2017 Ford Escape WHEELS
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
ROTATING TIRES FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. SOME OF THE LUG NUTS DEFORMED AND WONT ACCEPT A WRENCH . THEY ARE ALL DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. AND ALL OF THEM GET STUCK IN THE SOCKET AND ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE SOCKET WRENCH. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE TIRES. THE PICTURE SHOWS THE DEFORMED LUG NUT. IT WAS DEFORMED BY SIMPLY REMOVING THE NUT WITH GOOD FITTING HIGH QUALITY TOOLS. THE LUG NUTS DO NOT EVEN FIT THE WRENCH THAT IS PROVIDED IN THE CAR FOR CHANGING FLATS . IT WILL TAKE SPECIAL TOOLS TO REMOVE ALL THE LUG NUTS. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT ACCEPTABLE . IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. LUCKILY WAS BEING DONE AT HOME AND NOT LEAVING ANYONE STRANDED. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HELP OTHER THAN TOW THE WHOLE VEHICLE FOR A SIMPLE FLAT TIRE, AT GREAT EXPENSE. AND IT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO BE TOWED. IT MAY NEED TO BE PULLED ONTO A FLATBED TYPE OF TOW TRUCK AND BE CARRIED INSTEAD OF TOWED IN THE USUAL MANNER.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while having routine maintenance at the local dealer, he was informed that the lug nuts were swollen, and all the lug nuts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000. The VIN was not available.
2-piece "laminated" lug nuts (steel nut covered by sheet metal trim) have failed and are a safety hazard since they are difficult or impossible to remove and replace. This is a design defect and affects multiple Ford vehicle models and years.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while having the tires rotated at an independent mechanic, she was informed that the lug nuts were difficult to remove. The mechanic broke the lug nuts and replaced them. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the driver’s side run-flat tire loss air. As the contact pulled over and attempted to change the tire, he discovered that the lug nuts were deformed and could not be removed with the lug wrench. The contact's wife called the manufacturer however, the manufacturer offered no assistance. Two fellow motorists were able to assist the contact and the tire was replaced. The contact had the lug nuts replaced. The contact wrote a letter to the manufacturer however, there was no response from the manufacturer. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The lugnuts on my Escape are now swollen and misshapened through no fault of mine. I have been informed of this defect during last 2 service visits. Dealer did not rotate tires on last service because of this problem. This is a safety issue since lugnuts hold wheel and tire onto car. The expense to replace should not be absorbed by owner of vehicle, but rather by the manufacturer.
THE LUG WRENCH THAT FORD PROVIDED ME WITH THE PURCHASE OF MY 2017 FORD ESCAPE DOES NOT FIT THE TIRE LUGS. I HAD A BLOW OUT ON A HIGHWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE WITH THE LUG WRENCH. WE HAD TO USE A SOCKET AND POUND THE SOCKET UNTO THE LUG. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY BASICALLY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I STILL AM UNABLE TO CHANGE A TIRE ON THIS VEHICLE. I ASKED FORD TO REPLACE HE LUGS WITH ONES THAT WOULD FIT MY LUG WRENCH. THANKS FOR AY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE.
SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS VIA THE SITE. I EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE AND WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE IT MYSELF DUE TO THE FACTORY PROVIDED LUG WRENCH UNABLE TO SECURING FASTEN TO THE LUG NUTS. IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TOW DRIVER AND TIRE STORE, IT IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE LUG NUT COVERS PREVENT THE LUG WRENCH FROM WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER CONTACTING MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME I COULD BUY A "KIT" TO RESOLVE. I ALSO CONTACT FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TOWING CHARGES AND HAVE THE "KIT" INSTALLED AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. FORD ATTRIBUTES THIS ISSUE TO SWOLLEN LUG NUTS AND CONSIDERS THE ISSUE A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM SINCE MY VEHICLE'S WARRANTY IS EXPIRED, I WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TOWING AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE "KIT" INSTALLATION MYSELF. IT BEARS TO NOTE, I DISCOVERED THE FLAT TIRE IN MY GARAGE AFTER IT SITTING OVERNIGHT. SO I DO NOT SEE HOW THE LUG NUTS WERE SUBJECT TO SWELLING SINCE THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO BONDY'S FORD LINCOLN (3615 ROSS CLARK CIR, DOTHAN, AL 36303) FOR AN OIL CHANGE, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE LUG NUTS ON THE FOUR WHEELS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SWELLING. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND THE LUG NUTS WERE REPLACED WITHOUT APPROVAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED AN EMAIL WHICH STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF THE LUG NUTS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE LUG NUTS AND THAT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE LUG NUTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
DURING THE ANNUAL MAINE STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION, THE 2017 FORD ESCAPE SE FAILED DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE WAS IN RELATION TO BAD REAR LATERAL LINKS LEFT AND RIGHT REAR KNUCKLE AND HUB ASSEMBLY BUSHINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN THE THREE-YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY BUT WAS 321 MILES OVER THE 36,000 MILEAGE LIMIT. WHEN AN APPOINTMENT WAS BEING MADE FOR THE $1,900 REPAIR, I WAS ADVISED BY A FORD SERVICE ASSOCIATE THAT THE ASSEMBLIES WERE BACK-ORDERED TO AT LEAST THE END OF AUGUST (45 DAYS). SEEMS THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS PART.
12/6/19 VEHICLE HAS A TIRE GO FLAT ON THE ROAD. USING THE FACTORY WRENCH TO REMOVE THE LUG NUTS DISCOVERED THE FACTORY WRENCH DOES NOT FIT THE LUG NUTS TWO ROAD SERVICE PEOPLE LATER CAR HAS TO BE TOWED FOR A FLAT. TO LUCAS FORD BURLINGTON NJ. SERVICE WRITER ADVISOR DISCUSS THE ISSUE AND INFORMED ME THAT THE LUG NUTS SWELL UP AND YOU UNABLE TO REMOVE THEM THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH FORD AND THEY ARE BLOWING THIS UNDER THE RUG. THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THIS A MAINT ISSUE . NOT EXACTLY THIS IS PRODUCT ISSUE AND A CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO ADDRESSED ASAP. LUG NUTS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO SWELL UP FROM WATER, TO THE POINT YOU ARE UNABLE TO REMOVE THE LUG NUTS. TWO ROAD SERVICES PEOPLE AND ONE WRECKER LATER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR WHICH THEY ARE CUTTING OFF THE LUG NUTS
THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE LUG NUTS.WAS TOLD BY FORD SALES AFTER 50,000 MILE SERVICE, THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE LUG NUTS (AT MY EXPENSE) AS THEY WERE SWELLING AND MIGHT NOT BE ALE TO REMOVE THE TIRE. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FIRST FILED IN 2017 AND A JUDGE THREW IT OUT IN JAN OF THIS YEAR. THIS PROBLEM IS SERIOUS, IF YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE WITH THE SWOLLEN LUG NUTS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE TIRE. PLEASE OPEN THIS INVESTIGATION AS IT SEEMS IT IS NOT ONLY FORD BUT OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL.
ON MARCH 3, 2018, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND HAD JUST TURNED OFF OF THE INTERSTATE. SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT VEERED OFF OF THE ROAD INTO THE DITCH. THE TIRE HAD COME OFF OF THE CAR AND THE RIM HAD TOTALLY SPLIT INTO TWO PARTS - FRONT AND BACK. HER FRIEND'S HUSBAND PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON AND SHE DROVE IT HOME - APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES. WE TOOK THE RIM TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO INFORMED US IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE EDGE OF THE RIM HAD ABOUT A 1-2 INCH DENT IN IT CAUSED BY HITTING A POT HOLE. NONE OF THE DRIVERS (MY DAUGHTER, MY HUSBAND, OR MYSELF) OF THE CAR RECALL HITTING AN OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY LARGE POT HOLE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRE AND IT WAS NOT OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I REPORTED THE DAMAGE TO FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND RECEIVED A LEGAL CLAIM NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD GET SOMETHING IN THE MAIL WITHIN 15 BUSINESS DAYS. IT HAS NOW BEEN 18 DAYS AND I HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING. I CALLED THEM AGAIN YESTERDAY INFORMING THEM THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR. I AM ASKING FOR ALL FOUR RIMS TO BE REPLACED (I HAVE REPLACED THE DAMAGED ONE). IT ALSO RUINED THE BRAKE LINE AND DAMAGED THE STRUTS. IT COST $25 TO HAVE THE TIRE PUT BACK ON THE CAR AND BALANCING CHECKED. I BELIEVE SINCE THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THE RIM WAS FAULTY, THAT I SHOULD NOT BE OUT A PENNY IN REPAIRS.
TIRE LOW LIGHT CAME ON WHILE ON HIWAY IN NEVADA HI-WAY CAR STARTED TO GET A LITTLE ROUGH, PULL OVER TO SHOULDER TIRE WAS LOW RIGHT REAR STILL HAD SO AIR CALL AAA TO TOW TO TIRE SHOP . I WAS TOLD SND SHOWN THE INNER SIDE OF TIRE WAS BUBBLED AND COULDNT BE REPAIRED , TOOK TIRE TO TEAM FORD WHO REPLIED IT COULD BE FIXED IT OMLY BAD WHEN OUTER BLISTER .SERVICE MAN EXPLAINED IT COULDN'T BE FIXED.WHY WASNT THIS PRORATED OF WRITTEN UP FPR DEFECT BROUGHT A NEW TIRE BUT TOOK PICYURES OF BLISTER INSIDE TITRE WALL WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 3 ORIGINAL TIRE I BROUGHT THIS CALL NEW APRIL 2017 THE !ST OWNER PLEASE ADVISE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING, CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE SOUND COULD BE HEARD, BUT THE ORIGIN OF THE SOUND WAS UNDETERMINED. THE DEALER DECLINED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY PARTS, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.
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Quick Summary
The 2017 Ford Escape has 65 WHEELS complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.