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2016 Ford F-53

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
15Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
8
201317
20147
201515
20166
20176
20183
2019
Compare all F-53 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
6Electrical System
2Service Brakes
2Structure
2Unknown Or Other
2
All reported categories
Engine
1Seat Belts
1Visibility
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

2 reports
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2,800 miles · Apr 18, 2018
Service Brakes

PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST, 2016. ONE MONTH LATER WE DROVE OUR NEW MOTORHOME SOUTHWEST INTO NM AND AZ. AT 2735 MILES ON THE ODOMETER IN CENTRAL NM WE GOT TWO BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS WHILE TRAVELING WEST ON I-40 AT 65 MPH. WE STOPPED TO INSPECT SYSTEM. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE EXTREMELY HOT! FRONT MASTER CYLINDER CHAMBER SPI…

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PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST, 2016. ONE MONTH LATER WE DROVE OUR NEW MOTORHOME SOUTHWEST INTO NM AND AZ. AT 2735 MILES ON THE ODOMETER IN CENTRAL NM WE GOT TWO BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS WHILE TRAVELING WEST ON I-40 AT 65 MPH. WE STOPPED TO INSPECT SYSTEM. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE EXTREMELY HOT! FRONT MASTER CYLINDER CHAMBER SPILLED OUT EXTREMELY HOT BRAKE FLUID! I ADJUSTED IT'S LEVEL THEN CHECKED REAR CHAMBER. IT WAS ABOUT 2' BELOW CORRECT LEVEL. I FILLED TO CORRECT LEVEL. FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THIS I NOTICED A VERY HARD BRAKE PEDAL WITH DECREASING BRAKE EFFICIENCY. WE STOPPED IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM AND CONTACTED BOTH FORD DEALERS ADVERTISING RV/TRUCK SERVICE. WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 7 WORKING DAYS JUST TO GET INTO THEIR SHOPS! THEY DID SCAN OUR VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE WARNING LIGHTS. THIS HAS REACCURED TWICE SINCE THEN. OUR MOTORHOME CURRENTLY HAS 7785 MILES ON IT AND WE CAN'T TRUST THE BRAKES. BEING IN THE CAR BUSINESS FOR OVER 50 YEARS MY GUESS IS THIS SYSTEM IS TRYING TO STOP OUR 18,000 POUNDS WITH FRONT BRAKES ONLY. WE PULL A 2011 JEEP WRANGLER WITH IT. THE JEEP HAS A FULLY FUNCTIONAL 'BRAKE BUDDY' ALWAYS INSTALLED AND OPERATING.

NHTSA ODI #11088932

2,000 miles · Jan 13, 2016
Service Brakes

PAGE 32 OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES IN PART, "THE TOW HAUL FEATURE: PROVIDES ENGINE BRAKING IN ALL FORWARD GEARS, WHICH WILL SLOW YOUR VEHICLE AND ASSIST YOU IN CONTROLLING YOUR VEHICLE WHEN DESCENDING A GRADE." I HAVE DESCENDED SEVERAL 8 PERCENT GRADES WITH THE TOW HAUL FEATURE OF MY TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND HAD TO ENGAGE MY …

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PAGE 32 OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES IN PART, "THE TOW HAUL FEATURE: PROVIDES ENGINE BRAKING IN ALL FORWARD GEARS, WHICH WILL SLOW YOUR VEHICLE AND ASSIST YOU IN CONTROLLING YOUR VEHICLE WHEN DESCENDING A GRADE." I HAVE DESCENDED SEVERAL 8 PERCENT GRADES WITH THE TOW HAUL FEATURE OF MY TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND HAD TO ENGAGE MY BRAKES EXCESSIVELY BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT DOWNSHIFT TO PROVIDE ENGINE BRAKING AS DESCRIBED. THIS COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE OR PREMATURE BRAKE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO 2 AUTHORIZED FORD SERVICE SHOPS WITH THIS COMPLAINT WITHOUT RECEIVING ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE FEEDBACK I HAVE RECEIVED IS THAT FORD DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE 2016 FORD F53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS ON A OWNERS FORUM WEBSITE: WWW.IRV2.COM/FORUMS/53. MY TESTIMONY IS POSTED UNDER HFBUNDY. OTHER OWNERS DESCRIBING ISSUE WITH THE TOW FUNCTION INCLUDE SUPERLUCKY, STUART W, YELLOWBOAT, JHARRELL, AND ED RZEPKA. I PURCHASED THIS UNIT IN SEPTEMBER 2015. ALSO, MY SERVICE ADVISER WHERE I PURCHASED MY MOTORHOME SAYS HE HAS HEARD OF ISSUES INVOLVING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TOW HAUL MODE FOR THIS MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #10819990

Official recalls

1

15V611000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Sep 30, 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis trucks manufactured June 1, 2015, to August 11, 2015. Due to an incorrect shift cable bracket and an improper shift cable adjustment, the affected vehicles can be shifted out of 'PARK' without applying the brakes.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicle can be shifted into reverse without the brakes being applied, the vehicle may unintentionally move, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission shift control bracket and adjust the transmission shift cable, free of charge. The recall began on November 12, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S25.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.