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Ford F-53, F-59 Rear Axle Lubricant Problem

NHTSA campaign 21V202000 · Reported Mar 24, 2021 · Ford Motor Company

high How serious is it? About this label

Losing power, the parking brake, and the ability to shift into Park all increase the risk of a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	21V202000
Reported to NHTSA	Mar 24, 2021
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Part affected	Suspension:rear
Vehicles covered	4 model/year combinations, model years 2020–2021
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

These vehicles may not have enough lubricant in the rear axle. This can damage the rear wheel bearings and cause them to seize, which may lead to failure of the rear axle or driveshaft. If that happens, the vehicle could lose power, the parking brake may not work, and the transmission may not shift into 'Park.' Dealers will inspect the rear wheel bearings and replace them if needed, at no charge.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is affected.
2. Contact a Ford dealer to schedule a free inspection and repair. Ford's customer service number is 1-866-436-7332.
3. The repair is free of charge.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 21V202000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (4)

2020 Ford F-53
2020 Ford F-59
2021 Ford F-53
2021 Ford F-59

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Ford Suspension Recalls Involve Control Arms, Loose Fasteners, and Axles · all 18 Ford recalls in this area

Other Ford F-53 recalls

Apr 14, 2026Ford F-53 and F-59 Missing Front Wheel Hub Nuthigh
Mar 17, 2026Ford F-53 and F-59 brake lights may stay litmedium
Jan 21, 2026Ford F-53 Brake Lights May Malfunctionhigh
Sep 27, 2024Ford F-53 Cluster May Not Show Correct Gearmedium
Jul 21, 2023Ford F-53 Corrosion Can Disable Instrument Panelmedium
Mar 10, 2023Ford F-53 and F-59 Rear Brake Caliper Bolts Loosehigh

All 8 F-53 recalls

Official notice

Component: SUSPENSION:REAR
Summary: 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.
Safety 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.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.