What steps should be taken if corrupted MongoDB data files are suspected to be causing error 1053?

First, attempt to repair the database using the `mongod --repair` command (run from the command line). This process attempts to fix inconsistencies. If repair fails or if you have a backup, restore your data from a known-good backup. If there is no backup, you may need to initialize a fresh MongoDB instance, understanding you will lose your data. Check your file system for any underlying problems that may have caused data corruption.