The 1999 Ford F53 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,498,739 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence
THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE…
Consequence
IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
2
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1
SUSPENSION:FRONT
1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
1
SUSPENSION:REAR
1
Total complaints18
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford f53. The contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 07v336000 (vehicle speed control). The part for the recall repair was unavailable. There had been no failure to date. The engine size was unknown. The current mileage was 58,200. Updated 3/11/08…”
“Ford 1999 f-53 motorhome chassis -loss of power in a driving rainstorm. Water found in air intake - lower bowl. *jb”
“Dt: caller said there was a recall on v8 engines, not on v10. Caller was having the same problem with his vehicle's exhaust manifold and studs. Caller said studs broke and exhaust was leaking into the cab of vehicle. Caller thought the studs rusted. Dealer said they could not help him unless…”
“Whats the use of having tsb's with no information? Just want to make a dime more? This site is useless. What do you think people are looking for when they search tsb's? Answers! You have none! Quit wasting peoples time and money.*ak”
“While driving truck shakes.*ak”
“I continue to have problems with the wheels on my ford f53 chassis motorhome. Ford will not resolve the problem what so ever even when they have a tsb out on the problem! My understanding is that the center hole in the wheel which is used to center the wheel on the hub is too large and the wheel…”
“Winnabago adventurer on ford chassis: defective air filter becomes to pick mositure which causes the sensor to malfunction, causing the vehicle to hesitate and stall which may cause a crash. Ford is putting out a tsb, but not a recall. Ford still does not have parts for the fix. Please provide…”
“When raining, water seeps into air intake and causes car to stall. *ak *ml”
Defect investigations
InvestigationSQ00020 Opened 2000-12-06 · closed 2002-05-24
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Ford F53 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.