Ford Lug Nut Recalls: Worth The Risk?

Dec 7, 2020

While small, your vehicle’s lug nuts serve a crucial purpose—to hold your wheels in place. If you’re experiencing a lug nut-related issue on your Ford vehicle, you probably have some questions.

Has Ford issued any lug nut recalls?

As of September 2020—no, but there have been several owner complaints regarding the lug nuts on their vehicles.

There are No Lug Nut Recalls on Ford Vehicles—Yet

While there aren’t any recalls, there have been a growing number of lug nut-related complaints regarding swelling and distorting, several of which have resulted in lawsuits being filed.

Auto Mechanic Fixing The Lugs

Will there be a recall for the lug nuts on Ford vehicles? If they draw enough attention from Ford, yes, a recall going out is possible.

Until then, driving with damaged lug nuts is not recommended as one may break, causing the added weight to shift to the other lug nuts, breaking them as well.

Worst case? Your wheel comes off while you’re driving—your imagination can fill in the rest. Don’t take the risk. Instead, get them inspected by a shop. If they need to be repaired or replaced, you’re only looking at about $100-$130.

Have a Ford Vehicle with a Lug Nut Issue?

Just fill out and submit the NHTSA’s complaint form, all it takes is 5 minutes, and you’re done. Who knows, you might be the tipping point.

Owner Reviews

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Amanda B on March 29, 2023

2015 FoST nearly stranded with a flat tire

Picked up a nail on the freeway, pulled into the next towns gas station where we were planning to eat dinner. Could hear the air hissing out. Filled it up, drove to the restaurant we planned to eat at, decided to eat before changing the tire. (It should be easy, right??) WRONG. After eating, discovered that the included socket wrench wouldn't fit over 2 of the 5 nuts. Luckily we were walking distance to a Walmart. Bought 2 complete socket sets to get a 21 and 22mm socket (no single set had both), a torque wrench, and a rubber mallet. Needed all of it to get the nuts off and back on with the spare. Walmart had closed by the time we had succeeded, but got it done. COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. These 2 piece aluminum capped lug nuts are JUNK. Dealerships over tightening them with air/impact wrenches ruins them, then NOT SAYING A DAMNED THING ABOUT IT, nearly left me stranded. Thankfully I wasn't alone. I would not have had the strength on my own. Now I have AAA and aftermarket lug nuts but this really needs addressing by Ford. This Focus is my 4th and LAST Ford I will ever buy unless this is fixed.

Jonathan B. on November 4, 2022

Swollen Lug Nuts

I took my 2015 expedition to get its 80k services and Ford stated that they cant rotate the tires due to swollen lug nuts. They wanted to sell me a set for $300. I though this was a sales gimmick, so I said not as I was in need of new tires in a few more miles. I went to the Tire Dealer and purchased a new set of tires and "NOTHING" was mentioned about swollen lug nuts. Flash forward to today, I was getting my 100k service and yet again, the swollen lug nuts were mentioned, so I decided to pass on the tire rotation and do it myself at home with zero issues.. I don't know if this something that companies are trying to take advantage of due to a few complaints, or a true problem but if so, FORD needs to address the problem as it would be alot cheaper than paying for a class action lawsuit similar to Firestone...

Vlad Dumitrescu on July 18, 2023

Spent almost $1000 because Swollen Lug Nuts

I bough and maintain the tires off mine 2014 Ford Escape at Costco. I had a flat tire and tried to put the spare in. I couldn’t. The key that came with the car wouldn’t open it. I asked around for help in the parking lot where I saw the flat tire and some people used their ranches and couldn’t open it . Finally I made a call to a road assistant who charged me$358 to come to that location. He used all kind of power tools but, unsuccessfully. I called a towing company to take me to a Costco location . That cost $450 before tax and tips. In the morning Costco wanted me to pay $130 to put in the spare and new lug nuts. I told them that I bought the tires there and also kept there maintenance and rotation at every 5000 miles. They gave me new lug nuts to all4 weels for free.

D from westbury on December 6, 2023

Lug nuts

2014 escape has lug nut issues, every time I go for service the mechanic has a problem taking them off to the point they were stripped and I needed to replace 5 of them. I was told they had 2 seperate sizes and the mechanics & road side assistance’s tech all have the same problem attempting to remove them. Summer winter spring or fall and it’s the same problem. I just replaced 5 lug nuts at Firestone for$65 a rip off for sure - needed it done as I got a flat-last nite and the roadside assist tech spent 1/2 hour or more trying the take the nuts off by hand after banging it with a rubber hammer. Never buying a Ford again. Also I’m starting to get electricalproblems and I’m only with 106000 miles on the car.

Jim Singleton on January 26, 2023

Swollen lug nuts on Ford F-150

My son took his 2013 Ford F-150 to discount tire to get tires rotated and they told him he had swollen lug nuts, just figured it was a sales pitch to sale lug nuts. Never heard no s**t like that.Abouta month later I took my 2018 garage kept Ford F-150 to the Ford place in Kerrville Texas Guess what SWOLLEN LUG NUTS. If u have a flat u better have a 21&1/2 mm or 22mm socket because ur lug wrench is not going to fit. No telling how many people have been stranded on the road. Can’t believe Ford doesn’t have a recall on this serious problem. It’s a safety problem being stranded on the road. Has been going for years so Ford knows the problem

Krista on March 13, 2023

Another Lug Nut Victim

After 4 years of owning my vehicle, I too was told I have swollen lug nuts. The Ford dealer wanted $300 to replace them so I googled it. It looks like this is an ongoing Ford vehicle issue and the fact that they haven't recalled THEIR DEFECTIVE lug nuts really grinds my gears. Now I have a flat and am stranded because Noone can get the lug nuts off. I am very apprehensive about even taking the vehicle to the dealer. Are they going to put the same defective lug nuts in so they can get more $$ out of me in a couple of years? Very unprofessional and inconvenient to a loyal customer. No more Fords for me.

Tordon on March 11, 2023

Costco refused to install my tires.....

Costco claimed the lug nuts were swollen. I thought they were full of it. So I left the store and my new tires behind. I called the local Ford dealership if they knew anything about defective lug nuts... They played dumb. But they were willing to sell me an new set for $130 plus tax. I did a DuckDuckGo search and it's a common problem. Costco was right after all. So I ordered a set of one piece nuts from Amazon made by Eisen Performance, 40 bucks. Of all the things to cheap-out on, Ford chooses lug nuts.

Not a happy ford owner on July 20, 2022

Swollen Lug Nuts

Took my 2019 Ford F250 in for an oil change and tire rotation, received a call informing me that they can't rotate the tires due to swollen lug nuts, my first reaction was this is a joke right, nope, Fords cost to replace 8 lugs per tire at $10 a piece that is $80 x 4 = $320. I bought this truck used with 40k miles this was my fist service 4 months into this truck, swollen lug nuts with no recall, this is a known issue, hell I can't change the wheel if I get a flat, not good Ford this needs to be fixed.

Tordon on March 11, 2023

Costco refused to install my tires....

Costco claimed the lug nuts were swollen. I thought they were full of it. I left the store and my new tires behind. I called the local Ford dealership if they knew anything about defective lug nuts... They played dumb. But they were willing to sell me an new set for $130 plus tax. I did a DuckDuckGo search and it's a common problem. Costco was right after all. So I ordered a set of one piece nuts from Amazon made by Eisen Performance, 40 bucks. Of all the things to cheap-out on, Ford chooses lug nuts.

Carolyn on April 19, 2023

Swollen Lug Nuts

I had to purchase new lug nuts for my 2017 Ford Escape to the tune of $263.00. My tires were not rotated the last two visits at the dealership because of it. Now at only 22,000 miles on my tires I purchased in 2021 they tell me I need new tires. I have owned seven different Ford vehicles and NEVER have I had to replace lug nuts. Clearly this is manufacturing defect that Ford should recall. If I need to buy another vehicle, it will not be a Ford.

Jeff on September 27, 2022

Swollen?

I have read the reviews and come to one conclusion. Lug nuts are not "swollen" they are cross threaded. The problem is robots. A normal person would realize they have cross threaded a lug nut and stop. Robots apply the lug nut and torque it to 65 lbs, whether it has contacted the rim or not. It's a computer, it only knows one thing, spin the nut to 65 lbs, cross threaded or not. A human would have known that.

Lori on January 25, 2023

Swollen Lug nuts

I took my 2019 Ford Edge for an oil change and tire rotation. Ford wouldn't do a tire rotation because of Swollen Lug nuts. What? 5000 miles earlier I bought new tires. Nothing at that time was said about swollen lug nuts. Ford if this is a true safety issue, this is ON YOU! Keep your customers safe and have a RECALL on lug nuts and not make us pay for YOUR mistakes!

Todd Rangitsch on September 11, 2023

Lug nut issue

I’ve owned two full Bronco's and three f150 pickups. Came in for oil change and they came back and told me about the swollen Lu g nuts. I was also told the lug nuts are a ford design. I’m now being charged for new lug nuts. This is obviously a ford design issue. Recall should be in place and ford take ownership of the issue. So wrong how this is being handled.

S. Betzhold on August 23, 2022

Safety

Took my 2015 Ford Edge in for an oil change and tire rotation, received a call informing me that they can't rotate the tires due to swollen lug nuts, I can't change the wheel if I get a flat, not good or sade...Ford this needs to be fixed ASAP and issue a recall to be fixed at Company's expense not Customers.

IBMJunkman on January 3, 2024

Swollen nuts

Had swollen nuts on my 2006 Fusion. Bought a set from Amazon and America’s Tire put them on for my. Ford would not rotate my tires on my 2018 Edge because of swollen nuts. Bought an Eisen set. Also bought a bunch of tools. Will replace in the morning. This problem deserves a class action suit.

Melvin Jones on October 19, 2022

Swollen Lug Nuts

I took my 2015 Ford Mustang GT to the ford dealership to have my car serviced. They were unable to rotate the tires because of swollen lug nuts. I had to buy 20 new lug nuts at $11.50 per nut totaling $230.00 plus tax. I should be reimbursed for this cost due to no fault of my own.

CD on December 23, 2022

Ford Lug Nuts

Went to get an oil change and tire rotation at the ford dealership. They told me the tires could not be rotated without changing the lug nuts. They wanted $400. The truck has 45,000 miles. This is a total scam by ford. Never ever will I buy another ford vehicle ever.

Tracy L.Smith on September 12, 2021

Can't keep hubcaps on rightas necessary due to less bulge in lugnuts

I've been changing hubcaps left & right, backwards and forwards , every time I buy lugnuts , they're not able to hold hubcaps on. What needs done to correct this S.N.A.F.U. That Ford created, vehicle is a 2008 F150XL that has caps that fit over 6 lugs on each wheel

Calvin Stewart on October 6, 2022

Swollen Lug Nuts

2014 Lincoln MKZ - The tire mechanic found swollen lug nuts when replacing tires. The nuts were to big for the tire changing tool to fit; therefore, if need to change occurs the change would not be possible. Ford needs to inform all owners to have lug nuts checked.

A Cate on April 27, 2023

MKX swollen lug nuts

Took 2017 MKX to Firestone for wheel alignment and tire rotation. They say my lug nuts (63,200 miles) are swollen and have to be replaced- a known problem. $20 x 24!! Lawsuit recently dismissed against Ford. We need to raise hell and get someone to file new suit.

Alex on September 16, 2022

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid

I took mine in for inspection (58,000 miles). The dealership told me that the lugs were swollen and would need replaced and it would be at a minimum $200 for the parts. I am not haply and Ford should be paying for these as they are supplying defective parts.

john on March 24, 2024

Lug NUTs

I bought a 2018 Ford Escape last year used. The dealership warned me that the lug nuts that Ford installed are not swollen but 19.5 MM instead of 19 MM. I bought the 19.5 deep well socket at Auto Zone for about $20 dollars and it fits all 20 lug nuts.

Dave E on October 14, 2022

Swollen lug nuts

Having tires changed and was informed lugnuts we're swollen. Is that even a thing? How does it happen? Ford doesn't cover it under their premium warranty. Wasn't planning on that cost!

June Mathis on June 9, 2022

Ford’s use of unsafe lug nuts

Ford dealership not rotate tires unless replace lug nuts .. $95.. They say not safe because of loose covering of original lug?? Why Ford use unsafe ? 2015 Escape

Shelley Myles on August 16, 2022

Tire almost fell off while driving.

The wheel almost came off as all the studs sheared off.We were in a 2011 Ford Ranger.

Michelle B