NHTSA Complaint #10170887 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN THREE TIMES NOW. I GET A FLAT TIRE. PULL OVER, JACK UP THE CAR, TAKE OFF THE LUG NUTS, THEN FIND MYSELF UNABLE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL. IT IS LIKE THE WHEEL RIM HAS FROZEN OR SEIZED ONTO THE HUB. THIS HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY JUST YESTERDAY NIGHT. I WAS DRIVING ON A DARK HIGHWAY WHEN FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT (NAIL IN THE TIRE). I WAS ALONE, AND I'M A FEMALE - WITH GOOD UPPER BODY STRENGTH. IT WAS VERY SCARY WHEN, AFTER 30 MINUTES OF TRYING WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF SO I COULD PUT ON THE SPARE, A TRUCK PULLED OVER AND A STRANGE MAN OFFERED TO HELP. THIS GUY WAS BIG, LIKE ARNOLD SCHWARZENNEGER, BUT EVEN HE WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF! THANK GOD HE WAS A NICE PERSON AND NOT SOME FREAK RAPIST OR MURDERER. HE CALLED A TOW COMPANY FOR ME, WHO TOWED ME TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY HAD TO USE A SMALL JACK-HAMMER LIKE THING TO REMOVE THE WHEEL. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN! AND THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE THREE YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. *NM