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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

What owners actually said

250 reports
33 miles · Aug 15, 2010
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesSeat Belts

THE DOOR LOCK, LOCKS AND YOU CANT OPEN THEM TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE CAR IF YOU WONT IN OR OUT YOU HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE WINDOWS. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WILL NOT STAY ALIGNED EATS UP TIRES. HEAD LIGHTS. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE DEALERS MANY TIMES THEY TELL ME THAT ITS NORMAL. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE THE DAY I DR…

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THE DOOR LOCK, LOCKS AND YOU CANT OPEN THEM TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE CAR IF YOU WONT IN OR OUT YOU HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE WINDOWS. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WILL NOT STAY ALIGNED EATS UP TIRES. HEAD LIGHTS. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE DEALERS MANY TIMES THEY TELL ME THAT ITS NORMAL. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT BUT THEY WOULD NEVER FIX THE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349430

5,272 miles · Aug 9, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOORS LATCHES BEGAN STICKING MAKING UNABLE TO BE OPENED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD CONTINUOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LATCH REPLACED. THE CONTACT …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOORS LATCHES BEGAN STICKING MAKING UNABLE TO BE OPENED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD CONTINUOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LATCH REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE LATCH AND WAS INFORMED TO LUBRICATE THE LATCHES, BUT THAT HAS NOT REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THE ROAD WAS MADE OF GRAVEL IT COULD ALSO HAVE CAUSED THE LATCHES TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF A CHILD WAS LEFT INSIDE THE VEHICLE IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO BREAK THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. UPDATED 10/25/10

NHTSA ODI #10348196

26,222 miles · Aug 9, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES WERE STICKING WHICH MADE UNABLE TO BE OPENED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE DOOR LATCHES BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD CONTINUOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LATCHES REPLACED. T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES WERE STICKING WHICH MADE UNABLE TO BE OPENED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE DOOR LATCHES BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD CONTINUOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LATCHES REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE LATCHES AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT TO LUBRICATE THE LATCHES BUT THAT HAS NOT REMEDIED THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE GRAVEL ROAD CAN ALSO CAUSE THE DOOR LATCHES TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED IF A CHILD IS LEFT INSIDE THE VEHICLE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY OPTION IS TO BREAK THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/25/10

NHTSA ODI #10348192

56,000 miles · Jul 30, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AROUND TWO MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WRENCH ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY FAILURES. THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT AND …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AROUND TWO MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WRENCH ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY FAILURES. THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT AND STATED THAT THE BLACK BOX WAS NOT RECORDING ANY DATA. THE VEHICLE WARRANTY HAD NEARLY REACHED ITS LIMIT OF 60,000. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BEFORE THE MILEAGE REACHED 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,100.

NHTSA ODI #10346390

64,000 miles · Jul 27, 2010
EquipmentVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD SIMILAR TO A WRENCH. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO HESITATE AND JERK EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWAR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD SIMILAR TO A WRENCH. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO HESITATE AND JERK EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE PERSISTED WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO MAKE THE REPAIR WAS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 64,000.

NHTSA ODI #10345609

18,000 miles · Jul 21, 2010
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE HAS PIRELLI P6 TIRES, SIZE P205/50/R16. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATS BEGAN VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES WERE CUFFING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES W…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE HAS PIRELLI P6 TIRES, SIZE P205/50/R16. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATS BEGAN VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES WERE CUFFING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20000.

NHTSA ODI #10344484

88,000 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXHIBITED AN EXTREMELY SLOW RESPONSE AT AN IDLE SPEED. THERE WAS A NINETY PERCENT LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT DROVE ACROSS TWO LANES WITH CAUTION ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXHIBITED AN EXTREMELY SLOW RESPONSE AT AN IDLE SPEED. THERE WAS A NINETY PERCENT LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT DROVE ACROSS TWO LANES WITH CAUTION ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES WITHIN THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI #10344260

26,000 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Suspension

I BOUGHT A NEW 2008 FORD FOCUS. IT HAS 26000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ROTATED THE TIRES TWO TIMES AND HAVE PUT ON MY THIRD SET OF TIRES IN THE 26000 MILES. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSPECTED IT AND SAID THAT THE SUSPENSION AND ALIGNMENT IS COMPLETELY OUT AND ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED. I NEED TO PUT ON NE…

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I BOUGHT A NEW 2008 FORD FOCUS. IT HAS 26000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ROTATED THE TIRES TWO TIMES AND HAVE PUT ON MY THIRD SET OF TIRES IN THE 26000 MILES. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSPECTED IT AND SAID THAT THE SUSPENSION AND ALIGNMENT IS COMPLETELY OUT AND ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED. I NEED TO PUT ON NEW TIRES EVERY 9000 MILES. THEY CAN REPAIR IT FOR ME AT $1200.00 AND A NEW SET OF TIRES FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $1700.00 MY EXPENSE. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND I FEEL IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND A SAFETY HAZARD. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS AUTO. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FORD FOCUS STEMMING BACK TO 2001. I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN, RETIRED AND ON A FIXED INCOME. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I CAN AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AR EVEN TRADE IT OFF FOR THAT MATTER. IF I COULD TRADE IT OFF THEN SOME POOR SOUL LIKE MYSELF WOULD BE IN DANGER. THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD AND PEOPLE OWNING THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE AWARE. HOPEFULLY, SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO GET THESE RECALLED. UPDATED IVOQ 08/10/10 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343077

66,400 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60-65 MPH), WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, THE VEHICLE HAS TWICE LOST ALL ENGINE POWER, THOUGH IT REMAINED RUNNING AT IDLE SPEEDS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR SEEMED AS IF IT HAD TURNED OFF, THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED. AFTER PULLING OVER, WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, …

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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60-65 MPH), WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, THE VEHICLE HAS TWICE LOST ALL ENGINE POWER, THOUGH IT REMAINED RUNNING AT IDLE SPEEDS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR SEEMED AS IF IT HAD TURNED OFF, THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED. AFTER PULLING OVER, WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOTHING...IT REMAINED AT IDLE SPEED. A DASH LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING A THROTTLE SENSOR FAULT. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS, THOUGH THIS TIME WAS IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC ON A MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY. IT WAS DIFFICULT, NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS, TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335087

43,000 miles · Jun 2, 2010
Air BagsCrash

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334281

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