NHTSA Complaint #10627559 — 2010 DODGE CHARGER

I HAD A FLAT TIRE AND TRIED TO REMOVE IT AND PUT THE SPARE ON BUT COULD NOT GET THE LUGS NUTS OFF BECAUSE THE TIRE WRENCH NO LONGER FIT THEM. I HAD TO GET CAR TRANSPORTED TO DODGE DEALERSHIP BY FLAT BED. WHEN WE GOT THERE THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON DODGE CHARGERS, CHALLENGERS, AND CHRYSLER 300'S. THE LUG NUT IS MANUFACTURED IN TWO PARTS, AND THE OUTER PART SWELLS MAKING THE LUG NUT DEFECTIVE. SO THEREFORE THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO PRY THEM OFF. WHEN THEY CHECKED THE OTHER LUG NUTS THEY WERE ALL BAD DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A PRODUCT OF DODGE AND THEREFORE THEIR FAULT AND WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THEY CHARGED ME OVER $350.00 TO REPLACE ALL OF THESE LUG NUTS. I FEEL THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE ME TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE IF I HAVE A FLAT TIRE, BECAUSE I CANNOT CHANGE IT MYSELF DUE TO THIS DEFECT. I AM THANKFUL THAT THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY OR ELSE I WOULD BE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH NO WAY OF PUTTING THE SPARE ON. I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS FAULTY DESIGN. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. *TR