drolds1 Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 We have two threads running for the same topic. The first is from 2015. The two have now been merged 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freek1 Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 For those with hub caps, check out ebay and put hub caps and lug nuts in your search...they are cheaper than Fords. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyross Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 (edited) A few weeks ago, when I went to have my tires rotated at Discount Tires, they ran into the issue on my 2011 Fusion with the regular SEL wheels. They had a set of replacements, which cost about $45. They are bright chrome instead of the duller aluminum, so look a bit different and are more noticeable than before. Edited November 28, 2017 by andyross 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalamajo Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 (edited) I made a video that explains how to remove the swollen lug nuts: Edited May 27, 2019 by Kalamajo 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrMark Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 To everyone who has contributed to this topic: Thank you. This 2014 Fusion is my first Ford product (my daughter liked it). I've been working on my own and my family's cars for ~40 years and have never seen this phenomenon that occurs with these Ford 2-piece lug nuts. I'm somewhat relieved to find the issue with mine is common, in that I'm not alone and there are proven aftermarket solutions. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisin97 Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 Newer cars are not immune. My '17 had swollen lug nuts. Car was originally in Adirondacks when owned by previous owner. I discovered this thread during the winter and tried the car lug wrench. It fit some tightly but would have needed to be hammered on several others, and there were some that it wasn't going to fit at all. Two weeks ago, tried another lug wrench, as well as Escape lug wrench. Knew I had to replace lugs right away. Rear ones came off without too much trouble, but had some swelling. Fronts were a different story. They were more swollen than rears. Had to hammer lug wrench/socket on at least 4 of them. Glad I got to change before I got a flat and found out the hard way. DrMark, I and my family have had Ford products for over 40 years as well, and have never seen anything as ridiculous as this. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kartik Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 Hi All, I am facing the same issue with Fusion 2011 SE, went to Costco for winter tires change and they showed me that lug nuts have swollen and asked me to bring new one then they can replace the tires. not able to find aftermarket lug nuts which will fit the hubcap as well. Please suggest on the aftermarket options. Can i remove the wheel cover and use gorilla lug nuts which doesn't have to match the OEM lug nuts ? To me it seems only wheelcap is held by the lug nuts and if i remove the cap surely it will look ugly but i will be able to use aftermarket lug nuts rather than spending $200. PS - I am in Ontario, Canada 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carbuff Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Ive run into this issue on both of my fusions. A 2010 with hubcaps and a 2014 with alloys. Ive been working on cars for over 40 years and Ive never run across this. Sure, Ive had the tin cover fall off requiring a different size socket for the exposed nut and Ive seen them worn down by using an impact gun with the wrong size socket. But these 2 cars are the first time Ive seen the swollen issue. I replaced both sets with $15 solid chrome ones from ebay. If they get rusty in a few years, Ill just replace them again. At least I wont be stranded on the side of the road, or have a 45 minute brake job take 2 hours because each nut needs to have a socket pounded onto it. This is a defect from ford, plain and simple. they should replace them for free. They wont, of course. My suggestion is to replace them and then take the old defective ones and just heave them into the dealers lot at some of their cars. LOL. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozz Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 Ford is not the only maker with this problem. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimABC Posted December 19, 2020 Share Posted December 19, 2020 I have a 2017 Fusion, and I took the car to a major tire shop today to have the tires rotated. They said they couldn't get the lug nuts off. This is the same shop that had rotated the tires earlier this year. They said the weather had caused the lug nuts to swell. I was nervous when I left because they had somehow replaced three of the lug nuts that they had removed from one tire. I asked them repeatedly if this would be safe to drive, and they said it was. They didn't have the right size lug nuts so I went to an auto parts store to buy them. The auto parts store recommended that I go to a small tire shop in the neighborhood for a second opinion. I went there, and he said that the problem was the way the lug nuts had been put on. He didn't believe swelling was involved. I'm at a lost. The lug nuts are going to cost me $40. The local shop will charge me $50 to rotate my tires. The rotation is free at the national shop since I bought the tires there last year. Is replacing the lug nuts going to be a every time deal with the national shop? I'm at a loss as to what to do. Please give me some good advice. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FXT Posted December 20, 2020 Share Posted December 20, 2020 Swollen lug nuts on these cars (and others) are common. if you extend to do a little research there are numerous topics about it all over the internet. buy a new set of lugs, put them on yourself and take the car back to the place where you bought the tires to have them rotated for free. These are what I replaced mine with: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JNEBAVW/ 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimABC Posted December 20, 2020 Share Posted December 20, 2020 Will this be a continuing problem? Will the lug nuts have to be replaced every time I get my tires rotated? would I have better luck at a small tire store that might not use the same tools (?) or maybe have more experience? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbf2530 Posted December 20, 2020 Share Posted December 20, 2020 (edited) 42 minutes ago, KimABC said: Will this be a continuing problem? Will the lug nuts have to be replaced every time I get my tires rotated? would I have better luck at a small tire store that might not use the same tools (?) or maybe have more experience? Hi Kim. Is your Fusion outside the 3 year/36,000 mile New Car Warranty? If yes, and the lug-nuts are indeed swollen/damaged, replace them with a quality set of lug-nuts from McGard or Gorilla. That will permanently eliminate the problem. https://mcgard.com/ https://www.gorilla-auto.com/lug-nuts I prefer McGard. The issue is with the factory "chrome" lug-nuts. Unfortunately, they are not solid. Thery are a steel lugnut with a chrome cap. So the cap can swell if corrosion occurs between the cap and the steel lug-nut, or they damaged by over tightening etc. Replacing them with a quality set of solid lug-nuts will solve the problem permanently. Let us know how you make out and good luck. Edited December 20, 2020 by bbf2530 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratepress Posted September 15, 2021 Share Posted September 15, 2021 Have had my Fusion a year and its time for the 10,000-mile tire rotation. I'm glad I saw this before I attempted to do it. At least I can check them first and order new lug nuts if necessary! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratepress Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 Ordered new "White Knight" lug nuts and changed this out this past weekend. Thankfully, none of the nuts were swollen but I figure its good preventative maintenance nonetheless! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbf2530 Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 2 hours ago, piratepress said: Ordered new "White Knight" lug nuts and changed this out this past weekend. Thankfully, none of the nuts were swollen but I figure its good preventative maintenance nonetheless! Hi piratepress. In order to assist others interested...which model# did you purchase? The "White Knight" website lists both solid/one piece and two piece lug nuts in our type (bulge acorn). Size will vary by model year and model (12mm X 1.50 or 14mm X 1.50 etc.). Those interested in aftermarket lug nuts should purchase the solid/one piece lug nuts. The two piece are the capped and problem prone lug nuts we have from the factory. Post the model number to help others interested, and good luck. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalgpbandit Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 Yep, ran into this issue with my '12 a couple years ago. Replaced them with dormans, but don't recall the part number off hand. Also ran into this with my Grand Cherokee, but funny enough I don't recall this ever happening in the 7 years I had my '08 Fusion 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noname Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Curious, of those who have purchased aftermarket lug nuts (either McGard, Amazon, etc.), how long have they been on the vehicle, and have you run into any issues (rust/peeling etc) since? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbf2530 Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 12 minutes ago, noname said: Curious, of those who have purchased aftermarket lug nuts (either McGard, Amazon, etc.), how long have they been on the vehicle, and have you run into any issues (rust/peeling etc) since? Hi noname. Get Gorilla or McGard solid chromed lugnuts and you won't have any problems. Good luck. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drolds1 Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 McGard warranty: Quote Chrome plating on lug nuts/bolts is warranted for life not to chip, peel or rust under normal use and care. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cee El Kay Posted January 5, 2023 Share Posted January 5, 2023 Absolutely ridiculous that Ford has not issued a recall for this defect in lug nut design. Just discovered my dealership wants over $300 for lug nuts to replace the DEFECTIVE ones Ford used on my 2017 Fusion, so they can rotate the tires. UM, NO. JAYSUS H CRIMINEY when I bought my car there was ALREADY a class action suit about this out there I obviously did not know about. Suit dropped in 2019 because there werent "injuries" -- but I'm sorry, charging every single customer hundreds of dollars or sending them on a mission to find their own lug nut replacement? That is an injury. And it's a hell of a way to be sure to break trust with customers, over the ABSOLUTELY SIMPLEST of things. Adding Ford to the list of vehicles makers I won't be replacing this car with, when the time comes. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WKelley Posted January 5, 2023 Share Posted January 5, 2023 As a 30yr mechanic this is a problem across all manufacturers and has been a problem for decades. The worst issue I have ever seen with wheels/lugs are 90's Chrysler/Dodge chrome alloy rims where the chrome separates in sheets making them more deadly than razor blades. I came close more than a few times of chopping my fingers off with that fun. Two piece lugnuts have been around for decades and have always been a problem, especially in the rust belts. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WKelley Posted July 6, 2023 Share Posted July 6, 2023 Fun fact: Finally got me hubcaps and needed the special lugs with the large waist. Lucky for me I'm in Canada, my only choice was Dorman and for $10ea. I needed 20. Yeah.... I won't be running these in the winter and I plan on soaking them in oil all winter, that should help with the rust inside the shell, probably nothing can be done about the outer shell rusting. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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