Worst years for a Ford F-53

Owners have filed 166 complaints about the Ford F-53 with NHTSA across model years 1995 to 2025. More of them are about the brakes than anything else.

Avoid

2014 Ford F-53

26 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly body & structure.

Cleanest on record

2021 Ford F-53

15 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Ford F-53 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2025 — 3 0 0 — Brakes
2024 — 4 0 0 — Electrical System
2023 — 8 0 0 — Electrical System
2022 — 6 0 0 — Brakes
2021 A 15 0 0 — Suspension
2020 C 28 0 0 — Suspension
2019 — 4 0 0 — Wheels
2018 — 7 0 0 3,000 Body & Structure
2017 — 6 0 0 — Transmission & Drivetrain
2016 C 18 0 0 2,800 Transmission & Drivetrain
2015 — 8 0 0 18,000 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2014 F 26 5 3 6,400 Body & Structure
2013 B 10 0 0 17,150 Brakes
2012 — 1 0 0 — Suspension
2011 — 9 0 1 21,181 Wheels
2010 — 1 0 0 — Other & Unspecified
2008 — 1 0 0 — Brakes
1997 — 3 0 0 — Transmission & Drivetrain
1996 — 2 0 0 — Brakes
1995 — 6 0 0 — Acceleration & Cruise Control

What breaks on a Ford F-53

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Brakes 20 12.0%

Worst in 2020

Suspension 20 12.0%

Worst in 2020

Body & Structure 19 11.4%

Worst in 2014

Transmission & Drivetrain 18 10.8%

Worst in 2016

Electrical System 18 10.8%

Worst in 2023

Wheels 12 7.2%

Worst in 2011

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 10 6.0%

Worst in 2015

Acceleration & Cruise Control 9 5.4%

Worst in 1995

Equipment & Accessories 8 4.8%

Worst in 2021

Other & Unspecified 8 4.8%

Worst in 2016

Doors, Latches & Locks 5 3.0%

Worst in 2014

Engine & Cooling 4 2.4%

Worst in 2014

Lights 4 2.4%

Worst in 2014

Fuel & Propulsion 3 1.8%

Worst in 1995

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Ford F-53, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Nov 1998 peak 7 Jun 2026

Compare the Ford F-53

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.