YearToAvoid

2021 Ford F53 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

87/100

#3 most-complained of 16 F53 years

The 2021 Ford F53 ranks 3rd worst out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 87 and 13 NHTSA complaints, mostly tied to suspension, brakes, and electrical systems. It carries 2 recalls, both involving suspension components, making it an Avoid year relative to other F53 model years.

Complaints
13
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2021 Ford F53 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (38%)
  2. Brakes3 (23%)
  3. Electrical System3 (23%)
  4. Other3 (23%)
  5. Engine2 (15%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain2 (15%)
  7. Steering1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Owners report AdvanceTrac and traction control warnings triggering unexpectedly, disabling cruise control mid-drive.
  • Some describe the vehicle lunging forward briefly then stalling when accelerating from a stop, pointing to a transmission issue.
  • Several owners mention unexpected dashboard warning lights appearing at various speeds without any actual vehicle failure.
  • Automatic headlight switches have failed to activate, forcing drivers to manually trigger the light sensor.
  • Owners report the electronic braking system engaging on its own at highway speed, causing rear tires to shake and smoke.
  • Front suspension bump stops have fallen off within the first few thousand miles, with some owners reporting the part failing again shortly after replacement.
2021 Ford F53 complaints: complaints filed per month4Sep 2021Apr 2022Jun 2022Aug 2023May 2024Mar 2025
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2021 to Mar 2025; peak Apr 2022 (4).

2021 Ford F53 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V731000Sep 30, 2022Suspension, Wheels & Tires13,455 vehicles

    Suspension:rear

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-53 recreational stripped chassis vehicles. The rear stabilizer bar attachment brackets may break and separate from the vehicle.

    Risk: Brackets that separate from the vehicle can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the bolt tightness for both rear stabilizer attachment brackets and replace the weld nuts and bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 8, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to become ready February 28, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S62.

  2. NHTSA 21V202000Mar 24, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires16,128 vehicles

    Suspension:rear

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-53 Motorhome Stripped Chassis and F-59 Commercial Stripped Chassis vehicles. An inadequate amount of rear axle lubricant may cause rear wheel bearing damage and bearing seizure, and rear axle or driveshaft failure.

    Risk: Failure of the rear axle or driveshaft may cause the loss of motive power, failure of the parking brake, and the inability to shift the transmission into "PARK," increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the rear wheel bearings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 12, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S17.

2021 compared with other F53 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Good3360—
2020Avoid100322—
2021Avoid87132—
2022No verdict2732—
2023No verdict5341—

All Ford F53 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Ford F53 a good year?
No. NHTSA data ranks it 3rd worst out of 16 model years for this chassis, with a Complaint Index of 87 and 13 complaints, making it an Avoid year relative to other F53 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford F53?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints lead at 38% of reported issues, followed by Brakes and Electrical System complaints, each at 23%. Engine and Transmission & Powertrain issues each account for 15%.
Does the 2021 Ford F53 have any recalls?
Yes, it has 2 recalls. One covers rear stabilizer bar attachment brackets that may break and separate, and the other covers inadequate rear axle lubricant that can damage rear wheel bearings.
At what mileage do 2021 Ford F53 problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure across reported complaints is 3,490.5 miles, though individual problem areas like Brakes and Electrical System show medians of 2,981 and 2,000 miles respectively.
How does the 2021 F53 compare to other years?
With a Complaint Index of 87, the 2021 F53 is worse than years like 2017 (Best, index 20) and 2019 (Good, index 33), but slightly better than 2020, which has the highest index at 100.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.