Total Complaints
26 filings
FORD F-53 · model year
26 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
The 2020FORDF-53 carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2020 F-53 is suspension with 7 filings, followed by service brakes (5) and power train (4). 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 2020 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.
Total Complaints
26 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | 7 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| STRUCTURE | 2 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
SUSPENSION:REAR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-53 Motorhome Stripped Chassis and F-59 Commercial Stripped Chassis vehicles. An inadequate amount of rear axle lubricant may cause rear wheel bearing damage and bearing seizure, and rear axle or driveshaft failure.
The Ford dealer performed the Recall 21/v202 and the ABS light stays on.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-53. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21E047000 (STRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the windows of the RV detached. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact took the RV to JnK Automotive, and it was determined that the window was include in the recall. The contact was contacted by Newmar and requested pictures of the RV windows; however, Newmar asked for the pictures to be retaken. The RV remained at JnK Automotive awaiting the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 11,055.
Mileage: 11,055
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-53. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21E047000 (STRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the windows of the RV detached. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact took the RV to JnK Automotive, and it was determined that the window was include in the recall. The contact was contacted by Newmar and requested pictures of the RV windows; however, Newmar asked for the pictures to be retaken. The RV remained at JnK Automotive awaiting the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 11,055.
Mileage: 11,055
The contact owns a 2021 Fleetwood Flair built on a 2020 Ford F-53 Chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V607000 (Structure); and was informed by the dealer advised that the RV needed to be inspected to check for the affected cabinet and then to report to the manufacturer for approval before the recall repair could be completed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had created an unreasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. VIN tool showed no open recall.
The contact owns a 2021 Fleetwood Flair built on a 2020 Ford F-53 Chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V607000 (Structure); and was informed by the dealer advised that the RV needed to be inspected to check for the affected cabinet and then to report to the manufacturer for approval before the recall repair could be completed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had created an unreasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. VIN tool showed no open recall.
See attached document for complaint.
While driving the cruise control shut off, all dash lights came on - ABS brakes, traction control, etc. We stopped at the next service center and called tech support. Tech support felt it was a bad sensor which would correct itself after engine shut off for a little while. The motorhome would be safe to get to a repair center. Shutting the engine off did not correct the issue - the lights continued to come on. The repair center "found the wiring harness was loose at L/F rear of engine and was resting on the exhaust manifold flange. Verified severe wiring damage from laying on the flange - lots of wires were burnt up." "The possiblity of causing a severe fire."
While driving the cruise control shut off, all dash lights came on - ABS brakes, traction control, etc. We stopped at the next service center and called tech support. Tech support felt it was a bad sensor which would correct itself after engine shut off for a little while. The motorhome would be safe to get to a repair center. Shutting the engine off did not correct the issue - the lights continued to come on. The repair center "found the wiring harness was loose at L/F rear of engine and was resting on the exhaust manifold flange. Verified severe wiring damage from laying on the flange - lots of wires were burnt up." "The possiblity of causing a severe fire."
While driving the cruise control shut off, all dash lights came on - ABS brakes, traction control, etc. We stopped at the next service center and called tech support. Tech support felt it was a bad sensor which would correct itself after engine shut off for a little while. The motorhome would be safe to get to a repair center. Shutting the engine off did not correct the issue - the lights continued to come on. The repair center "found the wiring harness was loose at L/F rear of engine and was resting on the exhaust manifold flange. Verified severe wiring damage from laying on the flange - lots of wires were burnt up." "The possiblity of causing a severe fire."
See attached document for complaint
The contact owns a 2022 Tiffan Open Raod. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22v731000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
In ordinary driving conditions when a crosswind is present, the Electronic Stability Control warning light comes on, disabling the vehicle’s traction control, cruise control and hill start assist, and possibly affecting the vehicle’s Anti-Lock Braking system. The warning light goes off after the engine is stopped and restarted. This condition has surfaced multiple times since I took ownership of this vehicle in April 2021. The sudden and unexpected loss of traction control and cruise control in windy or stormy conditions when the road surface may be slick with snow or rain creates a hazard to driver and passenger safety.
The contact owns a 2020 Forest River RV built on a 2020 Ford F53 chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V202000 (Suspension, Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact was unsure whether the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2020 Forest River RV built on a 2020 Ford F53 chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V202000 (Suspension, Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact was unsure whether the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The rear anti-sway bar is missing the driver side bushing, bracket and bolts. It is available at my home for inspection. I will not drive the vehicle (Forest River FR3 motorhome) until I can replace the bushing and bracket. The vehicle is very unstable in winds or when the vehicle is passed by a large vehicle. This creates and unsafe driving situation as the vehicle is pushed to the shoulder of the highway by the wind and large vehicles and then a steering correction sends it back toward the left lane. The problem was detected by the owner and not confirmed by a second party. It has not been inspected by anyone other than the owner. The only warning of the safety problem was poor handling on the highway.
The ABS and traction control warning light on the dash is in. When this happens the Hill assist is inoperable and the cruise control does not work I think it is a safety issue for these systems not to work. I have had my vehicle at the Ford dealership 2 times and the issue has not been repaired. The dealership said to drive it.
The following warning messages appeared at once and the cruise control was canceled causing Motorhome to slow suddenly on Turnpike. Hill assist inactive ABS inactive Traction control inactive This happened 3 times in a 2 hour drive on 11/15/2021. It has happened before but eventually goes away. It now happens more frequently.
The following warning messages appeared at once and the cruise control was canceled causing Motorhome to slow suddenly on Turnpike. Hill assist inactive ABS inactive Traction control inactive This happened 3 times in a 2 hour drive on 11/15/2021. It has happened before but eventually goes away. It now happens more frequently.
The following warning messages appeared at once and the cruise control was canceled causing Motorhome to slow suddenly on Turnpike. Hill assist inactive ABS inactive Traction control inactive This happened 3 times in a 2 hour drive on 11/15/2021. It has happened before but eventually goes away. It now happens more frequently.
A large hole melted in the front pass through storage compartment, caused by intense heat from the exhaust right below the melted spot. There is no heat shield, and the wiring for the entire coach was also at risk, some of the ceasing melted. This has been verified by a service center. There could have been catastrophic consequences had the wiring melted during travel. The problem was first discovered while traveling in August 2021, but the wiring issue was unknown until October 8, 2021 while at the service center. In addition, both rear wheels are leaking grease, the problem first noticed while traveling in New York. However, the leaking was unknown until October 8 while at the service center. These are serious issues, and have no place in a 2021 new motorhome made by Jayco.
Timing Belt Failure
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Timing Belt Failure
Underbody shields detachment
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 2020 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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.