NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Ford F-53 Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 Ford F-53 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 8 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 Ford F-53. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2013 Ford F-53 owner complaints

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-53, describing incidents dated June 10, 2014 to November 1, 2022.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 3 complaints
Exterior Lighting 2 complaints
Suspension 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11493183 · Filed November 11, 2022
Brakelines are rusted and I am afraid they will rust through and cause brake failure. Looked at a 2017 model and the brakelines look to be coated to prevent this from happening.
ODI #11101328 · Filed June 12, 2018
HEADLIGHTS WILL ONLY ILLUMINATE THE HIGHWAY A SHORT DISTANCE AHEAD (50-60 FT) OF THE VEHICLE. CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. ALSO, THE BRAKES TO NOT SEEM TO BE ADEQUATE. *DT CONSUMER SOLD THE VEHICLE.*JB
ODI #11099011 · Filed May 31, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD F-53. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD FIBER GLASS WAS SEPARATING FROM THE MOTOR HOME. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GLUE BETWEEN THE FIBER GLASS AND METAL WAS PEELING AND CAUSED THE SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR…

Read all 8 complaints

Unapproved Steering Gear Adapter Plate Fastener

NHTSA #12V422000 · Steering · NHTSA notice

Reported August 29, 2012 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 31 vehicles

Ford campaign 12S38 · Owners notified September 7, 2012

Defect description

Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 F-53 motorhome stripped chassis vehicles manufactured from July 10, 2012 through July 13, 2012. Theses vehicles were assembled with incorrect steering gear adapter plate retention fasteners. Steering gear adapter plate fasteners could lead to torque loss in the steering gear attachment, potentionally leading to loosening and subsequent separation of the stearing gear over time.

Safety consequence

Separation of the steering gear may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear adapter plate retention fasteners, free of charge. The safety recall was completed on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

Notes

Ford's recall campaign number is 12S38.Customers may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2013 Ford F-53. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

8 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford F-53.

Service Brakes

ODI #11493183

Incident: November 1, 2022 · Filed: November 11, 2022

Brakelines are rusted and I am afraid they will rust through and cause brake failure. Looked at a 2017 model and the brakelines look to be coated to prevent this from happening.

Exterior Lighting; Service Brakes

ODI #11101328

Incident: June 10, 2014 · Filed: June 12, 2018

HEADLIGHTS WILL ONLY ILLUMINATE THE HIGHWAY A SHORT DISTANCE AHEAD (50-60 FT) OF THE VEHICLE. CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. ALSO, THE BRAKES TO NOT SEEM TO BE ADEQUATE. *DT CONSUMER SOLD THE VEHICLE.*JB

Visibility; Structure

ODI #11099011

Incident: August 1, 2017 · Filed: May 31, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD F-53. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD FIBER GLASS WAS SEPARATING FROM THE MOTOR HOME. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GLUE BETWEEN THE FIBER GLASS AND METAL WAS PEELING AND CAUSED THE SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Suspension

ODI #11021463

Incident: July 3, 2017 · Filed: September 5, 2017

MOTOR HOME WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MAY OF 2013. WHILE DRIVING THIS SUMMER I NOTICED MORE SWAY/ROLL THAN USUAL, SO I RESEARCHED 'FORD F53 CHASSIS- HANDLING ISSUES'. I FOUND THAT A LOT OF OWNERS REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THE BRACKETS ON THE REAR SWAY BARS. SOME HAD LOOSE OR MISSING BOLTS, LOOSE OR BENT OR MISSING BRACKETS ( EITHER SIDE). I WANTED TO SEE IF THIS COULD BE THE ISSUE I WAS HAVING WITH THE NOTICEABLE INCREASE SWAY/ROLL, SO I CRAWLED UNDER RIG TO INSPECT THE BRACKETS ON JULY 3RD, 2017. I FOUND THE SWAY BAR BRACKET ON DRIVERS SIDE, WAS BENT, BROKEN AND HANGING DOWN. THE UPPER BOLT WAS TIGHT AND HOLDING THE OTHER PIECE OF THE BRACKET (ABOUT 1" SQUARE) THE LOWER BOLT WAS LOOSE AND HOLDING THE REST OF THE BENT/BROKEN BRACKET AND THE POLY BUSHING HAD SLID 2"-3" FROM IT'S INSTALLED POSITION. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE BRACKET CAME LOOSE/BROKE BUT I KNEW THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE MH IN THIS STATE, SO I ORDERED THE NEW BRACKET FROM A NEARBY FORD PARTS SUPPLIER AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. I WILL TRY TO ATTACH PICS OF BROKEN BRACKET AS FIRST DISCOVERED AND PIC OF REPLACEMENT BRACKET RECEIPT. THE FORUM THAT I LEARNED OF THIS PROBLEM WAS 'IRV2' AND HAVE FOUND THAT IT HAS BEEN A ISSUE ON ALL MAKES, MODELS AND YEARS WITH THE FORD F53 CHASSIS. AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO NHTSA ATTENTION. AS A LOT OF OWNERS JUST 'FIX' THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES UNLESS VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM NEVER GETS REPORTED.

Suspension

ODI #11021254

Incident: June 25, 2014 · Filed: September 3, 2017

THE REAR STABILIZER BAR (ALSO CALLED AN ANTI-SWAY BAR) BRACKET BOLTS CAME LOOSE. THE UNIT HAD UNDER 5,000 MILES ON IT. I TORQUED THE BOLTS AND THEY CAME LOOSE AGAIN AFTER ANOTHER FEW THOUSAND MILES. I WAS A CERTIFIED ASE TECHNICIAN AND ALSO AN AUTOMOTIVE INSTRUCTOR FOR 35 YEARS (RETIRED) AND EVENTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH LOCK TIGHT ON THE BOLT THREADS. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON THE F-53 RV CHASSIS. BECAUSE THE BOLTS WERE JUST LOOSE NO DRIVING ISSUES WERE NOTICED. MANY HAVE REPORTED TO ME ABOUT MISSING BOLTS AND BRACKETS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS A LOSS OF SWAY CONTROL WILL OCCUR. SINCE ONLY BOLTS WERE LOOSE I DON'T HAVE PICTURES.

Electrical System

ODI #11002229

Incident: November 24, 2014 · Filed: July 10, 2017

2014 FOREST RIVER FR3. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR ELECTRIC DOUBLE STEP RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS. *LD UPDATED 07/10/2017*JS

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10789718

Incident: November 7, 2015 · Filed: November 10, 2015

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE MOTOR HOME ARE INADEQUATE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THEY ARE DANGEROUS CAUSING THE NEED TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS WHICH IS NOT IDEAL. THE DAYTIME DRIVING LIGHTS ON MY CAR DO A BETTER JOB. THE ARE SOME SORT OF CHEAP AFTERMARKET LIGHTS THAT CAN'T BE DOT APPROVED. *DT CONSUMER NO LONGER HAS THE VEHICLE.*JB

Service Brakes

ODI #10721785

Incident: October 17, 2014 · Filed: May 27, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 WINNEBAGO ITASCA SUNSTAR RV EQUIPPED WITH A 2013 FORD F-53 SD CHASSIS. WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE TOW HAUL CONTROL BUTTON WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 850. UPDATED 09/03/15*LJ UPDATED 10/17/2017*CN

Other Ford F-53 model years

Check your 2013 Ford F-53 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford F-53 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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