NHTSA Complaint #11374547 — 2017 FORD ESCAPE

SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS VIA THE SITE. I EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE AND WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE IT MYSELF DUE TO THE FACTORY PROVIDED LUG WRENCH UNABLE TO SECURING FASTEN TO THE LUG NUTS. IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TOW DRIVER AND TIRE STORE, IT IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE LUG NUT COVERS PREVENT THE LUG WRENCH FROM WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER CONTACTING MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME I COULD BUY A "KIT" TO RESOLVE. I ALSO CONTACT FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TOWING CHARGES AND HAVE THE "KIT" INSTALLED AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. FORD ATTRIBUTES THIS ISSUE TO SWOLLEN LUG NUTS AND CONSIDERS THE ISSUE A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM SINCE MY VEHICLE'S WARRANTY IS EXPIRED, I WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TOWING AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE "KIT" INSTALLATION MYSELF. IT BEARS TO NOTE, I DISCOVERED THE FLAT TIRE IN MY GARAGE AFTER IT SITTING OVERNIGHT. SO I DO NOT SEE HOW THE LUG NUTS WERE SUBJECT TO SWELLING SINCE THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL HOURS.