1999 Ford F-53 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford F-53, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine635.3%
- Suspension423.5%
- Fuel system211.8%
- Powertrain (other)211.8%
- Other / unspecified15.9%
- Driver assistance15.9%
- Brakes15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FORD 1999 F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS -LOSS OF POWER IN A DRIVING RAINSTORM. WATER FOUND IN AIR INTAKE - LOWER BOWL. *JB
DT: CALLER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON V8 ENGINES, NOT ON V10. CALLER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE'S EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STUDS. CALLER SAID STUDS BROKE AND EXHAUST WAS LEAKING INTO THE CAB OF VEHICLE. CALLER THOUGHT THE STUDS RUSTED. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP HIM UNLESS CONSUMER PAID FOR IT. MANUFACTURER SAID CONSUMER WAS NOT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE V10 ENGINES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE WHEELS ON MY FORD F53 CHASSIS MOTORHOME. FORD WILL NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WHAT SO EVER EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE A TSB OUT ON THE PROBLEM! MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CENTER HOLE IN THE WHEEL WHICH IS USED TO CENTER THE WHEEL ON THE HUB IS TOO LARGE AND THE WHEEL CAN NOT BE PROPERLY CENTERED ON HUB. FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE WHEELS. HTTP://WWW.FORD-TRUCKS.COM/TSB/FULLTEXT/SHOW_ARTICLE.PHP?TSB=00-21-9 I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS,THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY SUGGESTED I HAVE A "HAWEKA ADAPTOR KIT" INSTALLED ON MY WHEELS. IN CALLING TOMMY AT HAWEKA HE SAID THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM FORD HAD FROM 1999-2002 ON THEIR WHEEL HUBS AND NOT THE WHEEL ITSELF. HE SAID THAT THE WHEEL IS "IMPOSSIBLE" TO CENTER ON THE HUB WITHOUT THIS KIT AND THEN IT HAD TO BE BALANCED USING A DSP HUNTING 9000 WITH "SILVER STAR,4 FINGER CENTERING STICKS AND A BACKING DISC". MY PROBLEM NOW IS THAT FORD WILL NO LONGER WILL SUPPORT THIS REPAIR METHOD AND WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING TRUCK SHAKES.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR FILTER SUCKS IN WATER WHEN IT RAINS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER THERE IS NO SOLUTION. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN RAINING, WATER SEEPS INTO AIR INTAKE AND CAUSES CAR TO STALL. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEELS CANNOT BE BALANCED TO PREVENT VIBRATION OF VEHICLE. DIFFERENTIAL WAS DEFECTIVE FROM FORD AND WAS REPLACED AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS TO FIX SAME. CHASSIS IS STILL VIBRATING AND UNUSABLE AS ONE REPAIR ATTEMPT WRAPPED THE GENERATER GAS LINE AROUND THE GENERATOR EXHAUST PIPE ( THIS REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS BY FLEETWOOD MOTORHOMES IN DECATUR, IND. ON A SECOND TRY TO FIX THE MOTORHOME).
REAR DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION GEAR FAILED. MANUFACTURER PROVIDED INTERIM REPAIR UNTIL COMPONENT MANUFACTURER (DANA) CAN PROVIDE A PERMENENT COMPNENT(S) REPLACEMENT. REAR END STILL MAKES DRIVELINE VIBRATION/NOISE AT 60 MPH UNDER LOAD. FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT COULD RENDER VEHICLE UNABLE TO MOVE UNDER IT'S OWN POWER OR BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY LEAVING THE MOTORIST STRANDED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
ACURIDE RIMS DEFECTIVE HINDERING STEERING AND CAUSING VIBRATION. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F53. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,200. UPDATED 3/11/08 UPDATED 03/11/08 *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS TO GET ANY BRAKING ACTION. REPORTED TO DEALER. DISCOVERED AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES. COULD RESULT IN CONDENSATION IN BRAKE LINES AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY IF OPERATING BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .