2018 Ford F-53 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2019 Thor Motor coach Windsport built on a 2018 Ford F-53 Chassis. The contact stated that while she was cleaning the RV, she noticed that the metal screws that maintained the overhead unit of the driving compartment attached to the ceiling were pulling out. However, the brackets installed on each side of the overhead unit prevented it from falling. An independent RV mechanic diagnosed that the failure was due to metal screws being installed on the wooden surface. The independent mechanic informed the contact that brackets needed to be installed to maintain the overhead unit into position. The RV was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.

NHTSA ID

11491692

Incident

Oct 31, 2022

Mileage

9,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Jayco Alante manufactured on a 2015 Ford F53 chassis. The contact stated while driving 28 mph, the front grill detached from the RV inadvertently. The contact took the RV to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the grill to be replaced however, the dealer did not provide the service at their location. The dealer referred the contact to a body shop for the repair. The RV was not yet repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,376.

NHTSA ID

11425508

Incident

Jul 8, 2021

Mileage

7,376 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F53. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE ROOF STARTED TO LEAK CAUSING WATER TO GET INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INVERTER UNIT SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR HEATING UNITS AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY OVERHEAT BURNING THE CONTACTS FEET. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SORE FOOT BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11416140

Incident

Oct 12, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 54000 MILES DUE TO INTERNAL DEFECTIVE PART. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JUMP ON SHIFTING FROM 1 ST GEAR TO 2 ND .

NHTSA ID

11375103

Incident

Oct 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-53 RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BACK-UP CAMERA DETACHED AND BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO APPLETON CAMPING CENTER (2100 N MCCARTHY RD, APPLETON, WI 54913, (920) 757-6112) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A LOOSENED ELECTRICAL WIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11341602

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

3,000 mi

MAIN DOOR HATCH PLUNGER BROKE ON TRIMARK 72130 DOOR HATCH /DEAD BOLT , LOCKING US OUT. IF WE HAD BEEN INSIDE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME. HAD TO FIND A LADDER A CLIMB THRU WINDOW AND AFTER A COUPLE HOURS WERE ABLE TO TAKE APART TO GET UNLATCH AND FOUND BROKEN PLUNGER/HATCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327052

Incident

Jun 2, 2020

Mileage

12,424 mi

THE FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER HARNESS IN MY RV IS MOUNTED SO HIGH THAT THE BELT GOES ACROSS MY WIFE'S THROAT INSTEAD OF HER CHEST. WHY IS THERE NO SAFETY STANDARD WHICH REQUIRES A SHOULDER HARNESS MOUNT TO BE ADJUSTABLE VERTICALLY TO KEEP SHORT PEOPLE SAFE?*DT

NHTSA ID

11222112

Incident

Jun 4, 2019

Mileage

17 mi

VEHICLE SOLD AS NEW TO ME BY GIANT RV WITH A 15 YEAR OLD TIRE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THIS WAS A MISMATCH, OFF BRAND "EXPIRED" TIRE THAT CAUSED A BLOW OUT REQUIRING REPAIRS AND CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY OF RISK. THIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUE OR PROVIDER NECESSARY BACKGROUND AS TO THE CAUSE OF WHY THIS TIRE WAS IMPROPERLY REPLACED. CONCERN BEING THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A NON DISCLOSED VEHICLE EVENT (ACCIDENT ETC.) THAT CAUSED DAMAGES WHICH WERE IMPROPERLY AND UNSAFELY REPAIRED WITHOUT PROPER DISCLOSURE. CONCERN BEING THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER HIDDEN ISSUES WHICH MAY CONTINUE TO PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK. WHEN ASKED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER (THOR) PLACE BLAME WITH FORD AS THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER. I DO NOT BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY STORES AND INSTALLS 15 YEAR OLD TIRES ON BRAND NEW CHASSIS. I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN EVENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TRANSPORTED BY GIANT RV FROM THOR'S MANUFACTURING CENTER TO THEIR DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA. I BELIEVE THEY REPLACED THE TIRE FOR THE LOWEST COST AS POSSIBLE WITH INFERIOR AND UNSAFE MATERIAL - PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY AS WELL AS MY VEHICLE AT RISK. I FEEL IT IS REASONABLE AND AND I FEEL A RESPONSIBLE DEALER WOULD DO ALL THEY COULD TO DETERMINE WHERE AND HOW THIS HAPPENED. IF THIS IS THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICE THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES AND CONSUMERS AT RISK. THE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE IN A TYPICAL TRAVEL SITUATION, AFTER RECENTLY BEING SERVICED BY THE DEALER (GIANT RV) FOR UNRELATED WARRANTY ISSUES. TIRE BLEW OUT ON 2/24/19 DURING REGULAR TRAVEL. (FEWER THAN 4,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE COACH). THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FRONT DRIVER SIDE MISMATCHED TIRE THAT HAD A DOT DATE OF 2005 AND FAILED DUE TO AGE. THE UNSAFE TIRE WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING A 2005 DATED DOT TIRE BY BOTH HIGHWAY PATROL AND A TIRE AGENCY WHICH DID THE ROADSIDE REPAIR FOR ME. THE TIRE WAS PROVIDED TO GIANT RV SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY TOO AGREED THAT THIS WAS AN UNSAFE ("EXPIRED") TIRE. ULTIMATELY THOR AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TIRE. *DT *JB

NHTSA ID

11193368

Incident

Feb 24, 2019

Mileage

3,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JAYCO 31Z. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WAS UNSTABLE AND UNCONTROLLABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (ALBANY RV, 48 RENSSELAER AVE, LATHAM, NY 12110, (518) 459-4695), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ALBANY RV REFERRED THE CONTACT TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 781.

NHTSA ID

11111682

Incident

Jun 27, 2018

Mileage

781 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FWY THE BUNK DOORS ON MY MOTORHOME FAILED WHERE THE DOOR SCREWS INTO THE HINGE BRAKET CAUSING THE 45LBS DOOR TO FALL OFF. ON A SEPERATE OCCASION ON THE OTHER DOOR, THE WELD IN THE BRACKET FAILED AND THE OTHER DOOR FELL OFF. THESE DOORS ARE IN A STRAIT LINE WITH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS AND IN THE EVENT OF A PANIC STOP OR TRAFFIC COLLISION COULD CAUSE GREAT BODILY HARM OR DEATH. THE MANUFACURE OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENGINEER THE BRACKETS AND MOUNTING DEVICES PROPERLY AND HAVE CREATED A POTENTIAL HAZARD IN ALL SIMILARLY EQUIPED VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

11100307

Incident

Jan 30, 2018

Mileage

3,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-53. WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CHIME CONTINUED TO BE AUDIBLE AND COULD NOT BE DEACTIVATED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED TWICE PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CHIME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT CALL THE DEALER THAT SERVICED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11084267

Incident

Nov 12, 2017

Mileage

3,000 mi