NHTSA complaint: 2015 NISSAN MURANO — SUSPENSION
Summary of Incident: On August 16, 2025, while my daughter was operating the vehicle at approximately 35 MPH, the front driver-side wheel detached entirely from the vehicle, resulting in a catastrophic loss of control and the vehicle being declared a Total Loss. Technical Details & Safety Hazard: The vehicle had undergone a comprehensive wheel and brake service at a licensed dealership, Ron Tonkin Hyundai, in Gresham, Oregon, 39 days (approx. 600 miles) prior. Post-accident inspection by an independent tow operator and mechanical review revealed: *A sheared wheel stud on the failed hub, which dealership service management later admitted was "likely over-torqued" during service, leading to latent metal fatigue. * A systemic failure of wheel mounting: Lug nuts on the other three remaining wheels were found to be loose or missing. Safety Risk: This incident represents a critical safety failure. The detachment of a wheel at speed poses a life-threatening risk to the occupants and other motorists. The systemic nature of the loose hardware suggests either a failure in service procedures, a defect in the lug/stud hardware compatibility, or improper torque specifications being applied to this model. I am reporting this to ensure a record of this structural failure is maintained should it be part of a larger pattern of hardware fatigue or service negligence.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation