NHTSA Complaint #11308072 — 2014 CHRYSLER 200

ENCOUNTERED A FLAT TIRE (OBSERVED WHEN DRIVING) AND WHEN I WENT TO TAKE THE WHEEL / TIRE OFF TO PUT ON THE SPARE, FOUND I COULD NOT LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS WITH A VARIETY OF LUG WRENCHES THAT WERE TRIED. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE LUG NUTS HAD TO BE HAMMERED OFF THE WHEEL AND REPLACED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE LUG NUTS ON THE REMAINING WHEELS / TIRES WERE IN THE SAME CONDITION. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS "NOBODY'S FAULT" THAT THIS HAPPENED TO THE LUG NUTS. I DISAGREE - AND SUBMIT THAT IT WAS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE LUG NUTS THAT WAS "AT FAULT". I READ ABOUT A SIMILAR INCIDENT INVOLVING FORD VEHICLES THAT WAS ON THE VERGE OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT, BUT THEN DISMISSED. APPARENTLY THE OUTSIDE COATING (ALUMINUM?) ON THE LUG NUTS SHEARS OFF WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED. I AM LOOKING FOR COMPENSATION FOR HAVING TO REPLACE THESE, ALONG WITH A POSSIBLE FACTORY RECALL.