NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
250 reports48,000 miles · Dec 5, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING AND BACK PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING AND BACK PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 1/23/13 *CN UPDATED 02/11/2013 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10487434
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
15,191 miles · Oct 29, 2012
Tires
FACTORY PIRELLI TIRES TREAD DEPTH AFTER ONLY 15191 MILES ON NEW 2008 FORD FOCUS SES---2 TIRES @ 2/32 AND 2 TIRES @ 3/32. DEALER AND PIRELLI WON'T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. (CAR DRIVEN IN LOCAL SMALL TOWN). NOT HAPPY! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10482601
60,000 miles · Oct 19, 2012
Power Train
I OWN A 2008 FORD FOCUS. IN 2010 MY CAR WOULD JERK BADLY WHEN I WOULD PRESS ON THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT IN TO FORD AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS MY TRANSMISSION. LUCKILY I STILL HAD WARRANTY AND THEY GAVE ME A NEW ONE. WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP I STILL NOTICED SOME JERKINESS TO IT AND TOLD THEM. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP…
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I OWN A 2008 FORD FOCUS. IN 2010 MY CAR WOULD JERK BADLY WHEN I WOULD PRESS ON THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT IN TO FORD AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS MY TRANSMISSION. LUCKILY I STILL HAD WARRANTY AND THEY GAVE ME A NEW ONE. WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP I STILL NOTICED SOME JERKINESS TO IT AND TOLD THEM. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND IT WOULD GO AWAY, IT NEVER DID. 6 MO.LATER I NOTICE THE CAR GETTING WORSE. THE GAS PEDAL IS HESITANT AND THE GEARS HESITATE TO SHIFT. ESPECIALLY WHEN I DRIVE UPHILL AND TURN A CORNER. IT ALSO TAKES A LONG TIME TO GO UP TO SPEED. I TOOK IT FOR SERVICE AGAIN AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. NOTE: THEY DID NOT TEST DRIVE MY CAR. HOW CAN A DOCTOR DIAGNOSE A PATIENT IF HE DOESN'T GIVE HIM A CHECK UP? I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND THEY HAD THE NERVE TO CHARGE ME $200. IF I HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? I SERVICE MY CAR ON TIME AND HAVE IT WELL KEPT. IT'S NOW 2012 NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR. I'VE HAD SPARK PLUGS, FUEL FILTER, ENGINE OIL CHANGE, AIR FILTER CHANGED AND "NEW" TRANSMISSION AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10481075
Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2012
Structure
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN APRIL 2008 BY JUNE THE DOORS WERE HARD TO OPEN. AT THAT TIME I LUBRICATE THEM, THAT SEEM TO HELP FOR A SHORT TIME. THEN THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT CLOSE OPENING AS I WAS DRIVING. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I WENT TO MEREDITH FORD IN PLYMOUTH NH. I WAS TOLD IT WAS COSMETIC AND THEY DID'N WORK BECAUSE I LIVE…
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I BOUGHT MY CAR IN APRIL 2008 BY JUNE THE DOORS WERE HARD TO OPEN. AT THAT TIME I LUBRICATE THEM, THAT SEEM TO HELP FOR A SHORT TIME. THEN THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT CLOSE OPENING AS I WAS DRIVING. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I WENT TO MEREDITH FORD IN PLYMOUTH NH. I WAS TOLD IT WAS COSMETIC AND THEY DID'N WORK BECAUSE I LIVED ON A DIRT ROAD.WHICH I DID NOT. I TOLD THEM SOME ONE WAS GOING TO FALL OUT OF MY CAR I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER I BETTER HAVE GOOD INSURANCE. I STILL HAVE A ROPE HOLDING BY BACK DOORS CLOSED. AND I WAS NEVER TREATED SO BADLY BEFORE IN MY LIFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10478575
60,000 miles · Aug 28, 2012
TiresWheels
AT 60,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED CHEWING UP TIRES AND STILL IS. THE FIRST SET IT DID THIS TO WERE WORN TO THE WIRE UNDER THE RUBBER BEFORE IT WAS NOTICED. IT HAS CHEWED UP TWO MORE SETS SINCE THEN ALL IN UNDER 10,000 MILES AND THE TIRES ARE RATED FOR APPROX. 50,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10472785
60,000 miles · Aug 6, 2012
Electrical SystemStructure
MY CAR HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE DOORS FOR QUITE AWHILE. ITS ALWAYS BEEN ANNOYING, BUT ITS NEVER REALLY SEEMED LIKE SUCH A BIG DEAL TO ME. TODAY, HOT SUMMER DAY, I WENT SHOPPING WITH MY BOYFRIEND, HE SAID I'M GOING TO GO GET YOUR CAR I WILL BE BACK, AS 30 MINUTES PASS HE IS FINALLY BACK TO TELL ME THAT MY DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE…
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MY CAR HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE DOORS FOR QUITE AWHILE. ITS ALWAYS BEEN ANNOYING, BUT ITS NEVER REALLY SEEMED LIKE SUCH A BIG DEAL TO ME. TODAY, HOT SUMMER DAY, I WENT SHOPPING WITH MY BOYFRIEND, HE SAID I'M GOING TO GO GET YOUR CAR I WILL BE BACK, AS 30 MINUTES PASS HE IS FINALLY BACK TO TELL ME THAT MY DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE KEY WOULD NOT UNLUCK THE DOOR. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK DOORS JUST BEING STUCK ON LOCK FOR DAYS AT A TIME BUT IT ALWAYS EVENTUALLY FIXES ITSELF, WHICH IS WHY I HAVE NEVER REPORTED IT BEFORE. BUT TODAY I HAD TO PAY 30 DOLLARS FOR A LOCKSMITH TO COME OUT AND UNLOCK MY DOOR. I AM NOT VERY HAPPY BECAUSE I AM A POOR COLLEGE KID WHO COULD REALLY USE THAT MONEY ON SOMETHING ELSE. AS I RESEARCH THIS ONLINE I SEE MORE THAN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VERY SAME THING HAPPENING TO PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR THAT I HAVE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF FOR SOME REASON THERE WAS A KID IN THE CAR THAT WE COULD NOT GET OUT. IT INFURIATES ME THAT NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT THIS PROBLEM BE INVESTIGATED AND IF NECESSARY THE CARS BE ON RECALL TO GET FIXED FOR FREE. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469425
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
60,000 miles · Jul 23, 2012
Structure
THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR. THE REAR HANDLE SEEMS TO PULL NORMALLY BUT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK. THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE PULLS OUT LOOSELY. WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR 3 DAYS AGO SOMETHING BROKE INSIDE THE D…
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THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR. THE REAR HANDLE SEEMS TO PULL NORMALLY BUT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK. THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE PULLS OUT LOOSELY. WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR 3 DAYS AGO SOMETHING BROKE INSIDE THE DOOR. THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE MOTOR WILL GO DOWN BUT THE WINDOW WILL NOT. I CAN PULL IT DOWN BY PUTTING ONE HAND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE GLASS (AFTER OPERATING THE BUTTON THAT WOULD NORMALLY OPEN THE WINDOW) THE WINDOW CAN BE CLOSED USING THE BUTTON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10466994
68,000 miles · May 23, 2012
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
NHTSA ODI #10459373
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