2017 Ford F-150 Tires & Wheels Problems

12/31/2025 NHTSA, I am writing to formally report a serious safety issue involving my Ford F-150. On [XXX] in rural Alaska, my Ford F-150 experienced a flat tire in extreme winter conditions (approximately –15°F). I was traveling with my [XXX] child. When we attempted to change the tire, the lug nuts could not be removed using the factory tools provided with the vehicle. A tow truck was dispatched from the only available service on a holiday evening, which was 45 minutes away. The tow operator was then unable to remove the lug nuts with any of his professional equipment. We were subsequently informed that this is a known issue with Ford’s chrome-capped, two-piece lug nuts swelling or deforming, making them incompatible with standard sockets. As a result, what should have been a routine roadside tire change became a prolonged and dangerous situation for my child and me in life-threatening cold. We were stranded for 3 hours and nearly ran out of gas keeping the vehicle warm. It took a blowtorch provided by a passing Good Samaritan to complete the tire changeover. This failure created a significant safety hazard. A vehicle that cannot have a flat tire serviced during an emergency—especially in extreme weather—poses an unacceptable risk to occupants. This was not due to misuse, improper maintenance, or lack of tools, but rather an apparent design or materials defect that rendered the lug nuts unusable. Vehicle details: - Year/Model: 2017 Ford F-150 - VIN: [XXX] - Location of incident: Miles outside of Willow, Alaska This situation placed a minor child at risk in extreme winter conditions and should not occur in any Ford vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Lug nuts swollen and unable to remove with provided equipment

My 2017 Ford F150 crew cab listed has chrome wheels on it. Just replaced the original tires on the chrome wheels and the chrome chips off. According to the tire company and the Ford dealer, these wheels are defective and Ford knows about it. The dealer said that Ford has replaced these wheels because of the chrome coming off which makes the wheels weak. I contact Ford customer service and they did not see a recall. Ford recommended a contact national Highway traffic safety association. File a case.

Went to my honest Big O tire shop for tire rotation. Informed that lug nuts on wheels were very hard to remove. Recommended it replace them next oil change. Why wouldn't this be a Ford problem and a recall issue? Seems to me to be dangerous and a real problem with a flat tire changed on the road.

F150 lug nuts have a cap that is prone to "swelling" after many tire rotations, especially if mechanic uses a pneumatic wrench with poor sockets. "Swollen lug nuts" make them extremely difficult to remove to change tires. Fortunately, I caught this in time on my truck and with much difficulty, replaced them with better lug nuts. If I had a flat tire with swollen lug nuts, I would probably would now have the right tools to remove the tire causing a possible safety hazard on the road.

On Sunday, October 8th 2023, my wife and I were returning home on a remote stretch of US Highway 24, 15 miles east of Buena Vista, Colorado, when we got a flat rear passenger tire. I pulled over at a safe location to change the tire. While attempting to remove the flat tire, I was unable to get the factory supplied lug wrench on any of the 6 lug nuts. Because of the remote location we had very limited cell service and were having challenges contacting a towing service. I eventually found a rock and was able to pound the lug wrench socket onto several of the lug nuts and managed to remove 4 of 6 lug nuts. The final 2 nuts became stripped and I could not remove them. Meanwhile, my wife contacted a tow service and 3 hours later, they arrived. The tow truck drive used a large hammer to pound a 7/8" socket onto the remaining nuts and used an impact wrench to remove them and then to put all the lug nuts back on. He informed me this is a common issue with my year and make of truck and they are called "Swollen lug nuts." I was very surprised that this was a known issue and there was not a recall issued to replace defective parts. It is extremely irresponsible to not notify owners of this issue, especially when I was sold a 4x4 wheel drive, off road vehicle and live in a state (Colorado) where cell service can be limited to non-existent. This issue could easily lead to death by not being able to replace a flat tire.

Steel Wheel cracked at bead area approximately 6" Immediate loss of air . No apparent impact or damage to wheel, part of crack appears old (rusty). was on front of sheriff vehicle and is used at high speeds. Failure at speed would be catastrophic.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon taking her vehicle to a dealer for an inspection, the contact was informed by the service agent that the lug nuts were swollen due to moisture and needed to be replaced. The service agent provided her an estimate for the repair; however, the contact contested that the defect was a manufacturer defect and that she should not be charged for the repair. Another advisor decided to replace the lug nuts free of charge. The contact was referred to the manufacturer who then referred her to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 44,300.

My 2017 Ford F150 with 40k miles was in dealership for tire rotation. Mechanic says my truck has swollen lug nuts. I reside in Ga and road salt not typically used in winter. Cost me $130 for something poorly engineered.

Dec. 29, 2022: I was advised that the lug nuts are warped and the tires could not be rotated without replacing the lug nuts. Was advised if I did not replace them, I may not be able to remove them if I had a flat tire or worse, they might not get tightened properly causing a wheel to come off while driving. Vehicle is still at Ford Dealership service dept.

FRONT WHEEL BEARING DRIVER SIDE STARTED FAILING (BUT I DID NOT KNOW IT) SHORTLY AFTER 5OK MILES. HAD IT REPLACED WHEN NOISE BECAME VERY PRONOUNCED AT 56K MILES. DEALER HAS NOT CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER DEALER’S PARTS MAN RECOGNIZED THE PART NUMBER BY SITE, AND HINTED THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON, ALTHOUGH USUALLY AT HIGHER MILEAGE. DEALER WAS (AND STILL IS) UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT PART. REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY A 3RD PARTY GARAGE USING AFTERMARKET PART. WARNINGS: THE TPMS MONITOR STARTED ALERTING THAT IT WAS NOT RECIEVING THE TIRE PRESSURE FROM THE AFFECTED WHEEL, WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCES ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE THE BEARING WAS REPLACED.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the dealer was inspecting the vehicle, an unknown dealer informed the contact that the lug nuts were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a certified independent mechanic, who replaced the lug nuts with after-market lug nuts. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the unknown dealer for a tire rotation, the dealer informed the contact that the lug nuts had become faulty again. The contact stated that the lug nuts had been replaced three times. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.

Koons Ford, Woodbridge, VA could not rotate my tires due to swollen lug nuts that cost almost 400.00 to replace. They also informed me that if I were to have a flat tire I could not change it with the standard jack supplied by ford.

SWOLLEN LUG NUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY CAUSED A SAFETY ISSUE

I brought my ford in to have tires rotated and they were unable to do because ford installed factory lug nuts are distorted. I brought my truck to a reputable tire shop and they told me it is a common problem on Ford F-150 from 2016 to present. I ordered replacement lug nuts to remedy the problem. I am saving the old lug nuts in case I have to take them to small claims.

What compontent: The lug nuts on my Truck swelled and are distorted so at risk of cracking. I couldn't get them off when i had a flat tire. It is available for inpsection. Safety: Safety put at risk 1. i couldn't change my flat, and couldn't tightne them correctly when i DID force it and 2. they are at risk of cracking, they ahve deterioated so wheels at risk of failing. Inependent verification: Costco changed my tires and noticed the issue, having to use other size sockets bc they were swelled so much. Warnings: No warnings or anything as purely mechanical/steel parts. You only know when you try to take ethe tires off, you think the jack is the wrong size. Its messed up how big they got. its ALL OF THEM. These SUCK. dealers so no recal so to be safe i guess I have to buy new ones and replace (Parts AND labor). Thank you

The wheel lugs have seized and are unable to be removed with a tire wrench or impact wrench. This is a huge safety issue as the driver is unable to change a flat tire. The dealer informed me the lugs are made of aluminum and are subject to overheating and corrosion. I was informed the lugs are a two-piece set and have to be replaced and need to be cut off with a cutting torch. Ford is aware of the problem, however, dismisses a recall because they say the dealer service centers are using the wrong tools. The problem is the lugs are inferior metal and easily swell up and seize. Ford has used aluminum lugs since 2000. Since a driver can't change the tire this vehicle needs to be towed. Not being able to change the tire is a huge safety issue.

I HAD TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE (SWOLLEN) LUG NUTS ON MY 2017 FORD F-150 PICKUP. THIS ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ISSUE HAD THEY NOT BEEN REPLACED.

2017 FORD F-150. CONSUMER STATED THAT TIRE ROTATION WAS NOT PERFORMED PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ROTATE THE TIRES DUE TO THE AGE OF THE TIRES AND DAMAGE IT MAY CAUSE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN ROTATED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE PORTION OF THE POLICY BE CHANGED THAT PREVENTS THE TIRES FROM BEING ROTATED IF THEY ARE OUTDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

While driving my vehicle I began to notice a clicking noise in relation to my tires/speed. No sensors came on, all gauge readings were normal. I pulled over and viewed the tires to check for a flat, all seemed fine and pressure was reading normal. When I resumed driving, I came back into my lane turning slightly left and noticed that the steering wheel began to vibrate. I slowed the vehicle again and put on my hazard lights while attempting to reach a freeway exit. The vehicle began shaking as though I had a flat but again I did not. I decided to turn off an exit and when I attempted to make a left turn into a parking lot, my front passenger wheel flew completely off. My two four year olds and I were then left without control of the truck, finally grinding to a stop blocking two directions of traffic on a Highway unable to get out of harms way. It was night, cars were coming in either direction. I had to emergently remove my children from their car seats and get away from the vehicle to safety. The lug nuts/bolts were completely sheered off. The wheel flew into a field several yards away from the vehicle. If I would not have exited the freeway, I shutter to imagine what would have happened to us as other large trucks would not have been able to stop at the rate that we were forced too. Please. This vehicle/part needs an official recall!