Ford F-53 · model year

2018 Ford F-53

14 NHTSA complaints, and 1 recall campaign listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
14
Recalls
1

The verdict

The 2018 Ford F-53 posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

22nd pctile
complaint volume, own model years
1
recall campaign

The 2018FordF-53 carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2018 F-53 is structure:body with 4 filings, followed by electrical system (2) and parking brake (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 1 NHTSA recall campaign listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 2018 F-53, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

14
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2018 Ford F-53

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

14 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
PARKING BRAKE1
STEERING1
WHEELS1
SEAT BELTS1
BACK OVER PREVENTION1
POWER TRAIN1
SUSPENSION1
STRUCTURE1

Recalls (1)

18V47000016/07/2018

WHEELS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford F53 stripped chassis vehicles equipped with 22.5 inch front wheels. The front wheel hub assembly may have wheel studs that were not properly heat treated.

Recent Complaints

20221031STRUCTURE

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.

Mileage: 9,000

20210719STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

Mileage: 7,376

20210511FireSTRUCTURE:BODY

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.

Mileage: 75,000

20210511FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 75,000

20201117POWER TRAIN

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

20201117SUSPENSION

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

20200727BACK OVER PREVENTION

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

Mileage: 3,000

20200727ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 3,000

20200603STRUCTURE:BODY

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

Mileage: 12,424

20190624SEAT BELTS

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

Mileage: 17

20190402WHEELS

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 CALI

Mileage: 3,100

20180716STEERING

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.

Mileage: 781

20180607STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

Mileage: 3,500

20180410PARKING BRAKE

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

Mileage: 3,000

Compare 2018FordF-53 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 6 Open

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2018 Ford F-53 have?▼
The 2018 Ford F-53 has 14 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 Ford F-53?▼
Yes, the 2018 Ford F-53 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is WHEELS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford F-53?▼
The most-complained component for the 2018 Ford F-53 is STRUCTURE:BODY with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and PARKING BRAKE.
Is the 2018 Ford F-53 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2018 Ford F-53; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.