Total Complaints
2 filings
FORD F53 · model year
1991 FORD F53
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991FORDF53 carries 2 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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 F53 is service brakes, hydraulic with 1 filings, followed by service brakes (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1991 F53, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140922SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD WINNEBAGO F-53 CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE DELAYED TO STOP AND ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,542.
Mileage: 60,542
20030424SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A SEVERE BREAK FADING PROBLEM. I HAPPENS AFTER YOU HAVE DESCENDED A STEEP DOWNGRADE AND STOP. AT THAT POINT THE BREAK PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER A RESTING PERIOD THE PEDAL COMES BACK AGAIN. FORD HAS TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH MY 1991 M53, 50,000 MILES, IS TO DO A $2,500.00 TO $3,000.00 OVERHAUL OF THE BREAK SYSTEM USING PHONELIC PARTS. I FEEL IF AN EXTENSIVE OVERHAUL IS REQUIRED AT THIS POINT, IT WAS A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO FAIL. A SYSTEM DEFECT. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE COST THE LIFE OF MY WIFE AND TWO OF MY GRANDCHILDREN AND MYSELF. I HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED TO DRIVING ON FLATLAND EVER SINCE THIS INSTANCE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET AN ANSWER OR A CORRECTION BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE EXCEPT $2,500- $3,000. I FEEL FORD HAS A RESPONSIBILITY HERE AND SHOULD PAY ALL OR A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE CORRECTION OF THEIR DESIGN ERROR. *NLM
Mileage: 49,100
Compare 1991FORDF53 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 FORD F53 have?▼
The 1991 FORD F53 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 FORD F53?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 FORD F53 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 1991 FORD F53 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.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.