Consumer Reports never has been trustworthy. If anyone followed their guidance our driveways, garages, carports, and homes would be completely empty, and we wouldn't have homes either.
If the Ranger is so unreliable why are there so many of them being sold? I'm not a fan of turbo charged gas engines, but from what many TRS members who own these new Rangers are saying they're pretty decent vehicles...although I cannot afford one, the technology, and gadgets have made today's trucks way out of reach for many...so maybe in 20 years I'll be able to afford one HAHA!!! Does make me wonder if they'll actually last that long, only time will tell, the current Ranger is only what 3 years into its release here in the US again, so too early to say how reliable they're going to be as they're all still under factory warranty for the most part. I'd love to test drive one at some point but no need since I can't afford to buy one they kind of frown upon people just going out for a test drive without being in a buying position. I still have to wear out my 87 Ford Ranger first anyways HAHA!!
I'm not a fan of all the electronic gadgets and nanny controls but that's where a lot of the cost comes in, plus some of the issues that get reported...which is the other side of the story too, if you buy a new car and never have problems with it, you aren't going to be on the forum for that vehicle you'll be out enjoying that new car...now when it breaks down you'll then be on the forums bashing how bad it is, its a piece of junk, etc. That's pretty much any vehicle....and that said, every vehicle brand, and model out there have a certain amount of failures....you may get a great brand new car, while your neighbor buys the same car and has problems from the beginning...its all kind of hit and miss sometimes.
I'd take anything those companies like that say with a grain of salt, may of them are paid off to say things good or bad about just about any product you can imagine.