Diagsheet

2014 Ford Fusion · symptom sheet

Wheel bearing, tires or wheels

  • 40owner reports
  • 45,000median miles
  • 2involved a crash

Newest report Apr 25, 2025 · checked Sep 9, 2026

40 of the 1,287 complaints on this car describe wheels.

Tick what matches of 40 reports

1
3
7
22

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the tires (29 reports) and the wheel (16 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the wheels covers the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

18V-167Mar 12, 2018
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S08.

NHTSA investigations into the wheels on the Fusion

EA11-009opened Jul 26, 2011
Wheels · model years 2010

Wheel mounting stud fracture. Closed jan 20, 2012, led to recall 11V-574.

NHTSA summary
To date, the agency is aware of 84 consumer complaints and 361 warranty claims related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles.In total, 382 subject vehicles reportedly experienced one or more wheel stud fractures, resulting in 7 alleged wheel separation incidents.Most of the reported wheel stud fractures occurred on subject vehicles originally equipped with 17 inch diameter steel wheels (368 of 382) as did all 7 alleged wheel separation incidents.Of the 7 alleged wheel separation incidents, 5 reportedly involved a wheel becoming detached from the subject vehicle's rear axle.The subject vehicles are designed with a safety margin that requires validation of proper wheel joint function with one missing lug nut and all other lug nuts at the minimum torque specification.If multiple stud fractures occur at a wheel location, analysis of reports indicates that the operator may observe vehicle vibration. If the vibration is ignored and the vehicle continues to be driven the remaining studs may fracture, resulting in a wheel separation.By letter dated December 5, 2011, the manufacturer notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (identified by NHTSA Recall No.11V-574 and Ford Recall No. 11S23) on certain 2010 and 2011 model year Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles to address the potential for wheel separation.The recall vehicles were originally equipped with 17 inch diameter steel wheels and were built from April 1, 2009, through April 30, 2009, and from December
PE11-003opened Jan 21, 2011
Wheels · model years 2010

Wheel stud fracture. Closed jul 26, 2011, led to recall 11V-574.

NHTSA summary
On January 21, 2011, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-003) to investigate alleged wheel stud fractures in certain model year (MY) 2010 Ford Fusion vehicles.ODI sent the manufacturer an information request letter dated February 8, 2011 and Ford responded by letter dated March 25, 2011.Ford provided a supplemental response by letter dated July 15, 2011.To date, ODI is aware of 29 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles, which now include certain MY2010 Mercury Milan vehicles that are the same or substantially similar to the subject Ford Fusion vehicles in regards to the alleged defect.In total, ODI is aware of 4 reported wheel separation incidents related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles.The manufacturer's investigation into the root cause of the alleged defect is ongoing.Accordingly, this investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA11-009) to further study the alleged defect.
PE08-060opened Oct 14, 2008
Tires · model years 2007 to 2008

Tire valve cracking. Closed apr 9, 2009.

NHTSA summary
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGE

None of these investigations covers the 2014 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 23,600 and 79,221 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.

515
316
717
218
119
320
421
822
423
224
125

What owners wrote

“I had to have all 20 lugnuts replaced. I had 3 different shops tell me that they are all swollen and needed to be replaced. Lugnuts shouldn't all be defective this quickly. I think Ford used cheap parts”

Filed Aug 16, 2023

“I took my Ford Fusion in for its 50000 mile maintenance. The tech was unable to remove the lug nuts because they were swollen due to the poor design by Ford. I had to replace all 20 lug nuts at a cost of $200. If I did not replace them I would be unable to change a flat tire if I were to have one.”

Filed Aug 3, 2022

“I have made 4 separate attempts to mount new tires. I researched the "Swollen Lug Nut" issue and purchased 10 new lug nuts as well as a 18.5MM x 19.5MM Flip Socket for the shop to use. That has even failed and my new tires are still not installed. I have spent in excess of $85 for these lug nuts and flip socket.”

Filed Jul 3, 2022

“The lug nuts on all the tries won't come off. It seems like the stainless steel cap is no longer connected to the actual lug nut making it impossible to get off with out ripping the cap off and then getting a socket on the lug nut. I need to change a tire out but am unable to unless I destroy the lug nut cap.”

Filed Jun 28, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 40 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

Other problems on this car