NHTSA Complaint #11353723 — 2014 FORD ESCAPE

I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE AND WHEN AAA CAME OUT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, THEY COULD NOT GET THE LUG NUTS OFF, SO AAA HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP. THE SHOP HAD TOLD ME THAT THE LUG NUTS WHERE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OFF, WHICH THEY THOUGHT WAS DUE TO OVER TIGHTENING AND RECOMMENDED THAT ALL THE LUG NUTS ON ALL THE WHEELS BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACE ALL THE LUG NUTS. THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING ON TOLLWAY DRIVING 60 MPH, I STARTED TO HEAR A THUMPING SOUND AND MY CAR SHAKING. THINKING I HAD ANOTHER FLAT TIRE I GOT OFF ON THE NEXT EXIT, WHICH WAS CLOSE TO THE SHOP I TOOK THE CAR BEFORE (LUCKILY). I TOLD THE SHOP MANAGER WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHEN THE SHOP TOOK THE CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BROKE OFF DAMAGING THE CAR AND LUCKILY NOT HURTING ANYONE. THE SHOP SAID THAT THE STEMS FOR LUG NUT BROKE OFF! HE WAS NOT SURE HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. NOW THAT I HAVE READ THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT OF THE STEMS HOLDING THE LUG NUTS. IF THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT 60 MPH I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THE COST TO FIX THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR IS $2,110.53, WHICH I HAD TO FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, STATE FARM. CLAIM AND REPAIRS ARE STILL IN PROCESS. AFTER READING OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY EVERYDAY GOING TO WORK.