NHTSA Complaint #11165703 — 2014 FORD FIESTA

AFTER HAVING A FLAT TIRE, I FIND THAT THE INCLUDED LUG WRENCH WILL NOT FIT THE LUG NUTS. AFTER A GOOD SAMARITAN STOPPED TO HELP ME, AND HAD A 4 WAY WRENCH, WE FOUND THAT THE LUGS WOULD JUST SPIN. THEY WOULD NOT LOOSEN OR TIGHTEN. AFTER 3 HOURS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND 3 PHONE CALLS TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, HE TOLD US THE LUGS HAD AN OUTER LAYER THAT WOULD SWELL OVER TIME CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. WE HAD TO PUT A SOCKET ON THE LUG NUT AND BEAT THE SOCKET ON, TO SQUEEZE DOWN THE OUTER LAYER ONTO THE ACTUAL LUG. IF NOT FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S KINDNESS, I WOULD'VE BEEN STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, HAVING TO CALL A TOW TRUCK, FOR A SIMPLE NAIL IN MY TIRE. LUG WRENCHES AND SPARE TIRES HAVE NO PURPOSE WHEN YOU CANNOT GET THE LUGS OFF. AFTER HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND RESEARCHING IT, I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALMOST ALL FORD MODEL VEHICLES, AND SO FAR, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT. THIS IS A MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HAZARD THAT CAN EASILY BE FIXED BY SOLID LUG NUTS INSTEAD OF THE JUNK THAT IS STILL BEING USED BY FORD. NOW I HAVE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES TO REPLACE LUGS, BECAUSE OF A BAD DESIGN.