2023 Ford Lightning, 4,000 miles - 5 out of 6 lug nuts and studs sheared off of the right front wheel!

[teeman1020]

A neighbor noticed that my right front wheel had 2 lug nuts missing.

Alarmed, I drove the truck to my Ford dealership for inspection. Upon arrival I discussed with the service advisor and he went to the right side to inspect. I was shocked when he returned and let me know that 5 of the 6 were missing! The studs had sheared off, not just missing lug nuts.

The dealership ordered a new right front hub and replaced. There was no damage to the wheel to indicate loose lug nuts, the studs just sheared off!

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[The Weatherman]

 

[Ricks Lightning]

Literally impossible to drive the heavy vehicle with only 1 lug nut. And you didn’t notice. Especially when making a turn.
have them replace the wheel as it should be out of tolerance with only 1 nut taking all the force.
Rick

 

[TaxmanHog]

Watching..

Did this dealership also do your most recent tire rotation?

WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4000 miles, that's coming out of the FACTORY!

 

[PA Lightning]

Watching..

Did this dealership also do your most recent tire rotation?

WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4000 miles, that's coming out of the FACTORY!

Or a vandal or someone that got interrupted while trying to steal wheels.,

When a shop failed to tighten lug nuts on a wrangler I used to own, I only made it a few miles before three studs snapped.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Or a vandal or someone that got interrupted while trying to steal wheels.,

When a shop failed to tighten lug nuts on a wrangler I used to own, I only made it a few miles before three studs snapped.

Yes, I'm hoping this isn't another one & done thread ..... I want to know more of the back story, and wheel services done, parked in a questionable neighborhood / work / commuter parking lot where theft and vandalism is common???????

 

[N87]

...sounds like a load.

 

[teeman1020]

Nothing ever touched on the truck since I bought it. Only 4,000 miles. Always parked either in my garage or in front of my house in a nice neighborhood. No indication of the lug nuts being loose.

I’ve read of the issue with some Ford vehicles with 2-piece lug nuts expanding when hot but my truck has not really been in a situation where it has been driven hard or for any distance. Mostly just around town.

it will be interesting to see what NHTSA has to say about it. I filed an action report with them today.

 

[Grumpy2]

I have a hard time thinking a front wheel would stay attached with only one lug bolt under normal driving conditions very long. The fact the wheel doesn't have distress indicates you have driven quietly around town

 

[Pioneer74]

Nothing ever touched on the truck since I bought it. Only 4,000 miles. Always parked either in my garage or in front of my house in a nice neighborhood. No indication of the lug nuts being loose.

I’ve read of the issue with some Ford vehicles with 2-piece lug nuts expanding when hot but my truck has not really been in a situation where it has been driven hard or for any distance. Mostly just around town.

it will be interesting to see what NHTSA has to say about it. I filed an action report with them today.

The expanding lug nuts would only prevent them from fitting into a socket or the lug wrench in the truck. It doesn't loosen them. And the swelling can takes years to affect them.

And the pre-delivery checklist at your dealer states that lug nut torque is to be checked. My first question to them would be to see if they in fact did it.

 

[Mike G]

The expanding lug nuts would only prevent them from fitting into a socket or the lug wrench in the truck. It doesn't loosen them. And the swelling can takes years to affect them.

And the pre-delivery checklist at your dealer states that lug nut torque is to be checked. My first question to them would be to see if they in fact did it.

You mean like checking the air pressures during PDI as well?

Yeah,...I'm sure they did all that.....

 

[Duke_239]

Nothing ever touched on the truck since I bought it. Only 4,000 miles. Always parked either in my garage or in front of my house in a nice neighborhood. No indication of the lug nuts being loose.

I’ve read of the issue with some Ford vehicles with 2-piece lug nuts expanding when hot but my truck has not really been in a situation where it has been driven hard or for any distance. Mostly just around town.

it will be interesting to see what NHTSA has to say about it. I filed an action report with them today.

No indication? That condition was visible to your neighbor. Lesson to others (you have already learned) do the "circle of safety" around your vehicle at least once in the morning.

 

[mrau]

The torque on our lug nuts is quite high at 150 ft lbs. No way they came loose if torqued properly.

Hopefully you have checked the torque on the rest of your wheels...... including the one the dealership just repaired !!

 

[21st Century Truck]

The torque on our lug nuts is quite high at 150 ft lbs. No way they came loose if torqued properly.

Hopefully you have checked the torque on the rest of your wheels...... including the one the dealership just repaired !!

With the now-gone Mach E and continuing with the Lightning, I carry around an old (REALLY old haha) Snap-On torque wrench precisely to torque wheel lug nuts to their high torque during wheel changes including after road mishaps. Carrying this old Snap-On torque wrench also allows me to check wheel lug torque after the dealership does some work on the vehicle.

 

[MaintGrl]

A neighbor noticed that my right front wheel had 2 lug nuts missing.

Alarmed, I drove the truck to my Ford dealership for inspection. Upon arrival I discussed with the service advisor and he went to the right side to inspect. I was shocked when he returned and let me know that 5 of the 6 were missing! The studs had sheared off, not just missing lug nuts.

The dealership ordered a new right front hub and replaced. There was no damage to the wheel to indicate loose lug nuts, the studs just sheared off!

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