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Ford · NHTSA safety record

2014 Ford F-53

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 17 safety complaints about the 2014 Ford F-53 with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 2 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the hydraulic brakes.

The most complained-about system is the body structure, named in 7 complaints, 41% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 7,200 miles, the median across the 16 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers November 2014 to June 2019 · How this is counted

What is on file

17 complaints on file

17

Complaints

2

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

2

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
STRUCTURE 7 · 41%
SUSPENSION 3 · 18%
WHEELS 3 · 18%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 · 12%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2 · 12%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 12%
AIR BAGS 1 · 6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 · 6%
ENGINE 1 · 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 6%
SEATS 1 · 6%
STEERING 1 · 6%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 17.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 7.

8 6 4 2
14 15 16 18 19

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2014 to 2019.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2014 Ford F-53. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

1 on file

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

14V405000 · July 2, 2014

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 F-53 motorhome chassis and F-59 commercial chassis manufactured February 14, 2014, to March 7, 2014. The affected chassis may have incorrectly machined brake calipers that may leak brake fluid.
The risk
Brake caliper leaks will cause longer brake pedal travel and lengthened stopping distances, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Ford has notified owners. Dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the affected brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S14.

Ford Motor Company · up to 635 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Trimark 060-1650 Door Latch Failures

PE20021

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened November 23, 2020 · closed December 13, 2024

equipment

On November 23, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE20021 to investigate allegations of inoperative Trimark THP 060-1650 door lock/latches originally equipped on model years (MY) 2015-2017 Class A and Class C motorhomes.ODI received forty-six Vehicle Owner’s Questionnaires (VOQs) describing consumers being locked in or out of their vehicles.The door latch, containing a die-cast zinc plunger, was produced by Equality during calendar years 2014-2016. The die-cast may become porous and brittle over time and can break without warning, causing the vehicle owner to be unable to open the recreational vehicle door equipped with the latch.If the motorhome does not have any other doors such as some Class A models, occupants could be trapped inside, needing to climb out using the emergency exits. If locked out, owners would be unable to easily get in and retrieve children and pets. ODI analyzed the data provided by Trimark in response to its January 27, 2021 information request letter.Although an elevated failure rate was evident on a specific combination of plunger bolt, door lock/latch assembly and door, the data showed that most failures occurred within the first two years of service on the affected 2015-2017 vehicles.This data suggests that component failures generally would have already occurred.Further, ODI data reflects a downward trend in complaints after calendar year 2018 and for post- MY 2016 vehicles.This downward trend may be attributed Trimark's actions in 2016 such as changes in the manufacturing process of its zinc plunger component for the relevant population and its 2016 decision to switch to a steel plunger. In view of the nature of early-life failure, and failure rate trending downward for model years 2017 and newer, this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is closed.  The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STRUCTURE:BODY

2 injured · fire · crash · towed · 2,900 miles

AN ALMOST NEW 2014 NEWMAR BAY STAR 3303 MOTORHOME WITH A FORD V10 GASOLINE ENGINE ON A FORD CHASSIS. MY FAMILY AND I WERE PREPARING TO LEAVE ON OUR FIRST BIG FAMILY OUTING IN OUR NEW RV. AT THE LAST MINUTE WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE A GASOLINE ODOR WAS NOTICED. UPON VACATING THE VEHICLE, GASOLINE WAS SEEN DRIPPING FROM THE HOT EXHAUST PIPES UNDER THE RV. THE RV WAS SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO A FORD TRUCK GARAGE. FORD TECHS DISCOVERED GASOLINE UNDER PRESSURE WAS SQUIRTING ONTO THE ENGINE EXHAUST AND WITHIN MINUTES OF LEAVING ON OUR VACATION THE GAS FUMES WOULD HAVE IGNITED AND EXPLODED. THE FIRE WOULD NOW HAVE BE FUELED BY GAS FROM A MELTED HIGH PRESSURE PLASTIC GASOLINE LINE. THEN, AS A RV WITH

NHTSA complaint 10884460, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

crash · 29,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 FORD F53 THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INCREASED TO HIGH SPEED BUT, SEIZED IN THE UPWARD POSITION AND THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A UNKNOWN OBJECT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR FIRE DUE TO THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LAZYDAYS RV OF TAMPA 6130 LAZY DAYS BLVD, SEFFNER, FL 33584 (800) 306-4002 BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED .THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000.

NHTSA complaint 11222740. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

15,500 miles

WIPERS TRAVEL TOO FAR AND CATCH ON DRIVERS MIRROR (DRIVERS SIDE) AND ON PASSENGERS SIDE, OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE RUBBER GASKET AND HANGS ON GASKET. WHILE IN USE, I MUST EITHER STOP, OR TURN THE WIPERS OFF AFTER ONE SWEEP. I CALLED THOR OWNERS HELPLINE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO HELP. I CALLED AGAIN TODAY (3/11/2019) AND TALKED TO KIRK. AGAIN NO HELP. *DT *DT *DT*JB *BF... CONSUMER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER (4/17/19)*JB *DT CONSUMER STATED WIPER ISSUE IS COMPLETELT RESOLVED.*JB

NHTSA complaint 11185781. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

10,000 miles

THE ENTRY DOOR DOES NOT LOCK AND MULTIPLE TIMES HAS OPENED WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A RECALL ON LATER MODEL YEARS, BUT THIS MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. WHY?? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND CERTAINLY ONE THAT EXISTS IN PRIOR YEARS. *TT *TR

NHTSA complaint 11118053. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

16,000 miles

ENTRY DOOR POPS OPEN IN MOTION *TT *TR

NHTSA complaint 11091451. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS
2014 FORD F-53. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPAIR PROBLEMS. *SMD *CN

NHTSA complaint 10838239. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

17,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD F-53. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEADBOLT LOCK ON THE ENTRY DOOR WOULD LOCK INDEPENDENTLY. THE OCCUPANTS WERE UNABLE TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEPS OPENED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAMPING WORLD OF SACRAMENTO (1039 ORLANDO AVE, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661, (916) 772-1155), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V510000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) AND 15V866000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA complaint 11081911. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford F-53

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2021 13 2 —
2020 32 2 —
2018 11 1 —
2016 15 1 —
2013 8 1 —

Other 2014 Ford models

Focus 2,602 Escape 2,086 Explorer 1,678 F-150 1,533 Fusion 1,330 Fiesta 502 Edge 382 Mustang 359

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Ford on this site — 359 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst