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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.

About this comparison →

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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

25 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2012
Latches/locks/linkages

AFTER ARRIVING AT DESTINATION, WENT TO OPEN DOOR, IT WOULD NOT OPEN, UNLOCK WOULD NOT WORK. DOOR IS LOCKED AND UNABLE TO UNLOCK AND EXIT OUT. NEEDED TO CRAWL OVER TO DRIVERS DOOR TO EXIT VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487206

36,000 miles · Jul 23, 2012
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

KEY LOCKS FOR FRONT DOORS AND DOOR LATCHES WON'T OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP, OF COURSE IT ISN'T COVERED. IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY LOCK YOUR DOOR WITH YOUR CHILD IN IT ON A HOT DAY, YOU CAN'T GET THEM OUT IN TIME. SHOULDN'T THE LOCKS AND LATCHES WORK FOR AT LEAST 100K MILES? HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR UNLOCKED ALL TH…

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KEY LOCKS FOR FRONT DOORS AND DOOR LATCHES WON'T OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP, OF COURSE IT ISN'T COVERED. IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY LOCK YOUR DOOR WITH YOUR CHILD IN IT ON A HOT DAY, YOU CAN'T GET THEM OUT IN TIME. SHOULDN'T THE LOCKS AND LATCHES WORK FOR AT LEAST 100K MILES? HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR UNLOCKED ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467049

96,000 miles · Jan 24, 2012
Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED AND THE REAR DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED AND THE REAR DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE ANY OF THE DOOR LATCHES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI #10445120

74,100 miles · Jan 22, 2012
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesStructure

RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKED. CANNOT BE OPENED. CANNOT BE UNLOCKED ELECTRONICALLY NOR MANUALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10444790

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY DOOR ON THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD OPEN WAS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR WOULD OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR, BUT NOT THE EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FAILURE WAS EITHER DUE TO THE WIRING OR THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY DOOR ON THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD OPEN WAS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR WOULD OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR, BUT NOT THE EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FAILURE WAS EITHER DUE TO THE WIRING OR THE DOOR LATCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10405862

9,000 miles · Apr 23, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

LOCKS FREEZE UP. THIS IS A 2008 FORD FOCUS 4 DOOR. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASED BRAND NEW THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. REPAIRED AT DEALER. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER STARTED FREEZING UP AGAIN AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN TO GET REPAIRED THE FRONT DOORS DID THIS AS WELL. I HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE VEH…

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LOCKS FREEZE UP. THIS IS A 2008 FORD FOCUS 4 DOOR. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASED BRAND NEW THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. REPAIRED AT DEALER. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER STARTED FREEZING UP AGAIN AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN TO GET REPAIRED THE FRONT DOORS DID THIS AS WELL. I HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED THE DOORS THEN NONE OF THE DOORS WOULD OPEN UP, HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH TRUNK. ALL FOUR DOORS REPAIRED. 6 MONTHS LATER DOORS LOCKED UP AGAIN. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD NOT. EVENTUALLY THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN AT ALL. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I HAD A CHILD IN AN INFANT SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT AND HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO GET CHILD OUT OF THE BACK SEAT. THIS WAS FIXED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONE MORE TIME THREE OF THE DOORS. THEY WHERE REPAIRED AND AT THIS TIME I NOW HAVE A BACK DOOR THAT WILL NO LONGER OPEN. I HAVE VOICED MY CONCERNS TO FORD BUT ALL THEY DO IS CONSTANTLY REPAIR THE SAME WAY AND EVEN TRIED TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO DUST BUILDING UP IN THE CAR DOORS, I HAVE LIVED IN THE COUNTRY AND HAD MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF DUST. ALSO I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS IS HAPPENING TO WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT JUST MY VEHICLE. THE DOORS FREEZE UP RANDOMLY WITH NO WARNING AND IF SOMEONE WHERE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN DOORS THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OF WINDOWS TO GET IN AND OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND PUT CHILDREN IN THE CAR THROUGH WINDOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10397190

69,000 miles · Jan 6, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

DOORS ON FORD FOCUS MALFUNCTION. ONLY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS KEY ENTRY BUT DOES NOT WORK WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENS WITH REMOTE UNLOCK ENTRY BUT AT TIMES MALFUNCTIONS AND WON'T OPEN. DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL ANYMORE. HAVE TO ENTER ON PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CRAWL OVER CONSOLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. …

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DOORS ON FORD FOCUS MALFUNCTION. ONLY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS KEY ENTRY BUT DOES NOT WORK WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENS WITH REMOTE UNLOCK ENTRY BUT AT TIMES MALFUNCTIONS AND WON'T OPEN. DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL ANYMORE. HAVE TO ENTER ON PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CRAWL OVER CONSOLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE IT'S THE FORD DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR THAT IS MALFUNCTIONED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10374955

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

I HAVE A 2008 FORD FOCUS SE/SES AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS NOT UNLOCKING AND NOT OPENING FROM TIME TO TIME. THE ONLY WAY I AM ABLE TO OPEN THEM IS WITH A SET OF PLIERS. I HAVE GONE TO FORD WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY CLAIM IT IS BECAUSE "I DRIVE ON A DIRT ROAD"; BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH…

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I HAVE A 2008 FORD FOCUS SE/SES AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS NOT UNLOCKING AND NOT OPENING FROM TIME TO TIME. THE ONLY WAY I AM ABLE TO OPEN THEM IS WITH A SET OF PLIERS. I HAVE GONE TO FORD WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY CLAIM IT IS BECAUSE "I DRIVE ON A DIRT ROAD"; BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE FROM DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD. LUCKILY I HAVEN'T HAD ANY INSTANCES WHERE I NEED MY PASSENGERS TO BE OUT OF THE BACK SEAT IMMEDIATELY. I ALSO HAVE A CHILD THAT IS 3 AND I AM CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY IF WE CANNOT GET THE BACKDOORS OPEN IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD CLEAN OUT THE LOCKS OF THE DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361351

49,500 miles · Sep 30, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

I HAVE A 2008 FORD FOCUS THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE ISSUE IS THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME MONEY JUST TO LOOK AT IT.. I DON'T THINK A DOOR OPENING SHOULD BE VIEWED IN THIS WAY. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT. IT JUST STO…

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I HAVE A 2008 FORD FOCUS THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE ISSUE IS THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME MONEY JUST TO LOOK AT IT.. I DON'T THINK A DOOR OPENING SHOULD BE VIEWED IN THIS WAY. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT. IT JUST STOPPED OPENING. I LOVED MY FOCUS UNTIL THE INITIAL WARRANTY EXPIRED. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358531

10,400 miles · Aug 16, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

CAR DOOR LOCKS ON 2008 FORD FOCUS SE WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH ELECTRONIC POWER BUTTON, KEY FOB REMOTE, DOOR KEY, PULLING UP ON PLUNGER OR ATTEMPTING TO OPEN DOOR WITH HANDLE OR ANY COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE. DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY AT 5 MPH SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID LOCKING AND THEN PASSENGERS MUST CRAWL OUT OF ANOTHER DOOR. SO…

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CAR DOOR LOCKS ON 2008 FORD FOCUS SE WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH ELECTRONIC POWER BUTTON, KEY FOB REMOTE, DOOR KEY, PULLING UP ON PLUNGER OR ATTEMPTING TO OPEN DOOR WITH HANDLE OR ANY COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE. DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY AT 5 MPH SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID LOCKING AND THEN PASSENGERS MUST CRAWL OUT OF ANOTHER DOOR. SO FAR NO ONE HAS BEEN TRAPPED, BUT I HAVE HANDICAPPED FRIENDS AND A PREGNANT DAUGHTER, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY CANNOT GET OUT. IT SEEMS TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED AND MECHANICAL - THE FIRST TIME IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOW I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH RECURRING AND DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE LOCKS THAT INTERMITTENTLY LOCK AND THEN UNLOCK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AT NIGHT - IT IS AS IF I NEED TO CAMP OUT AT THE DEALER UNTIL IT HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349722

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