Total Complaints
4 filings
FORD F53 · model year
2003 FORD F53
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003FORDF53 carries 4 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 2003 F53 is engine with 2 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (1) and vehicle speed control (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 2003 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.
4
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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20210309ENGINE
SPARK PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSES DANGEROUS CONDITION OF LOSS OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND RAW FUEL/AIR MIXTURE BEING RELEASED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Mileage: 69,000
20190604ENGINE
LOSS OF POWER DRIVING IN THE RAIN. EXCESSIVE WATER IN THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM. COMMUNICATION NUMBER: 020909, DATE: 2004-12-13CATEGORY: 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINESUMMARY: EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER INTO THE AIR FILTER AND A LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. 1999-2004 SUPER DUTY F-53 STRIPPED CHAS. *TT
Mileage: 18,000
20190604FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
LOSS OF POWER DRIVING IN THE RAIN. EXCESSIVE WATER IN THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM. COMMUNICATION NUMBER: 020909, DATE: 2004-12-13CATEGORY: 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINESUMMARY: EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER INTO THE AIR FILTER AND A LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. 1999-2004 SUPER DUTY F-53 STRIPPED CHAS. *TT
Mileage: 18,000
20190604VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
LOSS OF POWER DRIVING IN THE RAIN. EXCESSIVE WATER IN THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM. COMMUNICATION NUMBER: 020909, DATE: 2004-12-13CATEGORY: 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINESUMMARY: EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER INTO THE AIR FILTER AND A LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. 1999-2004 SUPER DUTY F-53 STRIPPED CHAS. *TT
Mileage: 18,000
Compare 2003FORDF53 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 2003 FORD F53 have?▼
The 2003 FORD F53 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 FORD F53?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 FORD F53 is ENGINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2003 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.