The defect
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.
The remedy
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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Fusion | 2010, 2011 |
| Mercury Milan | 2010, 2011 |
Components: WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fusion | 2010 | 5,130 | 11 |
| Ford Fusion | 2011 | 2,794 | 7 |
| Mercury Milan | 2010 | 1,003 | 11 |
| Mercury Milan | 2011 | 192 | 7 |
Other wheels recalls in 2011
7 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the wheels; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 11V495000 11 Oct 2011 | JAYCO, INC. |
| 11V285000 10 Jun 2011 | PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 11V262000 28 Apr 2011 | VERMEER MANUFACTURING COMPANY |
| 11V238000 14 Apr 2011 | ALTEC ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS, LLC |
| 11V230000 5 Apr 2011 | PIERCE MANUFACTURING |
| 11V122000 17 Feb 2011 | AMERICAN HAULER |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011