- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into an estimated 281,250 2010 Ford Fusion sedans for a possible wheel stud problem that could result in wheel separation.
- The safety watchdog said it has received four complaints regarding fractures of wheel studs in Fusions with low mileage.
- Ford told Inside Line it is "aware of the investigation and are fully cooperating with the government as always."
WASHINGTON — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into an estimated 281,250 2010 Ford Fusion sedans for a possible wheel stud problem that could result in wheel separation. Such an action is sometimes the precursor to a vehicle recall.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation said on Tuesday that it is aware of four complaints on 2010 Fusion sedans that allege one or more wheel stud fractures. All four vehicles had relatively low mileage — between 5,000 and 11,000 miles.
"The complaint vehicles were originally equipped with steel wheels and decorative wheel covers, with each wheel affixed to the vehicle via five lug nuts and wheel studs," said NHTSA in a summary of the problem. "At least one complaint alleges wheel stud fractures on multiple wheels. Wheel stud fractures may result in wheel separation and loss of vehicle control."
It also added that three complaint vehicles belong to the same 22-vehicle fleet but were assigned to different drivers who experienced the alleged defect on three separate occasions.
"We are aware of the investigation and are fully cooperating with the government as always," wrote Wes Sherwood, Ford spokesman, in response to an e-mailed query by Inside Line.
Inside Line says: If you own a 2010 Ford Fusion, be aware that U.S. safety regulators are looking into a potential problem with wheel studs. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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tdiluv says:
06:15 AM, 01/27/2011
This calls for an all out Senate investigation ! If the studs where made in China or Mexico we'll be off the hook!
dg0472 says:
08:34 PM, 01/26/2011
According to the DetNews, none had ever had the wheels serviced, easy to believe with such low miles. So not a impact wrench jockey gone wild.
ed124c says:
02:46 PM, 01/26/2011
According to the 2010 Fusion brochure, only the SE came with: 17" 5-spoke design steel wheels with silver-painted covers. All other models had aluminum wheels. (Unless there is a fleet wheel that is not listed in the brochure.)
Kinda strange that the problem has only come up-- so far--on the cars with the plastic covered steel wheels. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they ARE steel wheels and not aluminum. Some kind of chemical reaction between the stud and the steel? The aluminum is softer than the steel wheels, so perhaps it has something to do with heavy loads or a lot of potholes-- causing the studs to crack. Just throwing out ideas.
I don't believe that there were 281,000 2010 SEs produced, but I suppose the government has to include all the trim levels.
church123 says:
02:05 PM, 01/26/2011
Hmm, 3 of 4 vehicles belong to the same fleet. Maybe some maintenance monkey going bonkers with an impact wrench when rotating tires?