2018 Ford F-53 problems

General information about Ford-F-53
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

The medium-duty version of the Ford F-Series is a range of commercial trucks manufactured by Ford Motor Company since 1948. Derived from the smaller F-Series pickup trucks, the medium-duty range is currently in its eighth generation. Initially slotted between the F-Series pickup trucks and the "Big Job" conventionals, later generations were slotted below the L-Series "Louisville" trucks; the last two generations are the largest vehicles produced by Ford since its exit from the heavy-truck segment.

The medium-duty F-Series has been used for an extensive number of applications, offered as a straight (rigid) truck and a truck-tractor (for semitrailers) in multiple cab configurations. Prior to the production of the Ford C-Series, the model line was also offered in a cab-over engine (COE) configuration; a cowled-chassis variant (the Ford B-series) was used for bus production.

For the 2000 model year, the medium-duty F-Series has been branded as part of the Ford Super Duty range, consisting of the Class 6–7 Ford F-650 and F-750; Class 8 versions of the F-750 have been produced since 2011. The current generation of the medium-duty F-Series is manufactured by Ford in its Ohio Assembly facility (Avon Lake, Ohio), replacing a joint venture with Navistar International named Blue Diamond Truck Company LLC located in General Escobedo, Mexico.

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Common 2018 Ford F-53 problems

The 2018 Ford F53 is equipped with 22.5 inch front wheels, and it has been subject to recalls due to potential issues with the front wheel hub assembly. The wheel hub assembly may have wheel studs that were not properly heat treated, which could lead to a situation where a sufficient quantity of wheel studs break on one hub. This could affect vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.

Another issue that has been reported pertains to the rear stabilizer attachment brackets of the F-53 Recreational Chassis. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration brought to the attention of the Ford Motor Company that the rear stabilizer attachment brackets of said recreational vehicles had loosening attachment bolts, bracket damage, or suffered bracket separation. This was based on complaints from no fewer than four RV owners. The safety boffins at FoMoCo discovered that fastener issues had been identified early during MY20 production when an upsized rear stabilizer bar was incorporated into the production. A revised attachment process was implemented in January 2020. By March 2021, the automaker had been receiving complaints of loosening bolts and bracket separation. Given these circumstances, the Ford Motor Company issued a special service message, then replaced the weld nuts with flag nuts in production. The switch took place in August 2021. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reviewed this change, then requested the Blue Oval to delve a bit deeper. The Dearborn-based automaker originally told the NHTSA that this condition does not present a handling concern. Ongoing reports from the field ultimately forced the Ford Motor Company and NHTSA to discuss a potential field action. Come September 2022, the NHTSA relayed their safety concerns relating to road debris hazard should a stabilizer bar attachment bracket separate from the vehicle and settle in the roadway. Ford may not be aware of accident or injury reports related to this condition, but between June 2020 and September 2022, there have been 477 warranty reports of loosening stabilizer attachment bolts, bracket damage, or separation. In light of this context, FoMoCo was forced to issue a recall. No fewer than 26,910 examples of the F-53 Recreational Stripped Chassis are called back. Dealers have been instructed to inspect bolt tightness for both rear stabilizer brackets and replace the weld nuts and bolts, as necessary, at no charge to the owner. Notifications will be sent by first-class mail through October 14th according, to the document attached just below.

In addition to these issues, some owners of the 2018 Ford F53 have reported problems with steering and suspension. These issues can affect the overall driving experience and safety of the vehicle. For example, one owner reported that the coach leaned at a dangerous 21-degree angle at 50 mph, which could be a concern in emergency situations. To address this issue, aftermarket anti-sway bars can be installed to dampen body roll and improve stability. The SuperSteer oversized sway bars typically provide from 65- to 100-percent increased roll resistance from the OEM bars. Installing the doubleheat-treated anti-sway bar up front can provide nearly three times more torsional rigidity than the factory F-53 setup. Additionally, upgrading to the Koni FSD shocks can complement the anti-sway bars and improve the overall handling of the vehicle.

What is the suspension problem with the Ford F53?

The F53 problem stems from the long front parabolic suspension springs. What happens is they start to oscillate which then starts the steering wheel oscillatory which then transfers to the body.

What is Ford F53?

For impressive horsepower and torque, premium features and components, rely on Ford's capable stripped chassis, the F-53 motorhome chassis and F-59 commercial stripped chassis. For the 2021 model year these sturdy foundations feature outstanding technology and the 7.3-liter V8 gas engine.

What is the life expectancy of a suspension system?

50,000 to 100,000 miles

While the longevity of a suspension system can vary based on many factors, including driving habits or road conditions, it typically lasts for 50,000 to 100,000 miles. For many drivers, it's time to replace the suspension system's shocks or struts after seven or eight years of use.

What is the most common problem in suspension system?

Here are some common reasons that can lead to suspension failures while driving: Worn-out Shocks or Struts: Over time, shocks and struts wear out, impacting their ability to absorb bumps and compromising control. Broken or Damaged Springs: Springs support the car's.

What is the suspension problem with the Ford F53?

The F53 problem stems from the long front parabolic suspension springs. What happens is they start to oscillate which then starts the steering wheel oscillatory which then transfers to the body.

What is Ford F53?

What is the life expectancy of a suspension system?

50,000 to 100,000 miles

What is the most common problem in suspension system?

2018 Ford F-53 car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford F-53 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Structure problems
Electrical system problems
Back over prevention problems
Seat belts problems
Parking brake problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2018 Ford F-53 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2018 Ford F-53 complaints

The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2018 Ford F-53.

2022-10-31

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2022-10-31
VIN: 1F65F5DY6J0
Components: STRUCTURE
Summary: The contact owns a 2019 Thor Motor coach Windsport built on a 2018 Ford F-53 Chassis. The contact stated that while she was cleaning the RV, she noticed that the metal screws that maintained the overhead unit of the driving compartment attached to the ceiling were pulling out. However, the brackets installed on each side of the overhead unit prevented it from falling. An independent RV mechanic diagnosed that the failure was due to metal screws being installed on the wooden surface. The independent mechanic informed the contact that brackets needed to be installed to maintain the overhead unit into position. The RV was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.

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2020-07-27

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2020-01-01
VIN: 1F65F5DYXJ0
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION
Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-53 RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BACK-UP CAMERA DETACHED AND BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO APPLETON CAMPING CENTER (2100 N MCCARTHY RD, APPLETON, WI 54913, (920) 757-6112) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A LOOSENED ELECTRICAL WIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.*DT*JB

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2020-06-03

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2020-06-02
VIN: 1F64F5DY0J0
Components: STRUCTURE
Summary: MAIN DOOR HATCH PLUNGER BROKE ON TRIMARK 72130 DOOR HATCH /DEAD BOLT , LOCKING US OUT. IF WE HAD BEEN INSIDE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME. HAD TO FIND A LADDER A CLIMB THRU WINDOW AND AFTER A COUPLE HOURS WERE ABLE TO TAKE APART TO GET UNLATCH AND FOUND BROKEN PLUNGER/HATCH. *TR

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2019-06-24

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2019-06-04
VIN: 1F65F5DY6J0
Components: SEAT BELTS
Summary: THE FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER HARNESS IN MY RV IS MOUNTED SO HIGH THAT THE BELT GOES ACROSS MY WIFE'S THROAT INSTEAD OF HER CHEST. WHY IS THERE NO SAFETY STANDARD WHICH REQUIRES A SHOULDER HARNESS MOUNT TO BE ADJUSTABLE VERTICALLY TO KEEP SHORT PEOPLE SAFE?*DT

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2018-06-07

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2018-01-30
VIN: 1F66F5DY6J0
Components: STRUCTURE
Summary: WHILE DRIVING ON THE FWY THE BUNK DOORS ON MY MOTORHOME FAILED WHERE THE DOOR SCREWS INTO THE HINGE BRAKET CAUSING THE 45LBS DOOR TO FALL OFF. ON A SEPERATE OCCASION ON THE OTHER DOOR, THE WELD IN THE BRACKET FAILED AND THE OTHER DOOR FELL OFF. THESE DOORS ARE IN A STRAIT LINE WITH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS AND IN THE EVENT OF A PANIC STOP OR TRAFFIC COLLISION COULD CAUSE GREAT BODILY HARM OR DEATH. THE MANUFACURE OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENGINEER THE BRACKETS AND MOUNTING DEVICES PROPERLY AND HAVE CREATED A POTENTIAL HAZARD IN ALL SIMILARLY EQUIPED VEHICLES.

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2018-04-10

PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2017-11-12
VIN: 1F66F5DY8J0
Components: PARKING BRAKE
Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-53. WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CHIME CONTINUED TO BE AUDIBLE AND COULD NOT BE DEACTIVATED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED TWICE PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CHIME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT CALL THE DEALER THAT SERVICED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. *TT *TR

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 2018 Ford F-53 problems:

Entegra Ford F53 - Page 3 - iRV2 Forums

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/entegra-ford-f53-601973-3.html

Jan 8, 2023 ... As someone else pointed out, this is a common problem between coach builders and the chassis provider, gas or DP. ... The motorhome dealer won't ...

Breaking F53 Rear Sway Bar Brackets - Thor Forums

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f8/breaking-f53-rear-sway-bar-brackets-13886.html

Aug 31, 2018 ... I'd posted this on a handling mods thread, but believe it more appropriate here. This appears to be a common issue with the Ford F53 gas.

F53 problems solved - iRV2 Forums

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/f53-problems-solved-518589.html

Dec 19, 2020 ... This info is for anyone with a F53 and V10 engine ... I would not recommend buying a Ford gas motorhome. ... Join Date: Feb 2018. Posts: 609. Quote ...