2014 Ford Fiesta Tires & Wheels Problems

Ford lug nuts swelled up so much that nobody could get tires off. Had to go to dealer and pay $250 to get those off and replaced. I was lucky that I was just trying to rotate the tires vice having to replace a flat.

Swollen lug nuts made removing wheels impossible. Unable to receive balance at a shop. Tire blowout on 28Apr22 caused prolonged disablement in unsafe area due to inability to remove lug nuts and change tire.

AFTER HAVING A FLAT TIRE, I FIND THAT THE INCLUDED LUG WRENCH WILL NOT FIT THE LUG NUTS. AFTER A GOOD SAMARITAN STOPPED TO HELP ME, AND HAD A 4 WAY WRENCH, WE FOUND THAT THE LUGS WOULD JUST SPIN. THEY WOULD NOT LOOSEN OR TIGHTEN. AFTER 3 HOURS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND 3 PHONE CALLS TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, HE TOLD US THE LUGS HAD AN OUTER LAYER THAT WOULD SWELL OVER TIME CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. WE HAD TO PUT A SOCKET ON THE LUG NUT AND BEAT THE SOCKET ON, TO SQUEEZE DOWN THE OUTER LAYER ONTO THE ACTUAL LUG. IF NOT FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S KINDNESS, I WOULD'VE BEEN STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, HAVING TO CALL A TOW TRUCK, FOR A SIMPLE NAIL IN MY TIRE. LUG WRENCHES AND SPARE TIRES HAVE NO PURPOSE WHEN YOU CANNOT GET THE LUGS OFF. AFTER HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND RESEARCHING IT, I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALMOST ALL FORD MODEL VEHICLES, AND SO FAR, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT. THIS IS A MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HAZARD THAT CAN EASILY BE FIXED BY SOLID LUG NUTS INSTEAD OF THE JUNK THAT IS STILL BEING USED BY FORD. NOW I HAVE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES TO REPLACE LUGS, BECAUSE OF A BAD DESIGN.

PURCHASED 2014 FORD FIESTA AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT NOISE AND HANDLING ISSUES WITH THE HANKOOK OPTIMO TIRES ON MY FIESTA - CAR HAS APPROX. 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR - AND DEFINITELY HAVING A DRIVE AND SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE TIRES

I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY REGARDING THE OPTIMO H426 TIRE MANUFACTURED BY HANKOOK ON MY NEW 2014 FORD FIESTA THAT WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2014. I FELT THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THE BUBBLE WAS LOCATED ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE AND NOT ON THE TREAD. I RECEIVED A RESPONSE THAT WAS UNSATISFACTORY AND THEY WOULDN'T REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF A NEW REPLACEMENT TIRE ($156.67). MY DAD WAS DRIVING IN ANOTHER TOWN AND NOTICED ANOTHER CAR ALSO HAD A BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE SO I DECIDED TO LET YOU KNOW; POSSIBLY SEE IF THIS IS UNDER INVESTIGATION OR NOT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ON THE ROAD, ETC. AND WITH THIS DEFECTIVE TIRE HAD BLOWN; I WOULD HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FIESTA SE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH HANCOCK OPTIMA H426 TIRES, TIRE SIZE 195/50/16. THE DOT NUMBER WAS 5MJTPDLH613. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE SIDEWALL EXHIBITED A BULGE. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 672.