Wheel & Tire complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5 | 1% | — |
| 2017 | 9 | 1% | 57,000 miles |
| 2016 | 17 | 1% | 28,000 miles |
| 2015 | 12 | 1% | 31,000 miles |
| 2014 | 28 | 1% | 17,000 miles |
| 2013 | 20 | 1% | 31,000 miles |
| 2012 | 42 | 1% | 39,000 miles |
| 2011 | 9 | 8% | 42,000 miles |
| 2010 | 22 | 8% | 28,000 miles |
| 2009 | 34 | 15% | 28,000 miles |
| 2008 | 29 | 12% | 30,000 miles |
| 2007 | 29 | 7% | 23,000 miles |
| 2006 | 15 | 7% | 50,000 miles |
| 2005 | 28 | 6% | 28,000 miles |
| 2004 | 11 | 3% | 27,000 miles |
| 2003 | 32 | 3% | 33,000 miles |
| 2002 | 89 | 9% | 18,000 miles |
| 2001 | 96 | 5% | 30,000 miles |
| 2000 | 194 | 5% | 62,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
With a Flat Tire on the side of the road Wheel Lugs can not be removed with supplied wrench because the wheel lug nuts nave a soft metal cap that does not allow the supplied wrench fit the lugs after the tires have been rotated by dealer or any one because the lugs become distorted .
Ford owners have been plagued with the issue of poorly designed lug nuts that expand with age. My service center just informed me that most or all of my lug nuts need to be replaced, so I have authorized that to complete the service. I have read that the problem is caused partly because of improper tightening. When I purchased my Ford in 2018(a one year leftover) the Ford dealer had to resurface the rotors twice because of pulsation. I've since had oil changes done at another Ford dealer that supposedly included tire rotation, so it seems that Ford could be at fault for bad lug nuts and reinstalling them as well. I think that a recall is justified. What is odd is that this issue has been around for quite some time, but they are still selling the same part. How is that?
I got a flat tire and the lug nuts were swollen. I was stranded on the side of the road and had to leave the car in traffic on the shoulder. We had to wait a full day to get the proper tool (a special lug nut wrench) to remove the wheel. The wrench that came with the car and the one I had at home would not fit over the swollen lug nuts.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Control Contact Tour A/S Plus, Tire Size: 215/50/R15, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, an abnormal rattling sound was coming from the rear driver's side tire. The low tire pressure message appeared on the instrument panel. The rear driver's side tread had separated, causing the vehicle to swerve to the right. The contact struck her head on the driver's side window and sustained an injury to her head, left thumb, and neck. The contact had not sought medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the tire was replaced. The contact stated that the tire was a replacement tire. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The tire failure mileage was approximately 1,300. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
All of the lugs nut have swelled likely due to rust under the chrome caps and we can not get the lug wrench provided with the car onto any of the lugs nuts. A properly sized 19mm 4 way lug wrench would not fit either. This prevents us from being able to change a flat tire which could leave us stranded during my commute or on a vacation and left in an unsafe situation on the side.of the highway. This also prevents routine maintenance such as brake wear inspections and tire rotations from being completed. The car has not been taken to a dealer or service center since the issue was noticed but they would also have the same issue and would need to hammer a socket over the lug nut with excessive force. The car has a bad wheel bearing that needs to be replaced but can't since we can not remove the tire.
Two part lug nuts experience swelling over time and make removal of the lugs very difficult and may result in the lugs not being adequately tight when the wheel is put back on. The dealer confirmed that this is a known problem and when they repair this issue, they use an after market lug that is not a two part lug, and therefore doesn't have the swelling issue. I was not aware of this problem till my most recent annual inspection and when I expressed surprise, the dealer mechanic stated that even though Ford is well aware of this issue, Ford will not cover this item and its the owner's problem.
Cannot change my tires due to swollen lug nuts. Because of this my tires have not been able to be rotated and will need to be replaced because of too much wear. Several mechanics have had difficulty getting them off and on and have said that I need to purchase replacements because Ford lug nuts are notoriously bad. If I were to get a flat tire, I would be stranded.
The service technician at local authorized Ford dealership (Bill Alexander Ford) informed me that during the service today they were not able to rotate my tires because the aluminum lug-nuts had swollen to such an extent that they could not get a socket on the nuts. The technician advised me to purchase steel lug-nuts and then the dealership could break off the aluminum nuts and replace them with the new ones. Of course I am concerned that breaking off lug-nuts may damage the wheel. Several years ago I replaced several lug-nuts with locking nuts and found covering them with the correct sized socket was so difficult that I have been concerned ever since about whether I could remove a flat tire in case of an emergency. Now I am hesitant to drive the car in case I get a flat.
Related recalls (1)
Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear wheel hub retaining nuts can loosen and allow the left rear wheel and brake drum assembly to separate from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear wheel bearings and install a rear wheel retention cap to prevent left rear wheel separation. Owner notification began October 12, 2000.
NHTSA investigations
Rear wheel bearing
There is no summary currently available
Tire valve cracking
On October 14, 2008, odi opened pe08-060 to investigate allegations of cracked and leaking snap-in tire valves in model year (my) 2007 vehicles manufactured by Ford motor company.the valves were supplied to Ford by topseal auto-parts, a subsidiary of the shanghai baolong automotive corporation in china.valves made by topseal for aftermarket sale were the subject of two recent safety recalls by tech international…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Focus years have wheel & tire problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (194), 2001 (96), 2002 (89), 2012 (42) and 2009 (34) model years. Wheel & Tire complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Ford Focus wheel & tire problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 00V-303 (lugs/nuts/bolts/studs, Oct 12, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Focus wheel & tire problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 34,000 miles; 67% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (89 mentions), followed by the tread/belt (44).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.