Remedial work potentially required for the biturbo that has accounted for 10 percent of current model’s registrations.

POTENTIAL for it to come to a sudden stop at low speed has triggered a recall of a variant of the Ford Ranger that has become of increasing significance under Clean Car.

The remedial action is specific to editions of the country’s most popular new car with a twin turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, so just over 1200 units in NZ, with no issues having been notified.

The issue relates to a low-battery charge fault and has potential to cause the automatic transmission to engage 'Park' while the vehicle is moving at walking pace.

The recall notice from Ford says: “Due to a software issue, under certain circumstances if the battery level drops below a critical threshold, the transmission may shift into park when the vehicle is travelling at speeds below 6kmh.

“This may cause a sudden stop without the rear brake lamps illuminating as intended.”

Ranger has been the country’s top selling new vehicle for almost a decade - hitting 11,577 registrations last year. 

The current generation, which released in mid-2022, has maintained that popularity, despite being among vehicles coping the brunt of tightening Clean Car emissions regulations. 

A carryover from the previous generation, the 2.0-litre ‘Panther’ engine has in the latest line historically achieved only about 10 percent of NZ Ranger volume since changeover - all others have run with the new-to-type diesel and petrol V6s.

The four cylinder penetration is expected to climb, however, as it is now being promoted more heavily, on strength of the efficiency advantage the biturbo brings, notably in CO2 count.

The market reacted immediately to a big lift in CO2 penalties that enacted on July 1. 

However, even though new vehicle registrations last month were the lowest for years, at less than half the monthly average, Ranger remained the top choice, albeit with 518 registrations. A count less than half preceding monthly outcomes.

Ford has made clear the recall only impacts the latest Ranger, where the 2.0-litre marries to the new model’s 'e-Shifter' gear selector, and from a build period from October last year until present.

On these 1240 vehicles, which includes a small count of Everests, “a supplier issue means that the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software may limit the alternator's charging output under certain circumstances.”

Ford NZ says it will writing directly to owners to explain the situation and what remedies are required.