NHTSA Complaint #10163427 — 2001 JAGUAR S-TYPE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I-45, THE FRONT LEFT TIRE ON THE JAGUAR S-TYPE DEFLATED, FORCING THE CONTACT TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE DEALER TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES. WHEN THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE LUG NUT FROM THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, THE LUG NUT SEPARATED FROM THE SELF CENTERING NIPPLE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE TIRE. THE OTHER 3 OLD TIRES WERE PUT BACK ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. AS THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE ANOTHER TIRE, TWO LUG NUTS SEPARATED IN THE SAME WHEEL. TO REMOVE THE NIPPLE, THE MECHANIC HAD TO CREATE A GROOVE INTO THE BACK OF THE NIPPLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MAXIMUM TORQUE FOR THE LUG NUTS SHOULD BE 72 FOOT POUNDS AND ALL OF THEM WERE OVER-TIGHTENED BY THE ORIGINAL DEALER. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND INSTALLED AND LUBRICATED NEW LUG NUTS. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE TIRE DEALER AND 4 NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE.*AK