2019 ABS speed sensor and Wheel position sensor. Possibly a transmission issues too

[fatguylilshirt]

Let me preface this with a little backstory before I get into the issue.
Just purchased my NEW TO ME 2019 Ranger XL STX rwd w/ 52,000 on the clock.
Purchase date: 1/31/25

I absolutely love the truck got it for 20,000 out the door at a legitimate big Chevrolet dealership off the used lot. Clean CARFAX. I have a company truck that I use to commute and don’t drive my personal vehicle that much.

Now, some things are starting to make me question my decisions and I can’t seem to find answers that specifically pertains to my 1 issue that I’m hoping isn’t 2 issues.



Noticed this Saturday while driving roughly 90 miles round trip to visit some friends
2/8/25

The truck seems to want to buck/hesitate(kinda feels as if someone were tapping that gas pedal) when holding the pedal steady at certain speeds, not while accelerating or decelerating, just when holding steady, seams to shift fine and drive normally otherwise.

2/9/25

While making a u turn at less than 5mph(barely touching the gas pedal) Truck at a full turn all the sudden made some bucking and felt like it was maybe pressing the brakes for me or maybe cutting power to the wheels?

Lights for ABS and stability control came on with the message, service advance trac and hill start assist disabled.

Pulled over.

Shut vehicle on and off a few times, dash lights remained (no check engine light) researched if vehicle was safe to drive with those lights

Drive roughly 3 miles to nearest advance autoparts to get scanned

The scan showed these two codes.

C0051-62
Steering Wheel Position Sensor - Signal Compare Failure

C003A-65
Right rear wheel speed sensor - Signal Has Too Few Transitions/Events


After sitting in the store for roughly 15 minutes and starting the vehicle back up, the codes disappeared on its own


When I went and picked up my girlfriend and brought her friend back home that same day, anytime I held the pedal at a steady speed. I could feel some bucking/hesitation, but it shifted fine otherwise

When I would let off the pedal to decelerate while It was doing that, the bucking seemingly stopped

Accelerating back up to speed would do the same, no bucking, only when holding the pedal steady, it would buck(feeling as tho someone is tapping the gas pedal)


The codes have not come back but I’ve only driven maybe 20 miles since codes went away and I am outta town working for a few days and trying to research to know how to tackle things when I get back.

can these two things be related or am I dealing with two separate issues that are popping up at the same time?

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[airline tech]

I suspect the - Steering Position code is a secondary code from the R/R Wheel Speed Sensor faulting -I would check the connector and pull it out and check the encoder wheel for any debris.
If no issue found - replace the sensor.
I also suspect that the Buck feeling is also tied to the wheel speed sensor as the ABS module ties in Tracking Control etc and its limiting power. (The Buck) feeling

 

[fatguylilshirt]

So, I drove around some with forscan running and all the wheel speed sensors are functioning normally, the steering wheel has been crooked since I bought it but, I've never driven a truck with one exactly straight and just assumed it was par for the course. forscan says its 14 degrees off center when driving straight down the road. The dealership I bought it from is taking it in Monday. they're going to give it an alignment to see if that wheel position sensor could be affecting something. I mentioned about the possibility of it being dpfe related surging if the wheel position sensor being properly calibrated doesn't change anything.


Side note, I've noticed it doing the surging when the pedal is steady in 5th or 6th gear roughly between22-27 mph, sometimes 7th at like mid 30's, and at 8th gear in the mid 40s, again only when the pedal is steady. it goes away as soon as I accelerate or decelerate. It does it almost the same in any mode. towing/sport/regular

 

[ctechbob]

Replace the DPFE sensor, that will likely cure the bucking. I'm going to go ahead and say 100% of Ranger owners are going to have this issue to one degree or another.

Take a good look at the right rear wheel sensor. Might be worth unplugging it and cleaning the contacts, or at least give them a blast of air and reseat.

 

[rang19ca]

I also suspect the DPFE sensor needs to be replaced.

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