NHTSA Complaint #11469031 — 2016 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

Husband took car to the local Ford dealer (Price Ford) to get oil changed. As part of the service, they went to rotate tires and found that the lug nuts/caps had swollen and needed to be replaced. We later discovered that this has been an ongoing problem for years. My husband agreed to have it done, for safety’s sake and to avoid having a flat and unable to change tire. This extra work cost $123.40. On later research, I found this design flaw was for cosmetic purposes only and that normal non-expanding lug nuts would avoid the distinct possibility that this may happen again. I called the shop and ascertained that, indeed, the “stock” lug nuts were replaced with same and he acknowledged that this has been a common issue. He also agreed that standard lug nuts wouldn’t do this and, finally, offered that if I went and bought them he would have them changed but also that he wouldn’t refund for the ones that were put on an hour ago because “now they are used “. My husband was never given the advice or option of using standard, less expensive, lug nuts in the first place, as he should have been. Why wouldn’t this be handled as a recall issue and standard parts be used for replacement, especially for customers who are experiencing this known problem? I feel a recall should be issued and remedied for all customers, free of charge. And, in our case, we should be refunded the $123.40.