Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Ford F-53, most frequently naming the engine, driver assistance and fuel system categories. 8 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 2 months of data.
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
SPARK PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSES DANGEROUS CONDITION OF LOSS OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND RAW FUEL/AIR MIXTURE BEING RELEASED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
LOSS OF POWER DRIVING IN THE RAIN. EXCESSIVE WATER IN THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM. COMMUNICATION NUMBER: 020909, DATE: 2004-12-13CATEGORY: 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINESUMMARY: EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER INTO THE AIR FILTER AND A LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. 1999-2004 SUPER DUTY F-53 STRIPPED CHAS. *TT
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER INTO THE AIR FILTER AND A LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. 1999-2004 SUPER DUTY F-53 STRIPPED CHAS. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIPS. TO INCLUDE VARIOUS 2005 MODELS. * AR THIS ARTICLE 04161 SUPERSEDES TSB 03-14-04.
SUSPENSION
POPPING NOISE AND/OR SWAY/LEAN DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. ALSO INCLUDING FORD F53 MY2004. *TT
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
CONCERNS WITH MOTORHOME GENERATORS SHUTTING OFF WHEN FUEL TANK READS 1/4 FULL. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 37.3 |
| 2020 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 42.4 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 43.0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 37.9 |
| 2015 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 45.8 |
| 2013 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2003Viewing | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 43.2 |
| 1998 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.