Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studsRecall 11V-574 · Ford and Mercury vehicles

FORD MOTOR COMPANY recall 11V-574 covers 128,616 Ford and Mercury vehicles for a wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs problem, reported to NHTSA on December 7, 2011.

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Vehicles repairedNo manufacturer report yet
Vehicles affected128,6162 models
ReportedDec 7, 2011Owners notified Jan 18, 2012
Complaints since174Same system, after the recall

Source: NHTSA recall 11V574000 and manufacturer quarterly reports. Started by an NHTSA defect investigation.

What's wrong

The problem

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 FORD FUSION AND MERCURY MILAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH STEEL WHEELS AND BUILT FROM APRIL 1, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 30, 2009, AND FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009, THROUGH NOVEMBER 13, 2010. THE WHEEL STUDS MAY FRACTURE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A WHEEL TO SEPARATE.

The risk

WHILE DRIVING, MULTIPLE STUD FRACTURES COULD OCCUR AT THE WHEEL LOCATION, AND THE OPERATOR MAY EXPERIENCE VEHICLE VIBRATION AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

What to do

The fix

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE DISC SURFACE FOR FLATNESS AND REPLACE THE DISCS AS NECESSARY. ADDITIONALLY, THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 24, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

FORD'S RECALL NUMBER IS 11S23.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A>.

Recall repairs are free. Confirm whether this recall is open on your vehicle by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2 models

Vehicles in this recall

Built from April 1, 2009 to November 13, 2010. Not every vehicle in these model years is included; check by VIN.

Background

The investigation behind this recall

  1. Wheel Stud FracturePE11003 · closed Jul 26, 2011
    NHTSA
  2. Wheel Mounting Stud FractureEA11009 · closed Jan 20, 2012
    NHTSA