2011 Ford Fusion Wheels Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the front driver's side wheel lug nuts fractured, causing the wheel to detach and the vehicle to shudder. The contact decelerated to 15 MPH, and the vehicle stopped. The driver and the two children that were occupying the vehicle had not sustained any injuries. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V574000 (Wheels). The contact called the local dealer, who confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. Additionally, the contact was informed that the recall covered steel rims however, the vehicle was equipped with aluminum rims. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who contacted the local dealer to confirm the recall details. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while changing the driver's side front tire, three of the wheel studs fractured. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V574000 (Wheels). The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that on five separate occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle began shaking uncontrollably. The contact steered to the side of the road and observed the front passenger’s side lug nuts had snapped. The vehicle was taken to a tire repair facility where it was determined that the post, rim, and tire needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Lug nuts cracked and swollen. Recommended replacing after very difficult to remove and rescrew

When needing to take the tires off, the socket that came with the vehicle spare tire would not fit on the lug nuts. Upon research we discovered this was a known problem that the factory lug nuts would swell, thus not being able to use the standard equipment provided with the vehicle. I want to replace these lug nuts, however I am not finding lug nuts that will hold the wheel cover onto the wheel.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that seventeen lug nuts had fractured and detached from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 241,506. The contact stated that Ford Motor Company had their vehicle listed as MY2013 although it is a MY2011. This may be the reason why their VIN was not a part of the recall that involved the same issues with their vehicle.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, an abnormal jolt emitted from the vehicle as the vehicle began shaking without warning. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home and upon arrival, her husband informed her that the rear passenger’s and driver’s side wheel hubs had separated from the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V574000 (Wheels) which she linked to the failure. The contact then called the dealer where she was informed that there were no open recalls on the vehicle. The contact also attempted to contact the manufacturer but did not receive a response. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 73,400.

Ford uses aluminum lug nuts posing a safety risk to everyone that has a car with them. I am stuck with a flat tire on my car and no money to fix Ford's decision to use unsafe lugnuts that just strip and break my tools. XAlso their power steering is faulty and went out on me in the middle of driving.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE WHEEL STUDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V574000 (WHEELS) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE LUG NUTS NOW ON THIS CAR DUE TO SWELLING AND CORROSION. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE OVER $3000 OF STEERING GEARS AFTER ONLY OWNING IT FOR TWO DAYS WHEN I BOUGHT IT. *TR

LEFT FRONT WHEEL STUD BROKEN OFF COMPLETELY. DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR HOW IT HAPPENED. WENT TO GET WHEELS ROTATED AND FOUND BROKEN STUD.

I SEEN ON YOUR SITE, THAT MY VEHICLE A 2011 FORD FUSION HAD A RECALL FOR BROKEN STUDS AND BOLTS.IT SAID THE RECALL WAS TO BEGIN IN 2012.I PURCHASED MY FUSION IN 2013, I HAVE BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER TWICE WITH BROKEN STUDS, COST ME 189.58 THE FIRST TIME TO HAVE ONE STUD ON EACH FRONT SIDE REPAIRED, THEN 645.19 TO REPLACE ALL ON BOTH SIDES OF FRONT WHEELS AGAIN IN 2016 AS TWO HAD BROKEN OFF AGAIN ON EACH SIDE.IT SEEMS MAYBE FORD DID NOT DO THE REPAIR ON MY VEHICLE AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, OR THE REPAIR IS NOT SUFFICIENT. THEY TRY TO BLAME THE TIRE COMPANY'S FOR OVER TORQUING THE BOLTS TWICE.THANKS MIKE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE TIRE CHECK BY BILL KAY FORD (14633 SOUTH CICERO AVE, MIDLOTHIAN, IL 60445), THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE SWOLLEN. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONFIRMED THAT THE LUG NUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *TT*JB CONSUMER STATED DEALER DID NOT FINISHED SERVICING THE VEHICLE SAFETY AND BRAKE INSPECTION.*JB

HAD TO REPLACE THE LUG NUTS ON ALL 4 OF MY WHEELS AT 67,119 MILES BECAUSE THEY WERE SWOLLEN. INFORMED OF CONDITION OF LUG NUTS BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP. TOOK DEALERSHIP OVER AN HOUR TO REMOVE THE SWOLLEN LUG NUTS. LUG NUTS WERE OEM 2 PIECE LUG NUTS THAT WERE ON VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED.

THE LUG NUTS ON THE FORD FUSION ARE KNOWN TO SWELL TO GREATER THAN THEIR ORIGINAL SIZE. WHEN THESE LUG NUTS SWELL, THE LUG NUT WRENCH WILL NO LONGER FIT, SO THEY MUST BE DRILLED OR EXTRACTED, AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO FRACTURE WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE REPLACED THE LUG NUTS TWICE, SO I AM ON MY THIRD SET. IF I WERE TO HAVE A FLAT TIRE, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAVE TO BE TOWED AS THE WRENCH WOULD NOT FIT THE LUG NUTS. "THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND FORD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ALERT FOR 2010-2011 MODEL YEAR FORD FUSION AND MERCURY MILAN SEDANS. THE VEHICLES MAY HAVE FAULTY WHEEL STUDS THAT MAY FRACTURE AND POSSIBLY CAUSE THE WHEELS TO SEPARATE FROM THE CARS, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A COLLISION." RECALL #: 11V574000 I WAS NEVER ALERTED OF THIS RECALL FROM FORD, AND I HAVE ALSO HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. I HAVE RECEIVED OTHER RECALLS VIA MAIL, AND ALSO CONTINUALLY CHECK MY VIN ON THE FORD WEBSITE. I NOW HAVE PAID FOR THIS TWICE.

LUG NUT AND STUD FAILURE. LEARNED OF PROBLEM AFTER A DEALER REPAIR. CAR STATIONARY AT HOME WHEN PROBLEM DISCOVERED. AFTER DEALER SAFETY RECALL REPAIR OF FRONT STEERING RACK, WHICH INCLUDED TIRE ROTATION, MEANING ALL 4 TIRES REMOVED AND RETURNED TO VEHICLE BY THE DEALER. I WAS REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, EASY REPAIR, AND I LEARNED THE FOLLOWING: LUG NUTS WERE TIGHTENED SO TIGHT THAT THE WRENCH PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT LOOSEN THEM BY HAND. TRIED TO USE STAR WRENCH, WHICH WAS LARGER, AND STILL TOO TIGHT. DECIDED TO USE MANUFACTURER WRENCH FROM TRUNK WITH A 5 FOOT PIECE OF EMT THIN WALL TUBING TO ADD TORQUE, HAD TO TAP LUG WRENCH ONTO ONE BOLT DUE TO SWELLING OF OUTER BOLT COVERING (CORROSION BETWEEN BOLT AND DECORATIVE COVERING). LEARNED DEALER HAD STRIPPED ONE BOLT ON DRIVER FRONT WHEEL. AFTER REPLACING PADS ON DRIVERS SIDE, STARTED REPAIR ON PASSENGER SIDE. 2 STUDS BROKE OFF WHILE REMOVING. USING A HAND WRENCH THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN 45 YEARS OF REPAIRING CARS. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD CONSIDER REPLACING ALL LUG NUTS AND STUDS ON THEIR VEHICLES AS THIS "DEFECT" COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. LUG NUTS SHOULD NOT SWELL NOR SHOULD THEY BE REPEATEDLY OVER TIGHTENED DURING THE TIRE ROTATION PROCESS USED BY ALL FORD DEALERS IN THEIR (ROUGHLY) $30.00 SERVICE PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES OIL CHANGE, BRAKE INSPECTION, AND TIRE ROTATION. THIS PACKAGE HAS RESULTED IN MY TIRES BEING ROTATED AND RETIGHTENED SEVERAL TIMES, MEANING EACH TIME OF OVER TIGHTENING FURTHER WEAKENS THE STRENGTH OF THE LUG STUD. NOT SURE IF THE STUD IS DEFECTIVE OR THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY PRACTICE OF OVER TIGHTENING LUG NUTS IS THE CAUSE OF THESE BOLTS BEING WEAK ENOUGH THAT THEY SNAPPED WITH HAND REMOVAL. THANK YOU. [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM BOTH FRONT WHEELS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V574000 (WHEELS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

LUG NUTS CORRODE AND YOU CANNOT GET THE LUG WRENCH ON THEM TO REMOVE TIRE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ACCORDING TO SEVERAL FORD TECHS. I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE ONE SET OF LUG NUTS DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND NOW I AM BEING TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN.

WHEEL STUDS BREAKING. I HAVE NOW HAD 9 WHEEL STUDS BREAK, 8 DURING NORMAL SERVICING AND 1 WHILE ACTUALLY DRIVING. SINCE WITH ALLOY WHEELS THERE WAS NO HUBCAP, THE WHEEL NUT AND THE TOP OF THE BOLT WAS MISSING. THERE WAS AN ORIGINAL RECALL FOR THIS BUT ONLY FOR CARS WITH STEEL WHEELS. MY CAR HAS ALLOY WHEELS BUT I CONSIDER 9 BREAKS TO BE UNSAFE.

IN DECEMBER OF 2011 MY CAR HAD A RECALL FOR FRACTURING WHEEL STUDS. I BOUGHT MY CAR AT A YEAR OLD. A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR TWO WHEEL STUDS SNAPPED OFF. I CALLED FORD TO GET THE PARTS TO FIX IT AND THEY SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE RECALL. THEN ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER ON OPPOSITE SIDE ANOTHER WHEEL STUD BROKE. I AGAIN CALLED FORD AND THEN THEY DECIDE TO MENTION THE RECALL. APPARENTLY THERE WAS ONE ISSUED BEFORE I OWNED MY CAR AND ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE HAD BEEN FIXED. EVEN THOUGH I HAD HAD STUDS BREAK OFF ON DRIVERS SIDE AFTER THE RECALL. SO THEY DID THE RECALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD STUDS BREAK 3 DIFFERENT TIMES ON BOTH SIDES. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THIS TO ME IS A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND I DONT FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE PAYING TO REPLACE THESE OR DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH POTENTIAL OF A WHEEL FALLING OFF.

DURING A ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION, ONE OF THE LUG NUT STUDS BROKE OFF OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF CORROSION, CROSS-THREADING OR OTHER DAMAGE TO THE STUD, IT SIMPLY SHEERED OFF AT THE WHEEL SURFACE WHEN THE MECHANIC TRIED TO LOOSEN THE LUG NUT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE SAME WHEEL, AND IN BOTH CASES THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A STUD BREAK OFF UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES AND HE HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. I KNOW THAT FORD CONDUCTED A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE ON CERTAIN 2011 FORD FUSIONS, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL, AND I QUESTION WHETHER THE RECALL WAS BROAD ENOUGH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LUG NUT STUDS FRACTURED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL STUDS WERE PREMATURELY FRACTURED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE WHEEL STUDS ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE FRACTURED TWICE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE THEM. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V574000 (WHEELS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

2 WHEEL STUDS HAVE SNAPPED OFF OUT OF NOWHERE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. *TR

WHEN LOOSENING MY LUG NUTS FOR A ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION, A WHEEL STUD BROKE OFF ON EACH OF MY FRONT TIRES, FOR A TOTAL OF TWO BROKEN STUDS. THE LAST TIME THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS TIGHTENED WAS AT FORD TO REPLACE A PREVIOUS BROKEN LUG NUT! FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE ALL OF MY WHEEL STUDS AT THAT TIME. RECALL #11V574000 (FORD RECALL #11S23) DOES NOT LIST THE MANUFACTURING DATE OF MY VEHICLE SO FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE ALL WHEEL STUDS! I FEEL LIKE I AM DRIVING IN A DEATH TRAP AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A WHEEL FALLS OFF WHILE DRIVING! NHTSA PLEASE HELP! PLEASE EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE ALL 2011 FORD FUSIONS REGARDLESS OF MANUFACTURING DATE. I HAVE NEVER USED AIR TOOLS ON THE WHEEL AND THE LUGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TORQUED TO MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATION (100 FT LBS). *TR

NOTICED A LUG NUT WAS MISSING FROM MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE. ON CLOSER INSPECTION I SAW THAT THE WHEEL STUD WAS BROKEN OFF. I HAVE NEVER USED AIR TOOLS ON THE WHEEL AND THE LUGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TORQUED TO MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATION (100 FT LBS). THERE IS A SIMILAR RECALL #11V574000 (FORD RECALL #11S23) ACTIVE, BUT IT DOES NOT LIST THE MANUFACTURING DATE OF MY VEHICLE IN THIS RECALL. *JS

I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO CROSS STREET THE STEERING DID NOT RESPOND EASILY. CHECKED THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. IT HAD A BUBBLE AND IT BURST, THE TIRE DEFLATED AND THE CAR WAS RESTING ON THE RIM. THE TIRE COULD NOT BE PATCHED. I HAD TO ORDER A NEW TIRE (GOODYEAR EAGLE) *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V574000 (WHEELS: LUGS NUTS, BOLTS) WAS RECEIVED JANUARY 2012. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THAT THE REPAIRS EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO HAVE A RECALLED DEFECT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

RECALL 11S23 I SOUGHT SERVICE ON 2/9. A MONTH LATER THE FORD DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V574000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS) AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED IN FEBRUARY TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE OUT OF PARTS AND WERE NOT SURE AS TO WHEN THE NEXT BATCH WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000. .UPDATED 04/16/12 *BF UPDATED 05/10/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V574000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE RECALL FAILURE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN REPEATEDLY INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V574000 (WHEELS: LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED ON JANUARY 18, 2012 AND FEBRUARY 23, 2012 BY THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER THAT THEY WERE UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE A CONSEQUENCE OR FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALL. TH CONTACT HE EXPRESSED SIGNIFICANT CONCERN REGARDING THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD OF WHEEL SEPARATION. THERE WAS NO FAILURE MILEAGE.

MY CAR WAS RECALLED BACK IN DECEMBER 2011 FOR POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH WHEEL FALLING OFF. TODAY IS 2/21/2012 AND FORD NOT ONLY SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR BUT THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A TIMELINE!!!! PLEASE TELL ME WHAT OWNERS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V574000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS), BUT THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE SHIPPED TO THAT DEALER LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 02/29/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION SE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A LUG NUT WAS MISSING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S WHEEL. THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V574000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS), STATED THAT THE REAR LUG NUTS AND BOLTS WOULD BE REPLACED, BUT DID NOT MENTION THE FRONT LUG NUTS OR BOLTS. THE DEALER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 21,000.

WHILE PERFORMING THE FIRST TIRE/WHEEL ROTATION ON OUR NEW 2011 FORD FUSION SPORT WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS MORE THAN ONE WHEEL STUD BROKE OFF WHEN TORQUING TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. THE FACTORY MANUAL CALLS FOR A TORQUE OF 100FP. INITIALLY LACKING THE FACTORY TORQUE SPEC I STARTED WITH 75FP AND EVEN AT 75FP FELT ONE LUG NUT TURN WHAT FELT LIKE TOO FAR AS COMPARED TO THE OTHERS. I OBTAINED THE TORQUE VALUE FROM THE OWNERS MANUAL (100FP) AND PROCEEDED TO COMPLETE THE TORQUE TO THE RECOMMENDED 100FP. ONE STUD THEN TWISTED OFF PRIOR TO REACHING 100FP. HAVING SEEN THAT THE NHTSA IS PERFORMING AN INVESTIGATION I THOUGHT I WOULD ADD THE FOLLOWING. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT WITH THE ALUMINUM RIMS AND THE SHAPE OF THE LUG NUT THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FRICTION BETWEEN THE LUG NUT AND THE WHEEL TO ALLOW FOR PROPER TORQUE. *TR

HAD TO HAVE FLAT TIRE REPAIRED. WHEN TECHNICIANS TRIED TO PLACE WHEEL ON 2011 FUSION TWO (2) OF THE WHEEL BOLTS TWISTED AND WOULD NOT HOLD AT THE REQUIRED TORQUE LEVEL. HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF THE FIVE WHEEL BOLTS. TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALER TO HAVE ALL WHEEL BOLTS REPLACED. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH BOLTS, HAD NO TECHNICAL BULLETINS, SAFETY ISSUES, RECALLS, ETC. AND WOULD NOT EVEN REPAY FOR THE TWO BOTS THAT WERE DEFORMED. THE TWO DEFORMED BOLTS WERE GIVEN TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I GAVE THEM EVIDENCE OF THE PROBLEM, COMPLETE DESCRIPTION, REPAIR SHOP THAT FOUND THE PROBLEM, ( WHOM I HAVE USED FOR OVER 30 YEARS), AND GOT THE ANSWER, IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN BRING IT BACK. I HOPE WHEN I BRING IT BACK IT IS NOT AFTER AN ACCIDENT WHERE SOMEONE IS INJURED.IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT MY FATHER, KENNETH SEAL. *TR