Federal safety investigators have launched a preliminary investigation into the 2010 Ford Fusion model, as reports of fracturing wheel studs have surfaced, according to news reports. The wheel studs are key to holding the wheels on a car. Simply put, if they break a sheel can come off at any moment and without any warning.

Safety regulators at the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, the government agency in charge of car recalls, have received multiple reports of wheel stud fractures at low mileages (between 5,000 and 11,000 miles). Investigators report that in every case it was before any service had been done involving the wheels.

With low mileages, it seems the cars were not on the road long enough for for road or traffic issues to be a cause of the dangerous fracturing. With no service having been done either, indications are that the root of the problem is in the manufacturing process.

The preliminary investigation stage is the first step in the federal safety investigation process that may lead to a recall.

When a wheel stud fractures, it can lead to loss of control. That can mean an accident with no warning and at any speed.

Ford says it is cooperating but it has come to rely on Fusion sales to help pull it ahead of competitors. Last year's sales topped 220,000, helping Ford get a 21% increase in its sales figures just as Toyota and Honda sales fell. Now, the investigation may cover just over 281,000 of the model year 2010 Ford Fusions.

It may be a deadly defect detected early and that may save lives. If you own a Ford Fusion, check your wheel studs carefully for signs of cracks. If you don't know how, it wouldn't hurt to have your local dealer or a service shop do it. Odds are, you are probably okay. But don't take a chance.

If you've got a lemon Ford Fusion, or any Ford lemon, and if your dealer isn't helping, call us. Getting rid of lemon cars and truck lemons is what we do. Everyday. Since 1978. Making the manufacturer pay your attorney fees too? Well, that only seems right to us.

Burdge Law Office
http://www.uslemonlawyers.com/

Because life's too short to drive a lemon. Any kind of lemon.