The Swollen Lug Nuts Lawsuit Against Ford Has Been Dismissed

Most lug nuts are one piece of hardened steel, but Ford chose a design that puts an aluminum cap over a steel core. The cap is notorious for swelling and delaminating when it gets hot. It’s also a great place to trap moisture and encourage corrosion. The end result? A lug nut that’s either too big for a standard wrench or fused so tight you need a drill, welding torch, and 7 Hail Marys to remove it.

A 2017 class-action lawsuit accused Ford of cost-cutting when switching to the two-piece design. It also said the automaker is aware of the problems, but won’t honor its warranty by denying any lug nut related claims.

The case was recently dismissed because "the judge noted none of the plaintiffs presented their vehicles to Ford within the warranty periods." I’m no expert but if you're going to imply breach of warranty, make sure at least one of the plaintiffs was covered by a warranty that could be breached.

The dismissal is particularly frustrating because Ford isdenying claims to owners with valid warranties.

_”They charged $8 each, so $160 plus tax to replace all. Even though we have the "extended warranty" there is no coverage from Ford. The vehicle has never been in snow or ice, no salted roads.” – 2014 Escape owner in FL

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The Curious Case of Ford's Swollen Lug Nuts

Most lug nuts are one piece of hardened steel, but Ford chose a design that puts an aluminum cap over a steel core. The cap is notorious for swelling and delaminating when it gets hot, and it’s also a great place to trap moisture and promot