1999 Ford F53: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
19,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 6 | 50.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 |
| Suspension:Front | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Hub | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 1; Suspension:Front: 1; Suspension:Front:Hub: 1; Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 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: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 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 (2). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 6 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 10050809 · 2003-12-19 (December 19, 2003)
WHATS THE USE OF HAVING TSB'S WITH NO INFORMATION? JUST WANT TO MAKE A DIME MORE? THIS SITE IS USELESS. WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WHEN THEY SEARCH TSB'S? ANSWERS! YOU HAVE NONE! QUIT WASTING PEOPLES TIME AND MONEY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127438 · 2005-07-05 (July 5, 2005)
DT: CALLER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON V8 ENGINES, NOT ON V10. CALLER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE'S EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STUDS. CALLER SAID STUDS BROKE AND EXHAUST WAS LEAKING INTO THE CAB OF VEHICLE. CALLER THOUGHT THE STUDS RUSTED. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP HIM UNLESS CONSUMER PAID FOR IT. MANUFACTURER SAID CONSUMER WAS NOT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE V10 ENGINES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144755 · 2005-12-08 (December 8, 2005)
FORD 1999 F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS -LOSS OF POWER IN A DRIVING RAINSTORM. WATER FOUND IN AIR INTAKE - LOWER BOWL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,140 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197248 · 2007-07-23 (July 23, 2007)
I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE WHEELS ON MY FORD F53 CHASSIS MOTORHOME. FORD WILL NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WHAT SO EVER EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE A TSB OUT ON THE PROBLEM! MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CENTER HOLE IN THE WHEEL WHICH IS USED TO CENTER THE WHEEL ON THE HUB IS TOO LARGE AND THE WHEEL CAN NOT BE PROPERLY CENTERED ON HUB. FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE WHEELS. HTTP://WWW.FORD-TRUCKS.COM/TSB/FULLTEXT/SHOW_ARTICLE.PHP?TSB=00-21-9 I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS,THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY SUGGESTED I HAVE A "HAWEKA ADAPTOR KI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219208 · 2008-02-26 (February 26, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F53. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,200. UPDATED 3/11/08 UPDATED 03/11/08 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10219208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551869 · 2000-04-14 (April 14, 2000)
ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN DUE TO RAIN INTERING THE AIR FILTER. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 738965 · 2001-01-07 (January 7, 2001)
WHEELS CANNOT BE BALANCED TO PREVENT VIBRATION OF VEHICLE. DIFFERENTIAL WAS DEFECTIVE FROM FORD AND WAS REPLACED AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS TO FIX SAME. CHASSIS IS STILL VIBRATING AND UNUSABLE AS ONE REPAIR ATTEMPT WRAPPED THE GENERATER GAS LINE AROUND THE GENERATOR EXHAUST PIPE ( THIS REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS BY FLEETWOOD MOTORHOMES IN DECATUR, IND. ON A SECOND TRY TO FIX THE MOTORHOME).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 738965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8013945 · 2002-07-15 (July 15, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING TRUCK SHAKES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8013945 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V062001 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1999-03-30 (March 30, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.
Consequence: IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗