At least five Fusions were found to have all five studs on a steel wheel cracked.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is intensifying its investigation of Ford Fusion sedans because of a growing number of complaints about wheels falling off. The upgrade to an engineering analysis from a preliminary evaluation that was opened in January came because the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) wants to know the root cause for alleged wheel stud fractures on more than 317,000 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan mid-size cars. Such an upgrade can lead to a recall being forced on an automaker.
Since the root cause is thus far officially unknown, and Ford’s investigation is ongoing, a recall if it comes could include more model years than the one that spawned the inquiry. Fusion is – and has been Ford’s best selling car – meaning more than one million vehicles could be affected, since it’s selling at roughly 200,000 units annually. It could include the Lincoln MKZ and even in theory the Mazda6. As it is 2009-2011 Ford Lincoln and Mercury models total almost 600,000 units.
ODI said in a public filing that it is aware of 29 complaints to date related to the alleged defect. In total, ODI has 4 reported wheel separation incidents related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles.
In a boilerplate statement Ford Motor said: “We will fully cooperate with the government as they review this matter.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
