So... the wheels fell off

[Davenpbl]

I bought a 2015 Freightliner with 286k miles on it from a dealer about 3 weeks ago. They claimed the truck was reconditioned, DOT inspected, and set with 4 brand new tires on the rears (wheel swap done by their maintenance team because the existing tires were below my spec to buy). About 9,000 miles later the rear drivers side flies off on my driver on the highway.

Dealer states there is no way this was their fault. If they hadn't tightened the lugs well enough, it would have come off after 90 miles not 9,000. Driver states he did a pre-trip each day (he's an ex-mechanic, always been straight up, and was scared to death by the whole situation). Dealer states there's no way there wasn't some shimmy or some other warning before this happened. Doesn't see any possible way this was a result of their work, and we're outside of the agreed upon warranty mileage.

This does seem like a fluke, it does seem like there should have been some warning, but we've only had this truck 3 weeks...

Any thoughts from folks who have more miles under their belt than me? I know the driver has the ultimate responsibility to operate a safe vehicle, but he claims this was sudden (5 seconds of shimmy and then bam he's riding sparks)

 

[RoadTime]

Odd indeed. But after 9K miles, I'd have to agree with the dealer.

 

[greasytshirt]

Wheels don't just fall off. The lug nuts weren't torqued correctly. The lug nuts should be torqued to 450-500lb/ft. The shiny areas on the wheel and hub are from the wheels shifting.