NHTSA Complaint #767305 — 1997 FORD CLUB WAGON

UPON RETURNING FROM A ROUTINE DRIVE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TWO LUGS: NUTS WERE COMPLETELY MISSING AND FIVE OF THE REMAINING SIX WERE LOOSE. THE WHEELS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF POLISHED ALUMINUM AND ARE OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER (WHEELED COACH). FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED DETERIORATION AS A POSSIBLE RESULT OF THE ALUMINUM IN THE WHEELS REACTING WITH THE STEEL OF THE LUGS. BECAUSE THIS IS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE, ONE OF THOUSANDS ON THE ROAD, IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO EMS PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ADVISE THEM TO ROUTINELY CHECK THEIR LUG NUTS, ESPECIALLY ON ALUMINUM WHEELS.*AK