NHTSA Complaint #11139214 — 2014 FORD FOCUS

LUG NUTS. I HIT A CURB NEAR MY HOUSE CUTTING THE SIDE WALL OF MY TIRE. TIME WENT FLAT. WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE TIRE THE LUG WRENCH WOULD NOT FIT ONTO THE LUG NUT. I CALLED FORD FOR HELP THE TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE ALUMINUM COVER ON NUT "SWELLS" MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE WRENCH TO FIT. I HAD TO POUND THE WRENCH ON WITH A RUBBER MALLET, AND KNOCK IT OFF AFTER LOOSENING THE NUT. IF I WAS ON A FREEWAY WITH OUT ACCESS TO A MALLET I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED AND IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORD TOLD ME IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MANUFACTURES, LES SCHWAB WHERE I BOUGHT MY TIRES TOLD ME THEY SEE IT EVERY DAY, A COMMON PROBLEM, THE TIRE SHOP AT COSTCO WHERE I WORK TOLD ME THE SAME. I SOUNDS TO ME YOU ARE PUTTING PEOPLES LIVE IN DANGER BY LETTING CAR COMPANY'S GET AWAY WITH THIS. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST BE SUPPLYING DRIVERS WITH RUBBER MALLETS.