1999 Ford F-53

Routine

Owners filed 15 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › gasoline. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System2
000
Wheels › Rim1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Suspension › Rear1
000
Suspension › Front › Shock Absorber1
000
Suspension › Front › Hub1
000
Suspension › Front1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Vehicle Speed Control07V336000
Filed Aug 3, 20073,600,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Vehicle Speed Control99V062001
Filed Mar 30, 1999898,739 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 26, 2008IA

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

Suspension › Front › Hub
Filed Jul 23, 20071,400 milesTX

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 KIT" INSTALLED ON MY WHEELS. IN CALLING TOMMY AT HAWEKA HE SAID THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM FORD HAD FROM 1999-2002 ON THEIR WHEEL HUBS AND NOT THE WHEEL ITSELF. HE SAID THAT THE WHEEL IS "IMPOSSIBLE" TO CENTER ON THE HUB WITHOUT THIS KIT AND THEN IT HAD TO BE BALANCED USING A DSP HUNTING 9000 WITH "SILVER STAR,4 FINGER CENTERING STICKS AND A BACKING DISC". MY PROBLEM NOW IS THAT FORD WILL NO LONGER WILL SUPPORT THIS REPAIR METHOD AND WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Dec 8, 200530,140 milesFL

FORD 1999 F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS -LOSS OF POWER IN A DRIVING RAINSTORM. WATER FOUND IN AIR INTAKE - LOWER BOWL. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Jul 5, 200519,000 milesOH

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

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 19, 2003NV

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

Suspension › Front › Shock Absorber
Filed Jul 15, 2002VA

WHILE DRIVING TRUCK SHAKES.*AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Jan 7, 2001IL

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).

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 18, 2000IN

WHENEVER IT RAINS WATER GETS INSIDE OF ENGINE AIR FILTER ON THE MOTORHOME CHASSIS. THIS CAUSES ENGINE TO SHUTDOWN. WOULD STALL OUT WHEN STARTING. TSB #13079 ON CHASSIS. DEALER COULD NOT REPAIR PROBLEM AND GET WATER OUT OF ENGINE. *AK *ML

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Jul 6, 2000IL

WINNABAGO ADVENTURER ON FORD CHASSIS: DEFECTIVE AIR FILTER BECOMES TO PICK MOSITURE WHICH CAUSES THE SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE AND STALL WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. FORD IS PUTTING OUT A TSB, BUT NOT A RECALL. FORD STILL DOES NOT HAVE PARTS FOR THE FIX. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System
Filed Jul 3, 2000IN

AIR FILTER SUCKS IN WATER WHEN IT RAINS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER THERE IS NO SOLUTION. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 14, 2000IL

ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN DUE TO RAIN INTERING THE AIR FILTER. YH

Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System
Filed Mar 6, 2000CA

WHEN RAINING, WATER SEEPS INTO AIR INTAKE AND CAUSES CAR TO STALL. *AK *ML

Wheels › Rim
Filed Aug 18, 1999KY

ACURIDE RIMS DEFECTIVE HINDERING STEERING AND CAUSING VIBRATION. NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed May 26, 1999SD

BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS TO GET ANY BRAKING ACTION. REPORTED TO DEALER. DISCOVERED AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES. COULD RESULT IN CONDENSATION IN BRAKE LINES AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY IF OPERATING BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES.*AK

Suspension › Rear
Filed May 26, 1999SD

REAR DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION GEAR FAILED. MANUFACTURER PROVIDED INTERIM REPAIR UNTIL COMPONENT MANUFACTURER (DANA) CAN PROVIDE A PERMENENT COMPNENT(S) REPLACEMENT. REAR END STILL MAKES DRIVELINE VIBRATION/NOISE AT 60 MPH UNDER LOAD. FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT COULD RENDER VEHICLE UNABLE TO MOVE UNDER IT'S OWN POWER OR BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY LEAVING THE MOTORIST STRANDED.

15 of 15 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2020
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20260200Routine
20251300Routine
20244100Routine
20234100Routine
20223200Routine
202113200Routine
202032200Routine
20196000Routine
201811110Routine
20176100Routine
201615100Routine
20157000Routine
201417110Routine
20138100Routine
20121100Routine
20117110Routine
20101000Routine
20081000Routine
20032000Routine
20020100Routine
20015100Routine
20002100Routine
1999 — this page15200Routine
19981100Routine
19973200Routine
19962200Routine
19956200Routine
19940100Routine
19930100Routine
19923100Routine
19912100Routine
19903100Routine

Compare every F-53 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 3, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.