NHTSA Complaint #11436314 — 2017 FORD ESCAPE

Had an increasingly loud wheel noise and pulled over to check tires. Passenger rear wheel lugs were noticeably loose. Could not get the Ford supplied jack-handle wrench on the the lug nuts. Tried a 4-way wrench and still could not get it on. Gave up and called AAA. The technician also could get get his impact wrench on the nuts to tighten them. Using an oversized socket, he did get some turning but the damaged lug nuts could not be tightened. We found 4 of 5 on that wheel, and at least 2 on every other wheel to be loose and not able to be tightened at the roadside. The vehicle was unsafe to drive, or be towed without a flat-bed recovery vehicle. The dealer had the gall to charge me $5/each for 20 new lug nuts that are just the same kind and will no doubt also have the same problem in a few years. Of course, I'll be replacing them soon with solid piece after market products. 1. Ford has been using these 2-piece lug nuts, knowing there is a problem for many years. 2. This vehicle was inspected at the dealer less than 3 months prior. They should have known to check this and replaced them at that time. They did not. 3. This wheel should not have been loose in the first place. The dealer was the last one with the wheels off during inspection and rotation. They did not even acknowledge that problem. EVERY single FORD dealer -- but especially those in the Northeastern US where corrosive materials are applied to the road in winter -- should be inspecting these defective lug nuts every time they see the vehicle. Simple putting the right sized socket on each nut to see if it fits would have been sufficient. Ford should be replacing defective lug nuts at their expense.