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2018 Ford F53

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 4 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

5 reports
7,376 miles · Jul 19, 2021
Structure

The contact owns a 2019 Jayco Alante manufactured on a 2015 Ford F53 chassis. The contact stated while driving 28 mph, the front grill detached from the RV inadvertently. The contact took the RV to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the grill to be replaced however, the dealer did not provide the service at th…

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The contact owns a 2019 Jayco Alante manufactured on a 2015 Ford F53 chassis. The contact stated while driving 28 mph, the front grill detached from the RV inadvertently. The contact took the RV to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the grill to be replaced however, the dealer did not provide the service at their location. The dealer referred the contact to a body shop for the repair. The RV was not yet repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,376.

NHTSA ODI #11425508

75,000 miles · May 11, 2021
Electrical SystemStructureFireInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F53. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE ROOF STARTED TO LEAK CAUSING WATER TO GET INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INVERTER UNIT SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE OR POLICE DE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F53. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE ROOF STARTED TO LEAK CAUSING WATER TO GET INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INVERTER UNIT SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR HEATING UNITS AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY OVERHEAT BURNING THE CONTACTS FEET. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SORE FOOT BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #11416140

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2020
Power TrainSuspension

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 54000 MILES DUE TO INTERNAL DEFECTIVE PART. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JUMP ON SHIFTING FROM 1 ST GEAR TO 2 ND .

NHTSA ODI #11375103

3,100 miles · Apr 2, 2019
Wheels

VEHICLE SOLD AS NEW TO ME BY GIANT RV WITH A 15 YEAR OLD TIRE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THIS WAS A MISMATCH, OFF BRAND "EXPIRED" TIRE THAT CAUSED A BLOW OUT REQUIRING REPAIRS AND CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY OF RISK. THIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUE OR PROVIDER NECESSARY BACKGROUN…

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VEHICLE SOLD AS NEW TO ME BY GIANT RV WITH A 15 YEAR OLD TIRE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THIS WAS A MISMATCH, OFF BRAND "EXPIRED" TIRE THAT CAUSED A BLOW OUT REQUIRING REPAIRS AND CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY OF RISK. THIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUE OR PROVIDER NECESSARY BACKGROUND AS TO THE CAUSE OF WHY THIS TIRE WAS IMPROPERLY REPLACED. CONCERN BEING THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A NON DISCLOSED VEHICLE EVENT (ACCIDENT ETC.) THAT CAUSED DAMAGES WHICH WERE IMPROPERLY AND UNSAFELY REPAIRED WITHOUT PROPER DISCLOSURE. CONCERN BEING THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER HIDDEN ISSUES WHICH MAY CONTINUE TO PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK. WHEN ASKED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER (THOR) PLACE BLAME WITH FORD AS THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER. I DO NOT BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY STORES AND INSTALLS 15 YEAR OLD TIRES ON BRAND NEW CHASSIS. I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN EVENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TRANSPORTED BY GIANT RV FROM THOR'S MANUFACTURING CENTER TO THEIR DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA. I BELIEVE THEY REPLACED THE TIRE FOR THE LOWEST COST AS POSSIBLE WITH INFERIOR AND UNSAFE MATERIAL - PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY AS WELL AS MY VEHICLE AT RISK. I FEEL IT IS REASONABLE AND AND I FEEL A RESPONSIBLE DEALER WOULD DO ALL THEY COULD TO DETERMINE WHERE AND HOW THIS HAPPENED. IF THIS IS THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICE THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES AND CONSUMERS AT RISK. THE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE IN A TYPICAL TRAVEL SITUATION, AFTER RECENTLY BEING SERVICED BY THE DEALER (GIANT RV) FOR UNRELATED WARRANTY ISSUES. TIRE BLEW OUT ON 2/24/19 DURING REGULAR TRAVEL. (FEWER THAN 4,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE COACH). THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FRONT DRIVER SIDE MISMATCHED TIRE THAT HAD A DOT DATE OF 2005 AND FAILED DUE TO AGE. THE UNSAFE TIRE WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING A 2005 DATED DOT TIRE BY BOTH HIGHWAY PATROL AND A TIRE AGENCY WHICH DID THE ROADSIDE REPAIR FOR ME. THE TIRE WAS PROVIDED TO GIANT RV SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY TOO AGREED THAT THIS WAS AN UNSAFE ("EXPIRED") TIRE. ULTIMATELY THOR AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TIRE. *DT *JB

NHTSA ODI #11193368

781 miles · Jul 16, 2018
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JAYCO 31Z. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WAS UNSTABLE AND UNCONTROLLABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (ALBANY RV, 48 RENSSELAER AVE, LATHAM, NY 12110, (518) 459-4695), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ALBANY RV REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JAYCO 31Z. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WAS UNSTABLE AND UNCONTROLLABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (ALBANY RV, 48 RENSSELAER AVE, LATHAM, NY 12110, (518) 459-4695), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ALBANY RV REFERRED THE CONTACT TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 781.

NHTSA ODI #11111682

Official recalls

1

18V470000 · Wheels

Jul 16, 2018

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford F53 stripped chassis vehicles equipped with 22.5 inch front wheels. The front wheel hub assembly may have wheel studs that were not properly heat treated.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If a sufficient quantity of wheel studs break on one hub, vehicle handling could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace any suspect front wheel hub studs, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customers service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S21.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.