2012 Ford F-53

Defect. FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 F-53 AND F-59 STRIPPED CHASSIS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2010 THROUGH JULY 1, 2011 AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 F-53 AND F-59 STRIPPED CHASSIS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 10, 2011 THROUGH OCTOBER 25, 2011. THE ‘PRNDL’ CABLE MAY BREAK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR ARM ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. IF THE CABLE BREAKS, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR IN THE ‘PRNDL’ DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL REMAIN IN THE FIRST GEAR POSITION REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR SELECTED.

Risk. AN INCORRECT GEAR INDICATION IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM KNOWING IF THEY ARE IN PARK OR REVERSE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR ARM ASSEMBLY AND THE ‘PRNDL’ CABLE ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A SUDDEN AND DISTINCT DETERIORATION IN HANDLING, SO SEVERE THAT IN CROSSWINDS OR WHEN BEING PASSED BY A SEMI-TRAILER IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND STAY IN MY LANE OR ON THE ROAD. WHEN I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE I FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR ANTI-SWAY BAR BUSHING BRACKET, MOUNTING BOLTS, AND NUTS WERE ALL MISSING, EFFECTIVELY DISCONNECTING THE REAR ANTI-SWAY BAR AND CAUSING DANGEROUS BODY ROLL. IN TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW THIS OCCURRED I FOUND A THREAD ON THE WWW.IRV2.COM FORUM INDICATING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL YEAR MODELS OF THE FORD F53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS.