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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

Wheels complaints

11 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2026

Wheels

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Ford's double-capped acorn lug nuts experienced outer cap expansion/separation during an emergency roadside tire change. A defective design known by Ford. Rendering the supplied tire iron and a separately purchased multisize tire iron ineffective at removing the lugs. The failure left the vehicle immobile on the side of a i75 in SWFL in the summer heat of June 2026. Present in the vehicle were the owner, spouse, and a [XXX] infant. They were stranded approximately 34 miles from home for nearly 3 hours, an extended period for a XXX, who quickly became visibly distressed. Standard FDOT Road Ranger assistance was unavailable, and towing services had estimated wait times exceeding 2 hours. The driver was unable to resolve the situation through any reasonable self-help measure due to the defective lugs, despite having successfully changed tires on the same vehicle previously using the same factory equipment. The defect was verbally identified during the incident by a responding AAA roadside technician. They recognized the defect as consistent with a known issue affecting Ford vehicles. No formal inspection by Ford Motor Company, law enforcement, or insurance representatives has taken place but will be pursued by the owner and available for inspection is requested. No warning lamps, dashboard alerts, or observable symptoms were present that would have indicated a lug nut defect to the owner. It only became apparent at the moment an emergency tire change was required. This is consistent with prior reported cases and litigation involving Ford. The owner was never informed of this defect during the vehicle purchase, service history, or extended warranty agreement. If known road side assistance would have been contacted, instead of self servicing the tire change which was rendered useless by a defect Ford has been aware of. Resulting in nearly 3 hours of preventable roadside exposure, emotional distress, and the endangerment of a [XXX] infant. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.

NHTSA ODI #11743999

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2024

Wheels

Went to got a normal free oil change. They told us they could not do a tire rotation because the lug nuts were swollen. On a 2018 car the cheap 2 piece lug nut swollen so a normal 19mm socket could not fit over to took off the tire. No recall and no free fix at the Anderson SC Ford Dealer.

NHTSA ODI #11578322

58,000 miles · Dec 11, 2023

Wheels

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated during a routine oil change and tire rotation, the contact was informed that the lug nuts were swollen and needed to be cut off to be removed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #11559582

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2023

Wheels

Went to have car serviced and was told lug nuts were swollen and it was a Ford defect, but had to pay over $120 to replace lug nuts in order to get my tires rotated.

NHTSA ODI #11559387

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2023

Wheels

lug nuts are swollen and lug nut wrench does not fit on lug nuts. Had to get special tool to remove flat tire and replace lug nuts

NHTSA ODI #11524400

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2023

Wheels

Replacing tires for the first time in this vehicle & all lug nuts on each tire is swollen. Reached out to Ford & they advised to file a complaint as my vehicle is not recalled for this at this time but there is a recall for swollen lug nuts under 22S59

NHTSA ODI #11517658

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2023

Wheels

The caps on the lug nuts fall off then the lug wrench does not fit, and the caps twist and now the dealer is charging me add to get then off, and usually I have to pay for some and it just happens again and again.lug nuts are 15.00 each.

NHTSA ODI #11517652

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2022

Wheels

At a. Recent appointment at local Ford dealer, I was told that tires could not be rotated due to swollen lug nuts. I perceive that as a safety concern as in event of a flat out out on the road, I would be stranded. Dealer quoted a price of over $250 to replace. Seems to me that this should be Fords responsibility. I feel uneasy …

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NHTSA ODI #11489433

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2022

Wheels

Had tires replaced and mechanic reported several swollen lug nuts.

NHTSA ODI #11446575

36,000 miles · Apr 3, 2020

Wheels

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RECENTLY BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION TO FARNEY FORD IN SELMA, CA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LUG NUTS EXPANDED AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. THEREFORE I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE 5 LUG NUTS REPLACED ON ALL 4 FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES IN ORDER TO GET A TIRE ROTATION. THE VEHICLE HAS GONE IN FOR TIMELY OIL CHANGES AND DID HAVE TIRE ROTATION DONE BY THE FARNEY FORD DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE PAST 15 MONTHS. WE DID PUT A COMPLAINT IN AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER FROM FORD. 5 DAYS LATER AND STILL NO RESPONSE. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I GET A FLAT AND CAN'T GET THE LUG NUTS OFF? WE LIVE IN A FARMING TOWN AND TRAVEL THROUGH BACK ROADS TO GET IN TO FRESNO, CA.

NHTSA ODI #11320103

Official recalls

23V162000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Mar 10, 2023

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S12.

18V167000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

Mar 12, 2018

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S08.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ22004 · Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures

Opened Aug 8, 2022 · Closed Mar 24, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 50 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging front brake jounce hose ruptures on model year (MY) 2013-2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. A ruptured front brake hose results in a brake fluid leak. As a result, the driver may experience an increase in pedal travel and a reduction in the rate of deceleration, increasing the risk of a crash. It should be noted that the subject vehicles identified fell outside the scope of NHTSA Safety Recall 20V-469, which addressed front brake hoses rupturing on certain MY 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The result causes a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needing to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.On March 10, 2023, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted to NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-162 (Ford Recall 23S12) to address front brake jounce hoses that may rupture. Ford found the rupture occurs from a localized failure of the internal reinforcement braid due to cyclic fatigue through tensile/bending and torsional inputs during suspension and steering articulations. The supplier for the front brake jounce hoses is Hitachi. This recall affects the subject vehicles equipped with non-hybrid engines and the suspect front brake jounce hoses (a total of 1,280,726 vehicles). The recall covers subject vehicles built from February 3, 2012 to July 19, 2017 when the suspect hoses were used in vehicle production. The remedy is for dealerships to replace both front brake jounce hoses with new hoses that have a revised braid material at no cost. The vehicles equipped with hybrid engines are excluded from the recall because the internal hose pressure is much lower due to the regenerative braking provided by the hybrid brake system. No failures of brake hoses on hybrid vehicles have been reported to ODI or Ford.Ford's actions address ODIs concerns at this time. Hybrid vehicles will be monitored for related failures. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by new circumstances.The 103 ODI numbers cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ID numbers:11511014, 11510867, 11510318, 11509030, 11505993, 11504989, 11504400, 11502147, 11502082, 11501820, 11501283, 11498439, 11498296, 11496842, 11496335, 11494931, 11494851, 11494252, 11493001, 11492084, 11492070, 11491444, 11491274, 11488858, 11488027, 11487627, 11487416, 11487233, 11486150, 11484924, 11484526, 11484080, 11483948, 11483926, 11483739, 11483723, 11482773, 11482690, 11481077, 11480788, 11480294, 11480052, 11479338, 11479334, 11479252, 11479247, 11479187, 11479094, 11479048, 11478985, 11478953, 11478729, 11478216, 11476892, 11476282, 11470558, 11468994, 11467109, 11466294, 11462746, 11461217, 11456065, 11455367, 11444848, 11436419, 11436376, 11430685, 11428329, 11425083, 11421026, 11420738, 11420735, 11420298, 11418197, 11403926, 11397549, 11366991, 11366757, 11361016, 11359968, 11354569, 11352165, 11350344, 11348799, 11343929, 11343205, 11331947, 11329020, 11319596, 11310529, 11292271, 11288455, 11254787, 11253479, 11253244, 11234622, 11230669, 11230050, 11228240, 11221111, 11143630, 11129392 and 11120228.