Went in to Discount tires recently to get rotation balance '14 F150 Lariat, 20 inch rims. They called me over to show me lug nuts that the heads had rounded off. Said this is a common problem with Ford trucks and there are even pending law suits.
Had to pay to replace nuts which roasted mine.
Anyone have this happen to yours?

Funny you mention this. I got the 17 Expedition back from the Ford dealer yesterday after an oil change and tire rotation. The tech noted on the vehicle health report that the lug nuts were all rounded when it came in. I looked and he's right.

My service advisor looked at it and said it's a common problem and Ford is crazy for putting an aluminum casing on the lug nuts. Then another service advisor I know walked by and said the exact same thing separately. They're going to talk to the head manager Monday and see what he wants to do about it. All service and tire rotations have been done at a Ford dealer so no one else has touched the lug nuts.

Heard they will tell you "sucks for you" it will cost you to replace unless under new car initial warranty.
Google this and be amazed how its wide spread and Ford is silent about it. Lugs swell with heat and mileage due to plastic underlayment

Don't think it's just ford.

Had the same thing happen on my 2015 F150 at Discount Tire. They replaced with aftermarket set for free....

03_Aggie said:

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Don't think it's just ford.

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Everyone is doing it.

Discount Tire told me the same thing. They reco'd buying some on amazon. '17 F150

****in' rounded off because the dip sheets only have about 3 sockets to pick from and they put anything on the impact that will fit over the lug.

They (along with gm and whatever chrysler is called this week) have been using the same crap lug nuts since the '80's.

This same thing happened to my son's Mustang a couple weeks ago. We went to O'riley's and got a complete set of had chromed steel lugnuts and locks for $35.

BrazosDog02 said:

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****in' rounded off because the dip sheets only have about 3 sockets to pick from and they put anything on the impact that will fit over the lug.

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I do think it's a preemptive move on their part. When they round them off they end up having to pay to fix it. I talked to a buddy that works there and they were buying a new wheel for a customer because they rounded one off and the only way they could get it off was to heat it up. The heat ruined the finish on the wheel.

I can confirm the factory lugs are hot garbage. Poor construction, and well known. Had a flat in my wifes expy and was stranded due to the lug nuts. Factory wrench in the truck rounded them off. It was only 100 degrees out with nothing but concrete around me, so no big deal. Dont wait, replace them and never look back.

I just finished off the lug casing on a '14 F150 last weekend. Wal-Mart (I know, never again) wouldn't change the tire because the lugs were too tight. Took it home, breaker bar and cheat pole did the trick.

After the loud pop of the lug, the bar went flying and the outer casing of the lug came popping out. It's just a cheap thin metal layer that can be easily torn off with a tight fight. I am replacing all lugs this weekend with a different option.

lug nuts on Wranglers are known for the aluminum casing just ripping off. be fortunate yours are just rounded.

Maybe a stupid question, but are lug nuts universal? i.e., I could buy 45 of them and replace on 2 different cars by 2 different manufacturers? TIA

~egon

Thread patterns and lengths can vary... some use studs instead nuts.

In addition to thread pattern and length, you need to make sure the lugs have the proper seat for the wheel.

Most are a conical 60 degree seat, but not uncommon for Toyota wheels to use a shank seat. If a lolpoor w/ steel wheels & hubcaps, the lugs may be what secure the hubcaps to wheel.

I had to replace the ones in my wife's expedition because they were starting to round off and places were refusing to do the rotation and get blamed for ruining some of them.

I ordered a set of chrome plated steel ones off the Internet. Not cheap, but problem solved for years to come.

The ones on my '13 F150 are doing the same thing. I think it's time to order a full set from Gorilla that includes a lock nut.

Picard said:

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Funny you mention this. I got the 17 Expedition back from the Ford dealer yesterday after an oil change and tire rotation. The tech noted on the vehicle health report that the lug nuts were all rounded when it came in. I looked and he's right.

My service advisor looked at it and said it's a common problem and Ford is crazy for putting an aluminum casing on the lug nuts. Then another service advisor I know walked by and said the exact same thing separately. They're going to talk to the head manager Monday and see what he wants to do about it. All service and tire rotations have been done at a Ford dealer so no one else has touched the lug nuts.

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Update: The Ford dealer replaced all of the lug nuts. First they told me it would be covered under the factory warranty when I brought it in. Then while they were swapping them out they told me that Ford wouldn't warranty them. I said too bad for the dealership. Then they said the dealership would just eat the cost. Then when it was ready the cashier handed me a bill for just over $200. I told the cashier to tell the service advisor to go pound sand. Finally the cashier told me the dealership would cover it and she zeroed out the paperwork.

I left feeling like a victorious arse all because someone at Ford thought it would be a good idea to screw up a tried and true steel lug nut design.

Double post

Toyota's aren't real good either... the old dodge (2002 - 2010ish 1500s that were 7/8" and had the crappy chrome covers on them broke all the time. Luckily the nut itself was like a 19-20mm and still easiy to remove. The previous version dodge 1500s (<2002) had the crappiest lug nuts in the history of mankind... well, at least from my personal experience. Those aluminum covers always broke off and they were a 19mm to begin with, making it really hard to deal with after the cover was off.

I helped a guy with a 2016/17 Tundra a few months back and was only able to break 4 lug nuts loose before literally breaking the factory tool. It snapped at the socket head... luckily I had a 4 way and we found a cheater bar for the last one. I have pulled some bad lug nuts back in the day but that crappy factory tool and those lug nuts might have been the worst. I'm not a very small guy either.

Edited because my phone apparently hates dodge and autocorrects it every time.

~$40 and it's done.

~$2 each.

Purchased new lug nuts and wheel locks. Came in yesterday. Will try to install this weekend.

I just dealt with this issue this weekend on my 2018 F150. Wife took my truck into town and did me a favor getting my oil changed and tires rotated. The garage we used wouldn't touch the wheels because they found evidence the lugs were rounded on one wheel (I had a flat fixed a few weeks ago and the local tire shop I used seems to have done a number on a few of the lugs).

I bought some Gorilla lugs online and changed them out yesterday. We did a post-mortem on one of the OEM lugs and sure enough, the soft aluminum casing peels right off. Three of the four wheels' lug nuts were ok but the fourth was a mess. I'm really glad I caught the problem when I did and changed them all out.

These are the lug nuts I bought.

I'd recommend replacing them ASAP if you haven't already.

The OE lugs on my '16 Mustang were like this.

A 21mm was too small and a 22mm was too big. None of the fractions were any closer.

TexasRebel said:

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The OE lugs on my '16 Mustang were like this.

A 21mm was too small and a 22mm was too big. None of the fractions were any closer.

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https://www.amazon.com/21MM-21-5MM-Dual-Side-Socket-Remover/dp/B00EARCPZC

Discount Tire strikes again!

Tell them boys to use 21mm and they won't ruin em.

http://www.cjponyparts.com/gorilla-lug-nut-kit-factory-style-bulge-black-chrome-2015-2019/p/WHLLN20/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiZS18f-P5AIVlBx9Ch1MpwMpEAQYAiABEgIckPD_BwE

Cassius said:

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Discount Tire strikes again!

Tell them boys to use 21mm and they won't ruin em.

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Someone didn't read the thread