and reliability matter?

Taking a look at the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), the 2021 Ford Ranger landed in the same spot. The midsize pickup truck rankings for the IQS included the Jeep Gladiator in the first place, followed by the Chevrolet Colorado in third place. The Ranger also regularly lands on the Consumer Reports’ most reliable truck list. What does any of this mean, and why does it matter?

It shows that Ford focuses on making a reliable truck throughout its life cycle. The 2019 Ford Ranger is still a reliable choice for a three-year-old truck, making it a good value. More people are buying lightly used vehicles these days due to the semiconductor chip shortages, so having a quality truck three years later is essential.

Ford is focusing on electric vehicles this year, but the Ranger isn’t going anywhere. If nothing else, the Ford Ranger is only getting more reliable as the years go on.