Severity
Critical
NHTSA recall · Reported April 7, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS, THE CHROME WHEELS WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED. THESE WHEELS MAY CRACK AT THE LUG-NUT HOLES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE…
Lincoln recalled ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS, THE CHROME WHEELS WERE… - a critical-severity action.
LINCOLN 2003: WHEELS was recalled by Lincoln in April 7, 2003. Reason: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS, THE CHROME WHEELS WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED. …. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEELS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN HEAT-TREATED. …. Verify recall #03V136000 with the NHTSA before acting.
The recall
Lincoln issued this critical-severity NHTSA recall-ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS, THE CHROME WHEELS WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED. ….
Sourced from official NHTSA enforcement records. Verify recall #03V136000 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.
This NHTSA action (record #03V136000) was formally reported on April 7, 2003. It is classified under Critical severity, with a current status of Active. Lincoln is listed as the recalling firm. The number of affected units is not disclosed in the agency filing, which is common for drug and food recalls where lot-level tracking supersedes unit counts.
The documented reason for this recall is: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS, THE CHROME WHEELS WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED. THESE WHEELS MAY CRACK AT THE LUG-NUT HOLES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE LUG-NUT TORQUE. The specific hazard cited in the filing is: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE NOISE AND/OR VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN THE WHEEL SEPARATING FROM THE HUB, INCREASING…. Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: United States. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory. The remedy documented by the agency is: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEELS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN HEAT-TREATED. ANY WHEEL THAT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT-TREATED WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 14, 2003. OWNE… - consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.
Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls - clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.
Where this recall sits in its category - 7,642 vehicles recalls on record
Of 101,704 recalls in the database, 24,878 are high severity, 72,426 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified high severity.
Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.
Severity
Critical
Affected scope
Unknown
Related Recalls
6
0 from same agency
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS, THE CHROME WHEELS WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED. THESE WHEELS MAY CRACK AT THE LUG-NUT HOLES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE LUG-NUT TORQUE.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS, THE CHROME WHEELS WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED. THESE WHEELS MAY CRACK AT THE LUG-NUT HOLES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE LUG-NUT TORQUE.
IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE NOISE AND/OR VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN THE WHEEL SEPARATING FROM THE HUB, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEELS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN HEAT-TREATED. ANY WHEEL THAT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT-TREATED WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LINCOLN AT 1-800-521-4140.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| Severity class | Critical |
| Status | Active |
| Recall number | 03V136000 |
| Date reported | April 7, 2003 |
| Date initiated | April 7, 2003 |
| Recalling firm | Lincoln |
| Affected scope | Not disclosed |
| Distribution | United States |
| Official source | NHTSA notice → |
Profile values are sourced directly from the official NHTSA enforcement record. Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What to do with this recall
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEELS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN HEAT-TREATED. ANY WHEEL THAT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT-TREATE…
This page summarizes the official NHTSA record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.
Other recalls in the same product category, useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.
Yongkang Ruihe Metal Products Co. Ltd., of China · 2026-06-25
· 2026-06-18
CooCooBaby, of China · 2026-06-18
Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A., of Lincoln, Nebraska · 2026-06-11
· 2026-06-11
Compare this recall with Yamazuki Recalls Youth All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) Due to R… →
Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records, no number is typed in by an editor. This recall: NHTSA, reported April 7, 2003. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.