Ford only started building Rangers again in North America this past October, rejoining the market for compact/midsize pickups for the first time since the end of 2011. But it didn't even take four months for the Blue Oval to issue a recall for the new model.

The problem is with the shifter for the ten-speed automatic. It's the only transmission offered on the new Ranger in the US, mated as standard to a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo four that's rated at 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque and available with either two- or four-wheel drive.

Apparently the shifter's interlock function may not be doing its job, allowing the vehicle to shift out of Park even without the driver's foot on the brake.

In order to address the problem, Dearborn's calling in some 3,500 Rangers in North America – about 3,000 in the United States and another 500 in Canada – all built at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant from June 4, 2018 through January 9, 2019. Just how that could be when production only began on October 22, we don't know. But one way or another, we're likely dealing with the bulk of those vehicles produced so far.

Dealers are being instructed to test the shifter and fix the wiring where needed. Fortunately the automaker says it "is not aware of any accidents or injuries resulting from this condition."

While it may come as a bit of a surprise to see the new Ranger being recalled already, the number of affected units pales in comparison to the number of previous-generation trucks called in under the widespread Takata airbag recall last year. That's when Ford told over 30,000 owners to stop driving their pickups until those problematic inflators could be replaced.