NHTSA Complaint #10246258 — 2005 FORD EXPLORER

2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT REAR WHEEL STUDS SHEAR OFF, WHEEL FALLS OFF WHILE DRIVING, NO WARNING. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES 1ST TIME 9/22/08 REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. TRAVEL SPEED APPROX. 25MPH. ALL FIVE STUDS SHEARED OFF. TOWED IN HAD REPAIRED. COST $442.00 INCLUDING PURCHASE OF A NEW WHEEL. 10/1/08 HEARD A SLIGHT CHIRP IN DRIVERS SIDE REAR SO I REMOVED CENTER CAP AND FOUND TWO SHEARED OFF STUDS STILL ATTACHED TO THE CENTER CAP. REPLACED ALL 5 STUDS TOTAL COST $204.00 10/18/08 ARRIVED HOME FROM A FISHING TRIP A DISTANCE OF 600MILES ROUND TRIP LOOKED AT WHEELS AND FOUND MISSING STUD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR MISSING AND ANOTHER STUD STRIPPED. CURRENTLY HAVE CAR AT A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR WHICH WILL BE APPROX. $180.00. I HAVE CALLED FORD MOTOR CO, 4 TIMES YESTERDAY AND TODAY WITH THEM DENOUNCING THIS COULD HAPPEN AND ACCEPTING 0 RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A COMPLAINT WITH THIS ISSUE. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE BY GOGGLING "FORD EXPLORER WHEEL FALLS OFF" OR "FORD EXPLORER WHEEL STUDS FALL OFF" I FIND OVER TWO DOZEN EXACT COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORD EXPLORER STUDS SHEARING OFF. LIKE MINE, IN MOST CASES THE SUV HAS BETWEEN 48,000 AND 50,000 MILES. AND IN MANY REPORTS IT HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE SAME VEHICLE. I FOUND FORD MOTOR CO. REPRESENTATIVES TAKING A TOTAL NO RESPONSIBILITY POSTURE AND TO BE VERY UNCARING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MAJOR ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH THAT MY BE CAUSED BY THIS FAULTY CONDITION. I WRITE THIS COMPLAINT WITH HOPES YOU MAY TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO MAKE OUR HIGHWAYS SAFER. *TR