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Ford F-53Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 183 owner complaints and 20 safety recalls on record for the Ford F-53.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints183Top: SuspensionSafety recalls201989–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Ford F-53 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the F-53 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'08'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2026Too new–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2025Too new–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2024Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall2023Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall2022Not rated–/1004 complaints · 2 recalls2021Not rated–/10013 complaints · 2 recalls2020Not rated–/10033 complaints · 2 recalls2019Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls2018Not rated–/10011 complaints · 1 recall2017Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall2016Not rated–/10015 complaints · 1 recall2015Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls2014Not rated–/10017 complaints · 1 recall2013Not rated–/1008 complaints · 1 recall2012Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2011Not rated–/1007 complaints · 1 recall2010Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2008Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2003Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls2002Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2001Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall2000Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1999Not rated–/10015 complaints · 2 recalls1998Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1997Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1996Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls1995Not rated–/1006 complaints · 2 recalls1994Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1993Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1992Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall1991Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1990Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Ford F-53 problems

All model years combined: 183 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Suspension410
Power train281
Structure243
Electrical system221
Service brakes200
Wheels160
Vehicle speed control140
Steering90
Service brakes, hydraulic90
17 other systems605
20 recalls

Ford F-53 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

49%Wheels: hub26V-235 · 2025–2026 · Apr 14, 2026 · 4,351 vehicles50%Exterior lighting: brake lights26V-155 · 2025–2026 · Mar 17, 2026 · 2,422 vehicles65%Back up lights: switch26V-025 · 2025 · Jan 21, 2026 · 231 vehicles84%Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel24V-725 · 2024 · Sep 27, 2024 · 761 vehicles81%Electrical system23V-510 · 2023 · Jul 21, 2023 · 5,558 vehicles73%Disc: caliper23V-164 · 2022 · Mar 10, 2023 · 644 vehicles56%Suspension: rear22V-731 · 2020–2021 · Sep 30, 2022 · 13,455 vehicles100%Steering: steering wheel/handle bar22V-528 · 2022 · Jul 22, 2022 · 692 vehicles72%Driveline: driveshaft21V-202 · 2020–2021 · Mar 24, 2021 · 16,128 vehicles87%Wheels18V-470 · 2018 · Jul 16, 2018 · 162 vehicles55%Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip17V-768 · 2017 · Nov 29, 2017 · 390 vehicles64%Power train: automatic transmission15V-611 · 2016 · Sep 30, 2015 · 1,477 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 20 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the F-53

  1. Trimark 060-1650 Door Latch FailuresPE20021 · 2014–2018 · closed Dec 13, 2024
    No recall
  2. ENGINE STALLINGSQ00020 · 1999 · closed May 24, 2002
    No recall