2016 Ford F-53: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
2,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 15 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 46.7% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 46.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Power Train: 6; Electrical System: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Structure: 1; Structure:Body: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2016: 10; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2022: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10819990 · 2016-01-13 (January 13, 2016)
PAGE 32 OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES IN PART, "THE TOW HAUL FEATURE: PROVIDES ENGINE BRAKING IN ALL FORWARD GEARS, WHICH WILL SLOW YOUR VEHICLE AND ASSIST YOU IN CONTROLLING YOUR VEHICLE WHEN DESCENDING A GRADE." I HAVE DESCENDED SEVERAL 8 PERCENT GRADES WITH THE TOW HAUL FEATURE OF MY TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND HAD TO ENGAGE MY BRAKES EXCESSIVELY BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT DOWNSHIFT TO PROVIDE ENGINE BRAKING AS DESCRIBED. THIS COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE OR PREMATURE BRAKE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO 2 AUTHORIZED FORD SERVIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10853054 · 2016-04-02 (April 2, 2016)
I HAVE A 2016 THOR MOTORHOME ON A 2016 FORD F53 18000 POUND CHASSIS. THE FORD POWERTRAIN IS EQUIPPED WITH A TOW/HAUL SELECTOR. THE TOW/HAUL MODE IS USED FOR VARIOUS REASONS, ONE OF THEM IS THE CAPABILITY OF AUTOMATICALLY DOWN-SHIFTING WHEN DESCENDING STEEP GRADES AND DURING HARD-STOPS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH MY 2016 POWERTRAIN, IT SIMPLY ISN'T WORKING AT ALL. NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NORMAL-MODE AND TOW/HAUL MODE. THIS IS "MAJOR" SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DESCENDING GRADES OR PANIC STOPPING AS YOU HAVE ZERO "ENGINE-BREAKING". I HAVE DRIVEN MY NEW MO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10853054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873425 · 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)
I HAVE A 2016ITASCA MOTORHOME ON A 2016 FORD F53 26000 POUND CHASSIS. THE FORD POWERTRAIN IS EQUIPPED WITH A TOW/HAUL SELECTOR. THE TOW/HAUL MODE IS USED FOR VARIOUS REASONS, ONE OF THEM IS THE CAPABILITY OF AUTOMATICALLY DOWN-SHIFTING WHEN DESCENDING STEEP GRADES AND DURING HARD-STOPS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH MY 2016 POWERTRAIN, IT ACTS NO DIFFERENT WHEN IN TOW/HAUL OR NOT.THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITON ON DECENDING HILLS. BRAKES COULD FAIL DUE TO OVERHEATING.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10874519 · 2016-06-16 (June 16, 2016)
2016 JAYCO ALANTE MOTORHOME ON A FORD F53 CHASSIS 16000 GVWR. WHEN OPERATING IN THE TOW/HAUL MODE, NO ENGINE BRAKING IS AVAILABLE AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL (PAGE 32, 33). THIS CAUSES A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONDITION IN ALL MODES OF TRAVEL, ESPECIALLY DESCENDING A HILL OR MOUNTAIN AS BRAKE OVERHEATING OR FAILURE OR FIRE COULD OCCUR. I HAVE READ OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS ON SEVERAL RV FORUMS TO INCLUDE IRV2.COM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS TOLD OTHERS THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM, BUT MY PREVIOUS TWO MOTORHOMES WITH SIMILAR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION EQ…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876020 · 2016-06-22 (June 22, 2016)
MY 2016 THOR HURRICANE MOTOR HOME WITH THE FORD F53 18K CHASSIS HAS A TOW-HAUL MODE IN THE TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO ALL FORD PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING THE OWNER'S MANUAL, WHEN IN THE TOW-HAUL MODE THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD DOWNSHIFT EACH TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ON MY UNIT AND NUMEROUS OTHER UNITS WITH THE 16K AND 18K GVWR CHASSIS. I BASE THIS ON NUMEROUS COMMENTS ON THE IRV2 FORUM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION IN HILLY/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHERE LONG AND STEEP DOWN GRADES ARE ENCOUNTERED. WITHOUT THE ENGINE BRAKING SUPPO…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876692 · 2016-06-26 (June 26, 2016)
TOW / HAUL MODE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY ITS ON ALL THE TIME COMING DOWN A GRADE IF YOU LET OFF THE GAS IT STARTS TO DO A HARD DOWNSHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION EVEN IF ITS NOT NECESSARY ITS NOT THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED TO WORK THERE IS A BUTTON TO TURN ON OR OFF THAT DOES NOT FUNCTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10882452 · 2016-07-04 (July 4, 2016)
INOPERABLE TOW/HAUL MODE. 2016 FORD F53 STRIPPED CHASSIS FOR MOTORHOME CONSTRUCTION. NEWMAR BAY STAR SPORT 2705. THE TOW/HAUL MODE IS A MODE THAT ALLOWS UTILIZING ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FOR VEHICLE DECELERATION, ESPECIALLY DOWN HILL. IF THE TOW/HAUL MODE IS OPERATING PROPERLY, THIS DYNAMIC BRAKING CAN EASE THE LOAD ON THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES. OVERHEATED BRAKES CAN RESULT IF THE TOW/HAUL IS INOPERABLE. OVERHEATED BRAKES IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE TOW/HAUL MODE HAS BEEN MADE OPERATIONAL FROM A THIRD PARTY VENDOR, SO IT IS FIXABLE BY SOF…
Owner-reported narrative. 53 miles reported. Look up ODI 10882452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10893899 · 2016-08-08 (August 8, 2016)
ATWOOD HEATER COVER VENTS FACING INWARD CAUSING WATER TO SHORT CIRCUITS. COULD CAUSE FIRE AND BURN RV. WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM ARMS FELL APART WHILE IN USE RENDERI G SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. THOR MOTORCOACH WILL NOT SEND PARTS AND THESE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS TO THEM. HAVE SUBMITTED PICTURES AND IGNORED.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893899 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V611000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2015-09-30 (September 30, 2015)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis trucks manufactured June 1, 2015, to August 11, 2015. Due to an incorrect shift cable bracket and an improper shift cable adjustment, the affected vehicles can be shifted out of 'PARK' without applying the brakes.
Consequence: If the vehicle can be shifted into reverse without the brakes being applied, the vehicle may unintentionally move, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission shift control bracket and adjust the transmission shift cable, free of charge. The recall began on November 12, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S25.
NHTSA campaign record ↗