NHTSA Complaint #10886034 — 2010 FORD FUSION

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC 2010. A RECALL NOTICE IN JAN. 2012 STATED "THE WHEEL STUDS ON YOUR VEHICLE MAY FRACTURE." WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THAT RECALL IN APRIL 2012, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ONE BROKEN WHEEL STUD BUT DIDN'T INDICATE WHICH WHEEL. IN APRIL 2013, A WHEEL STUD ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT NOTING THE RECALL. IN JUNE 2016, A WHEEL STUD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BROKE. NOW FORD IS CLAIMING THAT THE WHEEL STUDS WERE NOT RECALLED AND REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS EVEN THOUGH THE 2012 LETTER OPENS WITH THAT REMARK. THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT IS RARE THAT WHEEL STUDS BREAK WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE STUDS ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM ON ANY PREVIOUS VEHICLES THAT I'VE OWNED AND HAVE NOT CHANGED MY MANNER OF MAINTENANCE SO I DO NOT BELIEVE MY ACTIONS ARE CAUSING THE STUDS TO BREAK. HAVING EXPERIENCED THREE WHEEL STUD FAILURES IN FIVE YEARS, IT APPEARS THAT THE WHEEL STUDS WERE NOT RELIABLY MANUFACTURED, HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF BREAKING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, AND POSE A SAFETY RISK FROM POSSIBLE WHEEL SEPARATION.