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Ford F-53Model year report

2016 Ford F-53 Problems

Complaints
15filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
2,800miles, 13 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Ford F-53 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2016 Ford F-53. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 6 complaints (40% of the total), followed by brakes (2) and electrical system (2). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 2,800 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 31 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 10 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “I have a 2016itasca motorhome on a 2016 Ford F53 26000 pound chassis. The Ford powertrain is equipped with a tow/haul selector. The tow/haul mode is used for various reasons, one of them is the capability of automatically down-shifting when descending steep grades and during hard-stops. This is not the case with my 2016 powertrain, it acts no different when in tow/haul or not.this is a dangerous conditon on decending hills. Brakes could fail due to overheating.”

NHTSA complaint #10873425, filed 2016-06, 3,000 miles

Brakes: “Page 32 of the owner's manual states in part, the tow haul feature: provides engine braking in all forward gears, which will slow your vehicle and assist you in controlling your vehicle when descending a grade. I have descended several 8 percent grades with the tow haul feature of my transmission engaged and had to engage my brakes excessively because the transmission did not downshift to provide engine braking as described. This could lead to brake failure or premature brake replacement. …”

NHTSA complaint #10819990, filed 2016-01, 2,000 miles

Electrical system: “Tow / haul mode not working correctly its on all the time coming down a grade if you let off the gas it starts to do a hard downshifting of the transmission even if its not necessary its not the way it was designed to work there is a button to turn on or off that does not function.”

NHTSA complaint #10876692, filed 2016-06, 1,800 miles

Other or unknown: “Atwood heater cover vents facing inward causing water to short circuits. Could cause fire and burn rv. Windshield wiper system arms fell apart while in use renderi g system inoperative. Thor motorcoach will not send parts and these are known defects to them. Have submitted pictures and ignored.”

NHTSA complaint #10893899, filed 2016-08, 3,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,800 and 4,000 miles.

92%0–108%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 2,800 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2016102017201820222025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2016 Ford F-53 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 31 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 31 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford F-53

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2021133,4902———Not enough data
2020335,7502——Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
201968,2500———Not enough data
2018113,3001———Not enough data
201763,5001———Not enough data
2016152,8001———Stable
2015711,5000———Not enough data
2014177,2001———Stable
2013817,1501———Not enough data
2011722,4781———Not enough data
20015—1———Not enough data
19991519,0002———Stable
1995640,0002———Not enough data

All Ford F-53 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Ford F-53 have?

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2016 Ford F-53 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Ford F-53 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 6 complaints (40% of the total), followed by brakes with 2.

Has the 2016 Ford F-53 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Ford F-53 reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 2,800 miles and the middle half falls between 1,800 and 4,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.