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2008 Ford Focus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford Focus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 864.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

199 reports with mileage · 51 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports0 fire reports18 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

26 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2026
Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

N/a

NHTSA ODI #11743045

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2024
Air Bags

I purchased a 2008 Ford Focus from my father (now deceased). The airbag warning light has been on. When I had the OBD read, it came back with code # B2294 indicating a fault in a control module. My research makes me believe this vehicle should be included in NHTSA# 07V541000 (Ford # 07C19); however, both NHTSA and Ford say it…

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I purchased a 2008 Ford Focus from my father (now deceased). The airbag warning light has been on. When I had the OBD read, it came back with code # B2294 indicating a fault in a control module. My research makes me believe this vehicle should be included in NHTSA# 07V541000 (Ford # 07C19); however, both NHTSA and Ford say it isn't. I would like to find out why this particular vehicle was excluded and is there something I can do at this point to have it included.

NHTSA ODI #11602380

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2021
Air Bags

Airbag light came on. The vehicle has 123,000 on it. It just recently came on the dash while driving. I see there is no recall for airbag light indicator.

NHTSA ODI #11443405

115,000 miles · Oct 6, 2019
Air BagsCrash

MY SON REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35 MPH AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY OTHER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED

NHTSA ODI #11266604

234,000 miles · Jun 13, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11219724

130,000 miles · Apr 6, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH IN TURN CAUSED SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO BOTH PARTIES OCCUPYING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11194324

156,000 miles · Mar 23, 2019
Air Bags

BBOUGHT THE CAR FROM PRIVATE PARTY AND BROUGHT IT TO A SHOP TO BE LOOKED OVER THE BAD A MANCANIC TOOL SCAN THE CAR PASSENGER AIR BAGS ARE NOT RESPONDING TO THE COMPUTER DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHER CARS HAVE THIS ISSUE BUT ITS NOT EVEN PULLING A AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ALSO IT FAILED A TEST THE MANCANIC RAN IT SAID PASSENGER AIR BAG…

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BBOUGHT THE CAR FROM PRIVATE PARTY AND BROUGHT IT TO A SHOP TO BE LOOKED OVER THE BAD A MANCANIC TOOL SCAN THE CAR PASSENGER AIR BAGS ARE NOT RESPONDING TO THE COMPUTER DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHER CARS HAVE THIS ISSUE BUT ITS NOT EVEN PULLING A AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ALSO IT FAILED A TEST THE MANCANIC RAN IT SAID PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT RESPONDING AND IN THE EVENT OF A CAR ACCIDENT ALL AIR BAGS MAY NOT GO OFF THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND ALSO FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND MY SELF. AIR BAG LIGHT STILL COME ON WHEN THE CAR RUNS A EQUIPMENT CHECK. AND GOES AWAY AFTER THE CHECK IS DONE.

NHTSA ODI #11191087

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2018
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

"TAKATA RECALL" THE PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT REGISTERING THAT THERE'S SOMEONE SITTING THERE WHO 5'5" AND WEIGHS ALMOST 135 POUNDS AND IS WEARING HIS SEATBELT. SO THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE COMES ON AND SAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" AND THE YELLOW AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS LIT UP ON THE DRIVERS DASHBOARD UNTIL…

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"TAKATA RECALL" THE PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT REGISTERING THAT THERE'S SOMEONE SITTING THERE WHO 5'5" AND WEIGHS ALMOST 135 POUNDS AND IS WEARING HIS SEATBELT. SO THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE COMES ON AND SAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" AND THE YELLOW AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS LIT UP ON THE DRIVERS DASHBOARD UNTIL THE CAR IS SHUT OFF, ALL WITH SOMEONE WHO'S BIG ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR TO KNOW HE'S SITTING THERE. ALL VEHICLES HE SITS IN THAT HAVE SENSORS FOR AIRBAGS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ALWAYS READ THAT HE'S SITTING THERE, SO I KNOW HE'S BIG ENOUGH TO SET THE SENSOR OFF AND FOR IT YO KNOW HE'S SITTING THERE AND TO ACTIVATE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. PICTURES ARE OF THE YELLOW AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DRIVERS, THE CENTER CONSOLE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF", AND A FEW SHOWING WHERE HE'S SITTING IN THE SEAT AND BOTH THE YELLOW LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. THE YELLOW LIGHTS ARE ONLY ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, IN MOTION, ON HIGHWAY, STOPPED, ON CITY STREETS, TURNING, AND GOING FORWARD. (ITSL'S ALRIGHT TO SHARE ALL PICTURES PUBLICLY, I KNEW THEY'D BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC BEFORE TAKING THEM.)

NHTSA ODI #11113710

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2018
Air BagsSeat Belts

"TAKATA RECALL" THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT STAYS PUSHED IN WHEN YOU PUSH THE RED RELEASE BUTTON TO TAKE OFF YOUR SEATBELT. UNLIKE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT AND THE THREE BACK SEATBELTS THAT ALL FOUR COMPLETELY RELEASE WHEN YOU UNDO YOUR SEATBELT, NONE OF THEM STAY PRESSED IN THEY ALL FULLY RELEASE. THE 1ST PICTURE IS THE FRONT P…

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"TAKATA RECALL" THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT STAYS PUSHED IN WHEN YOU PUSH THE RED RELEASE BUTTON TO TAKE OFF YOUR SEATBELT. UNLIKE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT AND THE THREE BACK SEATBELTS THAT ALL FOUR COMPLETELY RELEASE WHEN YOU UNDO YOUR SEATBELT, NONE OF THEM STAY PRESSED IN THEY ALL FULLY RELEASE. THE 1ST PICTURE IS THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT RELEASE, 2ND PICTURE IS THE BACK PASSENGER & BACK MIDDLE SEATBELT RELEASES, 3RD PICTURE IS THE BACK DRIVERS SEATBELT SEATBELT RELEASE, & THE 4TH & 5TH PICTURES ARE THE FRONT SEATBELT RELEASE FROM TWO DIFFERENT ANGLES SHOWING HOW IT'S STILL PUSHED IN & NOT FULLY RELEASED EVEN THOUGH THE SEATBELT IS UNBUCKLED SO THE BUTTON SHOULD BE FULLY RELEASED.

NHTSA ODI #11113707

93,000 miles · Sep 26, 2017
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH LITHIA FORD OF KLAMATH FALLS (2833 W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH LITHIA FORD OF KLAMATH FALLS (2833 WASHBURN WAY, KLAMATH FALLS, OR 97603) WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO TSB OR RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V541000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #11029932

Official recalls

1

07V541000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Nov 21, 2007

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER AIR BAG FROM PROPERLY DEPLOYING AND REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE YOUR DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 20, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking

Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve

ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO