Found your vid after just experiencing this on my son’s 2013 Fusion and now doing research. Was working on an oil change and tire rotation. I was puzzled when a 3/4 and 19 mm socket both were a very tight fit and a 13/16 and 20 mm were super loose. Anyways, I managed to get them all off with destroying a few. I had used the identical procedure to pound the socket onto the lug nut with a hammer then hammer the lug out of the socket with a screw driver and hammer. Went to a local auto parts store to replace them. Dorman makes an Oem replacement but it looked to be of similar design so we said nope to that and opted for some aftermarket chrome acorn style lugs. Decided to replace them all and be done with it. All 20 were about $40. They look oem, just a few mm longer. Following that I checked my daughters 2017 Escape. Same type of lugs . A quick socket test fit, four out of 20 lugs were a tight fit with a 3/4 / 19 mm socket. Looks like I’ll have to replace those as well. GM had this issue for years due to letting bean counters make design decisions... Way to go Ford, looks like you hired the same idiots!
I have the same problem with our Ford Fusion. The local Ford Dealer could not rotate the tires, and they said that I must pay to have all 20 lug nuts replaced with an after-market lug nut. According the the service department the lug nuts "swell" and become too tight to loosen with ordinary lug wrenches. Even with the caps removed, it will take a special breaker bar to loosen the lug nuts. Disgusted with Ford. They should at least advise owners of the problem so they are not stranded with a simple flat tire.
Ford Service is pathetic. They really told you "the lug nuts "swell" and become too tight to loosen with ordinary lug wrenches" as if it's NOT Ford's fault.
Didn't know this was a problem until today when I went to have my tires rotated and the tech rounded a lug and couldn't get it off. Not sure if he knew this method but didn't want to expose himself to additional liability. He told me about the expanded lugs, but I didn't believe him until searching on youtube. Thanks for the vid as I was successful in getting my lug off using this method.
Have a 2017 Escape. Blew a tire. This saved me after a couple of hours of frustration, and a trip to O'Reilly's and Harbor Freight trying to find "grabber" sockets. Next time I have my car serviced I'm changing the remaining factory lug nuts. Will do the same with my 2015 Escape.
Thank you soooo much!!!! I was so frustrated with this problem car iron wouldn’t go on nut and I purchased a 20&21mm socket and they just spun😩but I used a 19mm socket and hammered it on and BOOM the nut came right off! Thanks again for this video!!!!!!
Just wanted to drop a quick Thanks in here. Picked up a 19mm deep socket, hammered it over each swelled lug nut like you recommended and was able to replace all 20. I still can't believe Ford has done nothing to make this right...shameful
This has happened with me with my 2009 Ford Focus, along with my wife's 2008 Ford Focus. Swollen lugs in which the factory tire jack will not fit. However, on my wife's 2008, the car doesn't even come with a jack to lift the car, a spare tire, nor an iron to take the lugs off, just a small compressor for inflating the tire. I did however purchase a 2 ft breaker bar, along with sockets to fit the swollen lugs. Using a 19 mm socket, you will need to physically hammer the socket onto the lug. Inevitably, you will destroy the lugs because of this aluminum casing that is on it. You can buy replacement lugs for under $40 and replace them your self before you find yourself stranded on the road or a parking lot.
Same problem, my brakes and rotors need changed yesterday. Just got from out there, went from 19mm to 20mm, and the 20mm just spins. My caps have a plastic top on top of the metallic cover. Im stuck. 2013 Ford Fusion SE
For what it's worth, this is an issue with my 2017 Ford Expedition Limited too. Went to do a simple rear brake job and couldn't get the lug nuts off. I thought I was going crazy until the Ford parts person told me about the problem. This is pretty ridiculous and is something that never happened on my older Expedition. I'm going to get some aftermarket ones after I get these off.
my friend has the exact same vehicle but its a 2014 year model. I had to do the brakes on it and was somewhat getting frustrated with the lug nuts because my socket either wasn't fitting on the lug nut or would be too big for the socket to go in. but after fighting with it for quite of bit i was able to get them off and he decided to get regular lug nuts to put on there. But that is the crazy thing I have ever seen. Now he is having another issue where at the filler neck, it would sound like it is farting. Have you ever come by that with your vehicle?
Lugs nuts will eventually swell on any vehicle. I have a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I live in the Northeast United States. This winter 2019 I needed to change out all but 2 of 20. I believe change of weather and humidity can make the lugs swell then more stable weather conditions in other places. The socket for my lugs is size 22mm using a 6 point. A few of the swelled lugs, the socket needed to be hammered on into place to get on to remove. I placed a small amount of lube/grease on the lugs to help get fully into place. If you have your tires rotated occasionally the establishment doing the work should mention of the swell issue. My facility doing the my rotation stated to me to get the lugs replaced ASAP or I will have trouble changing a flat tire. I purchased 20 comparable lug nuts on eBay although Amazon would be fine also. I use a 24 inch ratchet driver to get better force and leverage on the nuts. When placing the new ones on don't use gorilla force to tighten.
2015 F150 lug nut removal: Cursing Ford as I worked, I used a 21mm 12 point deep socket (6 point may also work) and hammered it on at least half way. Removed with breaker bar. Mount socket in vise and tap out stuck lug nut with the biggest punch possible to prevent it punching through and getting stuck. This makes the swollen lug nuts unusable. I replaced with gorilla brand lug nuts which require a 13/16 lug wrench. Torque to 150 ft/lb.
Hey thanks for this video. I really thought I was going absolutely crazy! I mean plumb outta my mind. At first I thought Ford didnt want me to remove any wheels, I bought two lug wrenches only to face the same problem ( I returned them with refund no problems) Man. What a shitty thing for Ford/Lincoln to do to owner. They have some stinking nerve not to own this problem, do the dam right thing and put out a major recall And by the way, I never get any real responses to this but i'm going to put in out there anyway. All the auto manufacturers who used those shitty dumb ass plastic headlights that every dam one of them frosted over? That should have been a MAJOR!! recall. Anything with headlight distortion is a major safety issue, but that was left to me, the customer to correct their lousy crappy work. Again..thanks for this video. i'm contacting the law firm tmrw. I had to lay out time, money, expenses, gas for their mistakes.
Unfortunately, this is not a plastic issue. This is the chrome coming loose underneath. My car has only been serviced by ford dealership and I have the problem with my 2015 F150 Supercrew $58K Truck. With the number of people with this issue for knows, on many different models, it should issue a recall. This is all so happening in the south with ROAD SALT.
I have a same problem with Ford for my 2015 Mustang. They haven't receive any recall for there lug nuts. I just found out from America's Tire. They almost couldn't get the lug nuts off of my car. I called my dealership about it and complain about it and see if I can get a refund for the replacement of my lug nuts. What they told me was there is no recall and they will not refund me for the new sets. You have to buy a whole new sets. I have to purchase a set from the tire shop. Don't buy anything from them and spend so much money. You can find it at a tire shop for less than what Ford is selling for.
It is important to note that Amazon sells 20 lug nuts for under $20, yet Ford dealerships charge $240. Also, how can all lug nuts to swell at the same time? Do you think the dealers take advantage of this situation, exercise unethical behavior, and rip off the car owners?
I replaced with 12mm-1.5 thread lug nuts. They use the 19mm (3/4) socket. There is a place in the owners manual where you can check the size/thread. Also, the ones I purchased told me how many rotations at minimum were needed. The wheelguard 1957 brand from amazon fit well, but shows some rust after a year.
Same here on 2014 Ford cmax. Had to destroy some lug nuts in order to change tire. This is not right! Everybody should be able to change a wheel when needed.
2014 ford fusion lug nuts bad. Its bad enough to be on my 4th clutch pack but now I find out they can't do lug nuts? They can't make windshield reservoir caps either crumbled away after 3 years and they wonder why people by foreign.
Your lug nuts did not swell. The last tech who install them use the wrong size socket. th-cam.com/video/5IfCrHQna_I/w-d-xo.html I found this out when I took my 2016 F150 to Discout Tire for them to replace 4 tires. The very next day I change rotors to do a review and I could not get the right front lugs off. My truck had 52k miles. I had rotated my own tires a few times and install brakes on my truck. The lugs were fine. Now if you still believe they swelled from moisture. Why did 12 lugs on the right side only swell?
This is why I have NEVER bought an American car!! I borrowed my sister’s MKX and the front driver’s side tire went flat. No problem, I’m a capable guy, I’ll put in the spare. NOPE!!! Nothing worked. 2 hours waiting for a AAA guy to show up at night - never again. You can them.
2016 focus rs, changed the wheels many times but used aftermarket lug nuts. Today i decided to throw these ones on, since they looked pretty and they're factory.... yeah fucking bad idea... changed one wheel, started to torque the lug nuts to spec and felt my torque wrench slip on one of them, because it was not fully on there, didn't even realize until it was too late. Will try to just hammer the socket on tomorrow, i hope it works... of all the thing i thought could go wrong... this was not one of them. Ah yeah, a warning to everyone changing stuff on a rs... fomoco pinches bolts, BE VERY CAREFUL to not crossthread stuff, especially the pedalbox
Same issue with my 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid SE - 17" wheels. Here is a URL on Amazon where they are available currently for $24. www.amazon.com/dp/B00H1IBKIK/?coliid=ISW2NJNFU246L&colid=QYF2I8W7PWOZ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it These seem to be good quality, with good reviews. Shame of Ford for ever using these. As I understand it, Ford may have been forced to use these as the Federal EPA had some regulation regarding environmental pollution if a standard chroming process would be used.
The front left tire on my Ford Fusion went flat on the way home from Target today (Saturday, in the middle of the long Memorial Day weekend). It's the same one that my local Ford dealer fixed not more than 9 months ago. They plugged a slow-leaking nail hole and (allegedly) replaced the lugs because they had swelled. (That was when I discovered that we lived in an universe when lug nuts could actually swell under use, leaving the owners of their disabled vehicles stranded on the side of the road, all so that multi-billion-dollar corporations could add a couple more pennies to their bottom-line.) So imagine my surprise when I pulled into a convenient store parking lot little ways down the road and tried to replace the flat with the spare, and realized I could only get the wrench on three of the five nuts. I was about a mile from home, so I took my chances and drove back on a flat, making a huge ruckus all the way, and found this video without which I'd be up creek...AGAIN! I took a 3/4-in socket and managed to get it on the two swollen nuts securely enough that I could turn them. Thank you for the video and f*ck Ford and the dealership. Last time I buy Ford.
Found your vid after just experiencing this on my son’s 2013 Fusion and now doing research. Was working on an oil change and tire rotation. I was puzzled when a 3/4 and 19 mm socket both were a very tight fit and a 13/16 and 20 mm were super loose. Anyways, I managed to get them all off with destroying a few. I had used the identical procedure to pound the socket onto the lug nut with a hammer then hammer the lug out of the socket with a screw driver and hammer.
Went to a local auto parts store to replace them. Dorman makes an Oem replacement but it looked to be of similar design so we said nope to that and opted for some aftermarket chrome acorn style lugs. Decided to replace them all and be done with it. All 20 were about $40. They look oem, just a few mm longer.
Following that I checked my daughters 2017 Escape. Same type of lugs . A quick socket test fit, four out of 20 lugs were a tight fit with a 3/4 / 19 mm socket. Looks like I’ll have to replace those as well. GM had this issue for years due to letting bean counters make design decisions... Way to go Ford, looks like you hired the same idiots!
I have the same problem with our Ford Fusion. The local Ford Dealer could not rotate the tires, and they said that I must pay to have all 20 lug nuts replaced with an after-market lug nut. According the the service department the lug nuts "swell" and become too tight to loosen with ordinary lug wrenches. Even with the caps removed, it will take a special breaker bar to loosen the lug nuts. Disgusted with Ford. They should at least advise owners of the problem so they are not stranded with a simple flat tire.
Ford Service is pathetic. They really told you "the lug nuts "swell" and become too tight to loosen with ordinary lug wrenches" as if it's NOT Ford's fault.
Didn't know this was a problem until today when I went to have my tires rotated and the tech rounded a lug and couldn't get it off. Not sure if he knew this method but didn't want to expose himself to additional liability. He told me about the expanded lugs, but I didn't believe him until searching on youtube. Thanks for the vid as I was successful in getting my lug off using this method.
Have a 2017 Escape. Blew a tire. This saved me after a couple of hours of frustration, and a trip to O'Reilly's and Harbor Freight trying to find "grabber" sockets. Next time I have my car serviced I'm changing the remaining factory lug nuts. Will do the same with my 2015 Escape.
Thank you soooo much!!!! I was so frustrated with this problem car iron wouldn’t go on nut and I purchased a 20&21mm socket and they just spun😩but I used a 19mm socket and hammered it on and BOOM the nut came right off! Thanks again for this video!!!!!!
Just wanted to drop a quick Thanks in here. Picked up a 19mm deep socket, hammered it over each swelled lug nut like you recommended and was able to replace all 20. I still can't believe Ford has done nothing to make this right...shameful
I like the rims. What size are they and can you send me a link where you got those bad boys🙏
This has happened with me with my 2009 Ford Focus, along with my wife's 2008 Ford Focus. Swollen lugs in which the factory tire jack will not fit. However, on my wife's 2008, the car doesn't even come with a jack to lift the car, a spare tire, nor an iron to take the lugs off, just a small compressor for inflating the tire. I did however purchase a 2 ft breaker bar, along with sockets to fit the swollen lugs. Using a 19 mm socket, you will need to physically hammer the socket onto the lug. Inevitably, you will destroy the lugs because of this aluminum casing that is on it. You can buy replacement lugs for under $40 and replace them your self before you find yourself stranded on the road or a parking lot.
Same problem, my brakes and rotors need changed yesterday. Just got from out there, went from 19mm to 20mm, and the 20mm just spins. My caps have a plastic top on top of the metallic cover. Im stuck. 2013 Ford Fusion SE
For what it's worth, this is an issue with my 2017 Ford Expedition Limited too. Went to do a simple rear brake job and couldn't get the lug nuts off. I thought I was going crazy until the Ford parts person told me about the problem. This is pretty ridiculous and is something that never happened on my older Expedition. I'm going to get some aftermarket ones after I get these off.
my friend has the exact same vehicle but its a 2014 year model. I had to do the brakes on it and was somewhat getting frustrated with the lug nuts because my socket either wasn't fitting on the lug nut or would be too big for the socket to go in. but after fighting with it for quite of bit i was able to get them off and he decided to get regular lug nuts to put on there. But that is the crazy thing I have ever seen. Now he is having another issue where at the filler neck, it would sound like it is farting. Have you ever come by that with your vehicle?
Thank you SO MUCH!!! I had this problem today...had no idea how to fix. Glad you made this...so I can fix mine.
Lugs nuts will eventually swell on any vehicle. I have a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I live in the Northeast United States. This winter 2019 I needed to change out all but 2 of 20. I believe change of weather and humidity can make the lugs swell then more stable weather conditions in other places. The socket for my lugs is size 22mm using a 6 point. A few of the swelled lugs, the socket needed to be hammered on into place to get on to remove. I placed a small amount of lube/grease on the lugs to help get fully into place. If you have your tires rotated occasionally the establishment doing the work should mention of the swell issue. My facility doing the my rotation stated to me to get the lugs replaced ASAP or I will have trouble changing a flat tire. I purchased 20 comparable lug nuts on eBay although Amazon would be fine also. I use a 24 inch ratchet driver to get better force and leverage on the nuts. When placing the new ones on don't use gorilla force to tighten.
Just finished replacing mine. Your video definitely helped me out!
2015 F150 lug nut removal: Cursing Ford as I worked, I used a 21mm 12 point deep socket (6 point may also work) and hammered it on at least half way. Removed with breaker bar. Mount socket in vise and tap out stuck lug nut with the biggest punch possible to prevent it punching through and getting stuck. This makes the swollen lug nuts unusable. I replaced with gorilla brand lug nuts which require a 13/16 lug wrench. Torque to 150 ft/lb.
Thanks for sharing. Definitely helped me tackle my replacements!
Thanks for the video. This happened to me yesterday. I've never seen such a thing. This is absurd. Everyone sign up for the class action suit.
I agree. Here is the website www.hbsslaw.com/cases/ford-lug-nut-defect
Hey thanks for this video. I really thought I was going absolutely crazy! I mean plumb outta my mind. At first I thought Ford didnt want me to remove any wheels, I bought two lug wrenches only to face the same problem ( I returned them with refund no problems) Man. What a shitty thing for Ford/Lincoln to do to owner.
They have some stinking nerve not to own this problem, do the dam right thing and put out a major recall And by the way, I never get any real responses to this but i'm going to put in out there anyway. All the auto manufacturers who used those shitty dumb ass plastic headlights that every dam one of them frosted over? That should have been a MAJOR!! recall. Anything with headlight distortion is a major safety issue, but that was left to me, the customer to correct their lousy crappy work. Again..thanks for this video. i'm contacting the law firm tmrw. I had to lay out time, money, expenses, gas for their mistakes.
Unfortunately, this is not a plastic issue. This is the chrome coming loose underneath. My car has only been serviced by ford dealership and I have the problem with my 2015 F150 Supercrew $58K Truck. With the number of people with this issue for knows, on many different models, it should issue a recall. This is all so happening in the south with ROAD SALT.
I have a same problem with Ford for my 2015 Mustang. They haven't receive any recall for there lug nuts. I just found out from America's Tire. They almost couldn't get the lug nuts off of my car. I called my dealership about it and complain about it and see if I can get a refund for the replacement of my lug nuts. What they told me was there is no recall and they will not refund me for the new sets. You have to buy a whole new sets.
I have to purchase a set from the tire shop. Don't buy anything from them and spend so much money. You can find it at a tire shop for less than what Ford is selling for.
It is important to note that Amazon sells 20 lug nuts for under $20, yet Ford dealerships charge $240. Also, how can all lug nuts to swell at the same time? Do you think the dealers take advantage of this situation, exercise unethical behavior, and rip off the car owners?
What size of lug socket it call for??
I replaced with 12mm-1.5 thread lug nuts. They use the 19mm (3/4) socket. There is a place in the owners manual where you can check the size/thread. Also, the ones I purchased told me how many rotations at minimum were needed. The wheelguard 1957 brand from amazon fit well, but shows some rust after a year.
Same here on 2014 Ford cmax. Had to destroy some lug nuts in order to change tire. This is not right! Everybody should be able to change a wheel when needed.
thank you, same issue on my 2013 escape, your solution worked
same problem on 15 Escape......just replace them before it's too late
2014 ford fusion lug nuts bad. Its bad enough to be on my 4th clutch pack but now I find out they can't do lug nuts? They can't make windshield reservoir caps either crumbled away after 3 years and they wonder why people by foreign.
Sorry it's a ford focus. I've called worse though
thanks, the decorative caps are a totally stupid feature. i'm surprised auto manufactures used these style lug nuts.
Just tossing it out there... You sound like Matt Damon and it makes me smile.
GM has this problem also had to replace 3 of them on my SUV.
Your lug nuts did not swell. The last tech who install them use the wrong size socket. th-cam.com/video/5IfCrHQna_I/w-d-xo.html I found this out when I took my 2016 F150 to Discout Tire for them to replace 4 tires. The very next day I change rotors to do a review and I could not get the right front lugs off.
My truck had 52k miles. I had rotated my own tires a few times and install brakes on my truck. The lugs were fine. Now if you still believe they swelled from moisture. Why did 12 lugs on the right side only swell?
Thanks! Worked well for me!
This is why I have NEVER bought an American car!! I borrowed my sister’s MKX and the front driver’s side tire went flat. No problem, I’m a capable guy, I’ll put in the spare. NOPE!!! Nothing worked. 2 hours waiting for a AAA guy to show up at night - never again. You can them.
Same problem here
2016 focus rs, changed the wheels many times but used aftermarket lug nuts.
Today i decided to throw these ones on, since they looked pretty and they're factory.... yeah fucking bad idea... changed one wheel, started to torque the lug nuts to spec and felt my torque wrench slip on one of them, because it was not fully on there, didn't even realize until it was too late. Will try to just hammer the socket on tomorrow, i hope it works... of all the thing i thought could go wrong... this was not one of them.
Ah yeah, a warning to everyone changing stuff on a rs... fomoco pinches bolts, BE VERY CAREFUL to not crossthread stuff, especially the pedalbox
Anybody know the law firm I'm pissed this is dangerous if ur stuck on side of road just like me 😠😤😤 😤😤😤😠😠😠😠
Bobby Hernandez search for HBSS Law Ford lug nut. The HBSS law firm is handling it.
Worked for me too!!
Same issue with my 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid SE - 17" wheels. Here is a URL on Amazon where they are available currently for $24.
www.amazon.com/dp/B00H1IBKIK/?coliid=ISW2NJNFU246L&colid=QYF2I8W7PWOZ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
These seem to be good quality, with good reviews. Shame of Ford for ever using these. As I understand it, Ford may have been forced to use these as the Federal EPA had some regulation regarding environmental pollution if a standard chroming process would be used.
To wordy get to the point next time
Go Tesla.
The front left tire on my Ford Fusion went flat on the way home from Target today (Saturday, in the middle of the long Memorial Day weekend). It's the same one that my local Ford dealer fixed not more than 9 months ago. They plugged a slow-leaking nail hole and (allegedly) replaced the lugs because they had swelled. (That was when I discovered that we lived in an universe when lug nuts could actually swell under use, leaving the owners of their disabled vehicles stranded on the side of the road, all so that multi-billion-dollar corporations could add a couple more pennies to their bottom-line.) So imagine my surprise when I pulled into a convenient store parking lot little ways down the road and tried to replace the flat with the spare, and realized I could only get the wrench on three of the five nuts. I was about a mile from home, so I took my chances and drove back on a flat, making a huge ruckus all the way, and found this video without which I'd be up creek...AGAIN! I took a 3/4-in socket and managed to get it on the two swollen nuts securely enough that I could turn them. Thank you for the video and f*ck Ford and the dealership. Last time I buy Ford.