NHTSA Complaint #10532945 — 2004 DODGE CARAVAN

I HAD MY TIRES ROTATED AT COSTCO WHERE THEY WERE PURCHASED IN 2012. IN THE SPRING OF 2013, I WAS GOING TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON THE REAR OF MY 2004 MINIVAN, AND COULD NOT GET TWO OF THE LUG NUTS OFF. SO I JUST PUT IT OFF FOR A WHILE. ON JULY 30, 2013, I WENT OUT TO GET IN MY VAN AND HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THAT SAME WHEEL. I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE TIRE AND TWO OF THE STUD BOLTS BROKE. I REMOVED THE REST OF THE LUGNUTS AND TOOK THE TIRE TO BE REPAIRED AT COSTCO. ON THE 31ST, I TOOK MY VAN TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM, SO I WANTED THEM TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON AND REPLACE THE WHEEL STUDS. AS THEY WERE DOING THE REPAIR, TWO MORE OF THE STUDS BROKE. THIS IS NOW 4 WHEEL STUDS ON THE SAME WHEEL. NONE OF THE LUG NUTS WERE REMOVABLE FROM THESE BOLTS. I THOUGHT THAT COSTCO HAD OVERTIGHTENED THE LUG NUTS. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE AND SEEING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, I AM WONDERING IF THE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE. IN 50 YEARS OF DRIVING CARS AND REPAIRING A LOT OF THEM MYSELF, I HAVE NEVER HAD A BROKEN WHEEL STUD. I AM THANKFUL THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE ROAD SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. IF THESE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE, HOW STRONG ARE THEY WHEN I AM DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE FREEWAY. *TR