NHTSA Complaint #10438725 — 2010 FORD FUSION

YESTERDAY (4DEC2011) I WAS ROTATING MY TIRES WHEN ONE OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL STUDS ON MY 2010 FORD FUSION BROKE OFF INSIDE OF THE LUG NUT. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY WEAK FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY BROKE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED FROM THE TIRE IRON. MY CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 48000. THIS FOLLOWS A SIMILAR INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 28SEP2010 WHERE ONE OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STUDS BROKE OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 13,500 MILES. 2 OF THESE FRACTURES IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE IS NO SIGN OF RUST/WEAR OR TEAR ON ANY OF THE STUDS. I ALSO NOTICED TODAY THAT THE NTSB IS ALREADY LOOKING INTO SIMILAR INCIDENTS THROUGH AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS. THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGER OF A WHEEL FLYING OFF A CAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IS QUITE HIGH AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED. *TR