16 of the
1,568 complaints about the 2016 Ford Focus are about the
wheels — 1% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
26,500 miles.
All of the lugs nut have swelled likely due to rust under the chrome caps and we can not get the lug wrench provided with the car onto any of the lugs nuts. A properly sized 19mm 4 way lug wrench would not fit either. This prevents us from being able to change a flat tire which could leave us stranded during my commute or on a vacation and left in an unsafe situation on the side.of the highway. This also prevents routine maintenance such as brake wear inspections and tire rotations from being completed. The car has not been taken to a dealer or service center since the issue was noticed but they would also have the same issue and would need to hammer a socket over the lug nut with excessive force. The car has a bad wheel bearing that needs to be replaced but can't since we can not remove the tire.
NHTSA complaint #11594295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
WHEELS
The lug nuts are swollen and cannot be unscrewed. Also my electrical system inside my car goes off sometimes for unknown reasons. I'm talking about my stereo.
NHTSA complaint #11552477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
The lug nuts are swollen and cannot be unscrewed. Also my electrical system inside my car goes off sometimes for unknown reasons. I'm talking about my stereo.
NHTSA complaint #11552477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kansas City, MO
WHEELS
While attempting to change front brake pads, I couldn't get any of my sockets, of which I have multiple sets of both SAE and Metric, none would fit the lug nuts. After talking with a Ford dealership parts department, I was informed that the lug nuts swell and beating a socket onto the lug nuts was the only way to get them off the vehicle. This is unacceptable, and it was lucky that I wasn't trying to change a tire in the middle of the night. I immediately bought after-market lug nuts to replace them on the vehicle at a cost well over $100. This is unacceptable.
NHTSA complaint #11540010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, OH
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
The issue is the lug nuts have a swelling effect and the problem is they are hard to if not impossible to remove and the cost to replace them all is expensive
NHTSA complaint #11475441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Everett, WA
WHEELS
Three of the five lug nut studs on my front passenger side wheel broke off.
NHTSA complaint #11467633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Bay, FL
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
This is a lug nut-related complaint regarding the swelling and distorting of your tire factory installed lug nuts. I was not able to be remove lugnuts with the cars provided lug wrench. I was left stranded in a parking lot with a flat tire and had to drive the car with the flat tire to a local Firestone dealer, to have them remove and replace the damaged tire because I couldn't remove the tire after several attempts. an hour later I had several people try and help, It was a nightmare with my 90 year old mother. I should contact a lawyer, this is very unsafe if stranded on the highway. Ford needs to recall and replace all lug nuts. ASAP!
NHTSA complaint #11466206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bentonville, AR
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
Lug nuts have expanded and have to be replaced. This is a known safety issue and a recall needs to take place.
NHTSA complaint #11463678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
WHEELS:RIM
When driving on a residential street, the wheel snapped and a truck parked in the neighborhood was almost hit (scraped the rim of the truck). Luckily, the incident did not happen once I got onto a faster road.
NHTSA complaint #11442783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,300 milesDES Moines, IA
WHEELS
FOUND OUT MY VEHICLE HAD 2 PIECE LUG NUTS WHICH ARE DAMAGED WHEN REMOVED AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH ONE PIECE LUG NUTS WHICH ARE $8.00 PER PIECE. AT 5 NUTS PER WHEEL ON 4 WHEELS THAT COMES TO $160.00. CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE(DAMAGED TIRE).02/12/
NHTSA complaint #11396611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 milesKings Mountain, NC
WHEELS
CAR WAS HESITANT TO GO AND SKIPPING AND MAKES AWFUL NOISE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEN ON HIGHWAY ROAD NOISE. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH AND SEALS AND DID A TRANSMISSION SERVICE. NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THE AWFUL ROAD NOISE
NHTSA complaint #11372299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesFort Mill, SC
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
THE LUG NUTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE IMPROPERLY DESIGNED, AND THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOW BY THE FORD DEALER, (FELIX SABATES FORD, CHARLOTTE, NC) AND TIRE SHOPS SUCH AS GOODYEAR. THE ALUMINUM OVER-CAP ON THEM BECOMES "SWELLED" AND DEFORMED TO THE POINT THAT A LUG WRENCH WILL NOT FIT ON THEM, AFTER ONLY A FEW USES. THIS CAN BE MORE THAN JUST A NUISANCE, AS IT CAN LEAVE SOMEONE STRANDED IN THE EVENT OF A FLAT TIRE. FORD REFUSED TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE WITH REPLACEMENT LUGS NUTS WHEN I CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ALSO BEEN TOLD BY FORD THAT THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF COMPENSATING THE DOZENS OF CUSTOMERS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. I HAD TO PAY FOR AFTER-MARKET REPLACEMENTS. THERE IS NO WAY LUG NUTS SHOULD BE DEFECTIVE AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS (5 TIRE ROTATIONS), AND THE DEALER DID MOST OF THEM. I PAID $62 + 8% TAX FOR REPLACEMENTS (WHILE I WAS AT GOODYEAR). SEE PHOTOS OF DEFORMED LUG NUTS AND RECEIPT FOR REPLACEMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #11282078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
WHEELS
MY VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING SOUND LIKE TGE FLOOR IS GOING TO FALL OUT , MY GAS TELL ME IM 50 MILES UNTILL EMPTY AND I RUN OUT ALSO WHEN I TURN MY CAR MAKES A LIKE A SCRECH SOUND AND ALSO SHAKES AT THE SAME TIME. MY CAR IS GETTING DO HOT ITS MELTING THR PLASTIC AND TIRE COVERS TO WHERE ITS RUBBING ON MY TIRES. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO CATCH SPPED SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO DIE.
NHTSA complaint #11221625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesVentura, CA
WHEELS
TIRES ARE WEARING OUT ON THE INSIDE A LOT FASTER. AM ON 3RD SET THE FIRST TWO SETS DID THIS AND THE DEALER SAID THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINE. I.FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS A CURSORY INSPECTION OF THE TIRES LOOKS OK BUT IF YOU GET ON THE GROUND TO CHECK THE INSIDE PART THE WEAR WILL BE ALARMING. I WENT ONLINE TO CHECK MESSAGE BOARDS FOR THIS MODEL AND NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11205745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,991 milesST. Petersburg, FL
WHEELS
LEFT REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF THE RADIAL TIRE CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT 195/65 R1591H M S RADIAL
NHTSA complaint #10946866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,500 milesKingsland, GA
WHEELS
TIRE SEPARATED ON BOTH SIDES WALLS AT THE TIME THE TIRE MADE A BOOM NOISE. MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN MOTION ON JOB IN JACKSONVILLE.
NHTSA complaint #10860188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.