NHTSA Complaint #11066821 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

WE HAD A FLAT TIRE HOWEVER WHEN GOING TO CHANGE IT THE LUG WRENCH THAT WAS SUPPLIED WITH THE CAR WOULD NOT FIT ON THE LIG NUTS. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS A 19MM WHICH WE PURCHASED AND THEAT DIDN'T WORK. WE THEN PURCHASED A 3/4' SOCKET WHICH WOULDN'T WORK EITHER AND HAD TO BE DRIVEN ON WITH A HAMMER TO TURN THE LUGS AND IT DEFORMED THE LIGS TO A POIBT THEY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS PUT IN A POSITION WHERE SHE COULDN'T MAKE A SIMPLE TIRE CHAMGE WITH HER BOYFRIENDS HELP. I SPEND MONEY AND SEVERAL HOURS (3 PLUS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO COULD NOT GET THE LUG NUTS LOOSE. MY DAUGHTER WAS PUT IN DANGER BY POORLY DESIGNED EQUIPMENT AND I HAVE SPENT $50.00 AND SEVERAL HOURS ON A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD AHVE TAKEN 20 MINUTES HAD THE EQUIPMENT AND LUG NUTS HAD BEEN PROPERLY DESIGNED. I KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON SEVERAL FORD VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE ADRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER WITH LUG NUTS MADE OF AN APPROPRIATE ALLOY, AND A LUG WRENCH THAT WILL ACTUALLY REMOVE THE NITS IN AN EMERGENCY. IF SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE SHE WAS EXPOSED FOR LONGER THAN SHPULD BE REWUIRED FORD WOULD HAVE HAD A LAWSUIT IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES...