THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS AN OWNER LETTER SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON. FORD 2013-2015 FUSION VEHICLES: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM INVOLVING 18'' GLOSS BLACK PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION WHEEL REPLACEMENT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Ford Fusion wheels problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Ford Fusion have filed 27 NHTSA complaints about the wheels, typically surfacing around 62,500 miles at roughly $400 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See wheels across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
| Model year | wheels complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Fusion | 4 |
| 2010 Fusion | 112 |
| 2011 Fusion | 37 |
| 2012 Fusion | 19 |
| 2013 Fusion (this page) | 27 |
| 2014 Fusion | 32 |
| 2015 Fusion | 19 |
| 2016 Fusion | 42 |
| 2017 Fusion | 21 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 27 wheels complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Fusion, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 wheels complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA wheels complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering wheels on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint across 24 of the 27 narratives is swollen, corroded lug nuts that no longer fit the factory wrench or standard socket sizes. Owners describe the aluminum caps or chrome plating expanding, delaminating, and refusing to budge during routine tire rotations—a problem dealerships confirm is widespread on the Fusion. By 32,000 to 100,000 miles, all four wheel sets often need replacement. Some nuts have snapped or come loose entirely during removal attempts. Mechanics have had to hammer tools onto the nuts to get them off. Ford denies responsibility, classifying the issue as maintenance; owners out of warranty get no help. Aftermarket one-piece steel or chrome nuts solve it permanently but cost $60–$200 per replacement cycle.
Two separate incidents involve wheel separation: one where the right front wheel fell off at 20 mph (attributed to a failed ball joint on a 67,000-mile vehicle with regular maintenance), and another where a tire carcass peeled away from the rim at highway speed. A third narrative references other Fusion owners reporting wheels coming off due to broken or loose lug nuts. One owner also reports three tire replacements by 35,000 miles from pothole damage; the low-profile rims appear vulnerable to road hazards. A TPMS fault tied to key fob battery failure rounds out the complaints, though dealers are unsure of the exact cause.
Same Ford Fusion wheels reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Swollen/Corroded Lug Nuts
Aluminum-capped or chrome-plated lug nuts swell, corrode, and delaminate over time, making them impossible to remove with the factory wrench or standard 19mm socket. The swelling distorts the nut geometry, preventing proper engagement. Multiple owners report having to hammer tools onto the nuts to remove them, and dealerships confirm this is a recurring issue on 2013 Fusions.
When: Typically discovered between 32,000 and 100,000 miles during routine maintenance (tire rotation/oil change); some owners report the problem recurring even after replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Lug nuts will not fit factory wrench or standard socket sizes; Visible swelling and deformation of lug nut caps; Corrosion and delamination of chrome/aluminum coating; One or more nuts broken during removal attempts; Nuts loose on wheels as a side effect of swelling
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of all affected lug nuts at dealership: $52 per tire reported in one case; bulk replacement (20 nuts) cost approximately $60–$200 depending on source. Some owners purchased aftermarket one-piece solid chrome or steel lug nuts from retailers (e.g., $60.90 for 20 nuts from AutoZone) as a permanent fix. Dealerships confirmed this is a known, recurring problem and recommended aftermarket replacements over Ford OEM caps.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford has not issued a recall; claims swollen lug nuts are a maintenance item and denied reimbursement requests. Dealerships acknowledge the issue as common but perform repairs under warranty (when applicable) or at owner expense after warranty expires.
Wheel Separation
One owner reports the right front wheel fell off the vehicle at 20 mph due to a failed ball joint at 67,120 miles. Another owner experienced the entire tire carcass separating from the wheel rim while driving at 72 mph on a highway, leaving only sidewalls attached. A third complaint references other Fusion owners reporting wheels coming off as a result of swollen/broken lug nuts.
When: 67,120 miles (ball joint failure); 10,000 miles on tire in the separation case; unspecified mileage in references to other owners' incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Wheel fell off vehicle during normal driving; Tire carcass came off the wheel rim, leaving sidewalls attached to wheel; Rumbling or vibration noted before separation; Loss of vehicle control at low speed
Repairs/costs cited: The ball joint failure required a tow; no repair cost documented in narrative. Tire separation case involved a Goodyear Eagle LS2, 235/45R18 94V tire with approximately 10,000 miles and 32 PSI cold pressure.
Low-Profile Tire/Rim Durability
One owner reports the vehicle's low-profile tires and rims are unable to withstand normal wear and tear. At 35,000 miles, the owner has had to replace 3 tires after hitting potholes or roadwork.
When: 35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Frequent tire damage from minor road hazards (potholes, roadwork); Tire replacements needed at high frequency
Repairs/costs cited: 3 tire replacements by 35,000 miles; specific costs not documented.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Fault
TPMS fault light appears shortly after key fob battery depletion. Dealership technicians are uncertain about the cause and suggest it may be the RTM (radio transceiver module) but cannot confirm. The issue has been reported at multiple dealerships and appears to affect Lincoln MKX as well.
When: Timing tied to key fob battery failure
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS fault warning light; Key fob stop working; Uncertainty at dealership level regarding root cause
Codes mentioned: TPMS System Fault
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford fusion the contact stated that the vehicle was driven to the dealer to have all four tires rotated. It was extremely difficult for the mechanic to remove the lug nuts; therefore, all twenty lug nuts were replaced. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 03/07/17*lj
Had wheels trouble with your 2013 Ford Fusion?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the wheels problem on the 2013 Ford Fusion?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $400 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most wheels failures cluster between 43,061 and 96,000 miles, with the median around 62,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,061; a quarter make it past 96,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $400 for wheels repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Ford/Fusion.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.