Ford F-53 Problems by Year
Ford F-53 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical F-53 year: 1999, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2020 F-53: 33 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2014 F-53: 17 complaints, 1 recall
- 2016 F-53: 15 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford F-53 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 41 | 13 | 0 |
| Power Train | 28 | 9 | 0 |
| Structure | 24 | 9 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 22 | 10 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 10 | 0 |
| Wheels | 16 | 10 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 11 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Visibility | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Equipment | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Ford F-53 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 F-53 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2025 F-53 | 1 | 3 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2024 F-53 | 4 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2023 F-53 | 4 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2022 F-53 | 4 | 2 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2021 F-53 | 13 | 2 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2020 F-53 | 33 | 2 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2019 F-53 | 6 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 2018 F-53 | 11 | 1 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2017 F-53 | 6 | 1 | — | Power Train | |
| 2016 F-53 | 15 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 F-53 | 7 | 0 | — | Visibility/wiper | |
| 2014 F-53 | 17 | 1 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 F-53 | 8 | 1 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2012 F-53 | 1 | 1 | — | Suspension | |
| 2011 F-53 | 7 | 1 | — | Wheels | |
| 2010 F-53 | 1 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2008 F-53 | 1 | 0 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2003 F-53 | 2 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2002 F-53 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2001 F-53 | 5 | 1 | — | Suspension | |
| 2000 F-53 | 2 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1999 F-53 | 15 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 F-53 | 1 | 1 | — | Suspension | |
| 1997 F-53 | 3 | 2 | — | Power Train | |
| 1996 F-53 | 2 | 2 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1995 F-53 | 6 | 2 | — | Vehicle Speed Control |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-53 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1999 (15), 2014 (17), 2016 (15), 2018 (11), 2020 (33), 2021 (13) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical F-53 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford F-53?
Suspension, with 41 complaints across 13 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford F-53 have?
18 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.