IllustrationVEHICLE STATIONARY. UPON INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE DOES NOT START. THIS OCCURS WITH SEVERAL TURNS OF THE IGNITION. ONCE THE KEY IS STRONGLY INSERTED OR WIGGLES AROUND THE ENGINE STARTS. RECENTLY DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER. IT HAPPENS DAILY!
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Focus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
310–25K
4325–50K
4250–75K
3075–100K
35100–150K
18150K+
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
Electrical System complaints
57 reportsOUR CAR IN FEB 2017 WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD SUDDENLY STOPPED WITH ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON. CAR GOT STUCK AND WE COULD NOT START ENGINE IN NEXT FEW MINS. AFTER FEW MINS EVERYTHING BACK TO NORMAL. WE STARTED DRIVING AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL SHOP. THEY SAID SERIOUS PROBLEM BIT WHERE THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. NE…
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OUR CAR IN FEB 2017 WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD SUDDENLY STOPPED WITH ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON. CAR GOT STUCK AND WE COULD NOT START ENGINE IN NEXT FEW MINS. AFTER FEW MINS EVERYTHING BACK TO NORMAL. WE STARTED DRIVING AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL SHOP. THEY SAID SERIOUS PROBLEM BIT WHERE THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. NEXT WENT TO INVERGROVE FORD DEALER. SAME ISSUE HAPPENED IN FRONT OF THEM . THEY DID SOMETHING. GAVE CAR BACK. BUT AGAIN SAME PROBLEM. WE CALLED THEM AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WHILE DRIVING CAR BACK TO SHOP. BUT AFTER GOING THERE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. SO THEY SAID TO TAKE CAR BACK BUT ADVISED TO BE CAREFUL WHILE DRIVING AS CAR MIGHT STOP ANYTIME
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TURNING THE SWITCH, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS PREVIOUS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN 2012 FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.
HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER DOOR AND BOTH REAR DOORS. DOOR WON'T LATCH AT TIMES AND POWER DOOR LOCK WON'T LOCK AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES WON'T UNLOCK OR BOTH.
SWITCH TO START VEHICLE IS "STICKING" WHEN IT WORKS OR NOT STARTING AFTER 15+ ATTEMPTS. VERY ANNOYING & PERHAPS DANGEROUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR. THE POP FEATURE, I BELIEVE , IS NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO START OR REMOVE THE KEY. CAR LESS THAN 80K MILES. OTHERWISE, LOVE THE CAR. CAR HASNT BEEN FIXED OR REPAIRED YET, …
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SWITCH TO START VEHICLE IS "STICKING" WHEN IT WORKS OR NOT STARTING AFTER 15+ ATTEMPTS. VERY ANNOYING & PERHAPS DANGEROUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR. THE POP FEATURE, I BELIEVE , IS NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO START OR REMOVE THE KEY. CAR LESS THAN 80K MILES. OTHERWISE, LOVE THE CAR. CAR HASNT BEEN FIXED OR REPAIRED YET, LOOKING FOR RE-CALLS BC SEEMS TO BE A COMMON SITUATION.
OUR 2008 FORD FOCUS HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY HARDER TO CRANK. WE HAVE BEEN HAVE TO APPLY PRESSURE WHILE TURNING THE KEY AND NOW IT WON'T START AT ALL. I AM NOW STRANDED AT WORK UNTIL I CAN GET SOMEONE TO COME PICK ME UP. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A PIN INSIDE THE IGNITION THAT WEARS DOWN UNTIL IT CAN NO LONGER MAKE CONTACT WITH T…
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OUR 2008 FORD FOCUS HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY HARDER TO CRANK. WE HAVE BEEN HAVE TO APPLY PRESSURE WHILE TURNING THE KEY AND NOW IT WON'T START AT ALL. I AM NOW STRANDED AT WORK UNTIL I CAN GET SOMEONE TO COME PICK ME UP. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A PIN INSIDE THE IGNITION THAT WEARS DOWN UNTIL IT CAN NO LONGER MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PART INSIDE TO GET CAR TO CRANK. I BELIEVE FORD REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE ON THIS AND OTHER WEBSITES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT FAILED TO START WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,437. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER MORE THAN FIFTEEN ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER MORE THAN FIFTEEN ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS HARD TO TURN, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/24/16.*JB
WE HAVE SPENT OVER 700$ TRYING TO FIX A IGNITION PROBLEM. NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL. THIS IS AWFUL. IT ISN'T FUN GETTING CAUGHT IN HOT WEATHER STUCK, NOT BEING ABLE TO START YOUR CAR.
Official recalls
107V541000 · 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
1PE08060 · 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