NHTSA Complaint #10440830 — 2010 FORD FUSION

I OWN A 2010 FORD FUSION WHICH WE PURCHASED OCTOBER 2010. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY LOCAL REPAIR/INSPECTION PROVIDER (NOT THE FORD DEALER) TO HAVE OIL CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION AND INSPECTION STICKER. WHILE MY CAR WAS THERE IT WAS NOTED THAT ONE OF THE WHEEL STUDS (FRONT PASSENGER) WAS SNAPPED OFF AND APPEARED TO HAVE HAPPENED AWHILE AGO BECAUSE THE EXPOSED COMPONENT WAS RUSTED. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I CONTACT FORD DEALER TO SEE IF COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND INSPECTION COULD NOT PROCEED UNTIL REPAIRED. I BROUGHT IT TO FORD DEALER WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED THE NEXT DAY. THEY STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED AND WOULD NOT EVEN INSPECT IT FOR DEFECTS. STATED THERE WAS NO POSSIBLE WAY IT COULD FRACTURE ON ITS OWN AND MUST HAVE HAPPENED AT PREVIOUS REPAIR SHOP WHEN THEY WERE TAKING THE WHEELS OFF FOR ROTATION. THEY STATED IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $125 TO REPAIR ONE STUD. I DECLINED AND RETURNED TO THE PREVIOUS REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED FOR HALF THE COST. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT MY TIRES HAD NEVER BEEN SERVICED BEFORE AND THIS DEFECT WAS NOTED PRIOR TO THE ROTATION. *TR