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
What owners actually said
250 reports
300 miles · Sep 25, 2008
SeatsInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, REACHED UNDER THE SEAT, AND CUT HIS HAND. HE WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD SEVERED A TENDON, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO RECEIVE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STITCHES. A FEW WEEKS LATER, HE SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED NOT TO PLACE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, REACHED UNDER THE SEAT, AND CUT HIS HAND. HE WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD SEVERED A TENDON, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO RECEIVE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STITCHES. A FEW WEEKS LATER, HE SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED NOT TO PLACE HIS HAND UNDERNEATH THE SEAT. THE CONTACT IS UNAWARE OF WHAT CUT HIS HAND AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.
NHTSA ODI #10243391
50 miles · Sep 20, 2008
Steering
SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2008 FORD FOCUS SES ON APRIL 30 2008 I HAVE FELT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ALIGNMENT OR STEERING. WHEN LETTING GO OF THE WHEEL IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WILL HEAD FOR THE DITCH. AT 300 MILES I REQUESTED A WARRANTY ALIGNMENT, DEALER SAID THEY WOULD NOT DO ONE UNTIL AT LEAST 500 OR 1,000 MILES. AT 1,2…
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SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2008 FORD FOCUS SES ON APRIL 30 2008 I HAVE FELT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ALIGNMENT OR STEERING. WHEN LETTING GO OF THE WHEEL IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WILL HEAD FOR THE DITCH. AT 300 MILES I REQUESTED A WARRANTY ALIGNMENT, DEALER SAID THEY WOULD NOT DO ONE UNTIL AT LEAST 500 OR 1,000 MILES. AT 1,200 MILES I REQUESTED THE SAME AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULDN'T DO ONE UNTIL AT LEAST 5,000 MILES, REASONING WAS THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO LOOSEN UP DUE TO BEING TIED DOWN IN SHIPPING. CALLED CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO MILEAGE LIMIT. INFORMED DEALER AND THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT AND DID FIND IT WAS OFF. DROVE THE CAR AND STILL FEEL SOMETHING IS OFF. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IS THE WAY THE CAR IS, I TOLD THEM IF THAT IS THE WAY THE CAR IS IT IS THE WORSE CAR I'VE DRIVEN NEEDING TO ADJUST THE WHEEL CONSTANTLY TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN 32 YEARS OF DRIVING. I DROVE ONE ON THE LOT THAT WAS NOT AS BAD AS MINE BUT STILL IT WOULD DRIFT ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AFTER LETTING GO OF THE WHEEL IN A VERY SHORT DISTANCE. TIRED OF FIGHTING WITH THE DEALER BUT STILL NOT LIKING THE WAY I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST MY STEERING WHEEL TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. AT 7,800 MILES I HAD MY 7,500 MILE MAINTENANCE DONE. NOW THE CAR WILL DRIFT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY TO LEFT AND AT TIMES FEEL LIKE IT IS WOBBLING LEFT AND RIGHT. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DIFFERENT DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND WHAT IS WRONG. IF NOT I WILL GET RID OF THE CAR BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS AND WILL BE EVEN MORE SO WHEN THE SNOW STARTS TO FLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10242994
6,300 miles · Jun 27, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS MERGING INTO THE CENTER LANE WHEN A CAR FROM THE RIGHT SIDE WAS DRIVING IN MY LINE. I MOVE BACK IN MY LANE AND THE CAR STARTED FISH TALING AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT THE GUARD RAIL TWICE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY MY SPEED WAS 55-60 MPH. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BECAUSE THE WALL OF THE FIREWALL AND ENGINE WAS DAMAGED…
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I WAS MERGING INTO THE CENTER LANE WHEN A CAR FROM THE RIGHT SIDE WAS DRIVING IN MY LINE. I MOVE BACK IN MY LANE AND THE CAR STARTED FISH TALING AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT THE GUARD RAIL TWICE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY MY SPEED WAS 55-60 MPH. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BECAUSE THE WALL OF THE FIREWALL AND ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. THIS WAS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. HELP!
NHTSA ODI #10232530
104 miles · Jun 4, 2008
EquipmentTires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE, JACK, AND/OR LUG WRENCH AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLES DO NOT COME WITH SPARE TIRES, JACKS OR LUG WRENCHES. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE A JACK, SPARE TIRE, AND WRENCH, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT DESIGN A S…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE, JACK, AND/OR LUG WRENCH AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLES DO NOT COME WITH SPARE TIRES, JACKS OR LUG WRENCHES. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE A JACK, SPARE TIRE, AND WRENCH, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT DESIGN A SPARE TIRE OR JACK FOR THE TWO DOOR FORD FOCUS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104. UPDATED 07/07/08. *LJ UPDATED
NHTSA ODI #10229898
18,000 miles · May 31, 2008
Visibility
REAR AUTOMATIC WINDOW WILL NOT OPERATE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10229381
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2008
Visibility
FAULTY WINDSHIELD ON 2008 FORD FOCUS SES 4DR SEDAN BLURRY AT BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD SERVICE MGR SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE TILL FORD RECALLS CONDENSATION INSIDE THE WINDSHIELD TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO CORRECT THEY REPLACED WINDSHIELD WATER LEAKING IN ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES NOT SEALED CORRECTLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10223217
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2008
Visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED, THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THE MOTOR WAS STILL MAKING NOISE, BUT NO MOVEMENT OCCURRED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE WIPERS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLIN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED, THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THE MOTOR WAS STILL MAKING NOISE, BUT NO MOVEMENT OCCURRED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE WIPERS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10221643
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2008
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSIONS SHIFT POINTS ARE NOT CALIBRATED CORRECTLY. THE SHIFT POINTS ARE OFF. STARTING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLES FIRST SHIFT IS 3000RPM. WHILE UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION FROM THAT POINT THE RPM'S CAN GO AS HIGH AS 3500 BEFORE THE SECOND SHIFT. ONCE IN SECOND GEAR, DEPENDING ON THE ENGINE LOAD THE RPM'S CAN GO AS HIGH AS …
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THE TRANSMISSIONS SHIFT POINTS ARE NOT CALIBRATED CORRECTLY. THE SHIFT POINTS ARE OFF. STARTING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLES FIRST SHIFT IS 3000RPM. WHILE UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION FROM THAT POINT THE RPM'S CAN GO AS HIGH AS 3500 BEFORE THE SECOND SHIFT. ONCE IN SECOND GEAR, DEPENDING ON THE ENGINE LOAD THE RPM'S CAN GO AS HIGH AS 4000. AS I MENTIONED,ENGINE LOAD. ON A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE THE TRANS SHIFTS NORMAL WITH LOWER RPM AT ALL SHIFT POINTS. ON A SLIGHT UPGRADE SHIFT POINTS ARE HIGHER. DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A STEADY SPEED. THE FIRST SHIFT SEEMS OK. IN SECOND GEAR THE RPM'S WILL STAY AT 2500 TO 3000. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NO SHIFT UNTIL YOU LET OF THE GAS PEDAL A LITTLE. ONCE IN THIRD GEAR THE OD DOES NOT KICK IN UNTIL SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH. I HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY CHECKED FOR CODES AND THERE WERE NONE. THE SHOP FOREMAN DROVE THE VEHICLE THEN REQUESTED WE DRIVE ANOTHER TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENT. WE DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT SEEMED TO PERFORM THE SAME. I MENTIONED TO HIM, IF THIS IS A NORMAL OPERATION MAYBE THE COMPUTERS PROGRAM IS WRONG. MAYBE THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REFLASHED. HE CLAIMED FORD WOULD NOT PUT OUT A PRODUCT LIKE THAT. EXAMPLE: WE HAD SNOW A COUPLE OF DAY AGO AND YOU NATURALLY HAD TO WATCH YOUR SPEED. I DROVE AROUND AT 30MPH WITH THE RPM'S AT 3,000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218952
1,090 miles · Feb 4, 2008
SteeringCrashInjury
WENT OFF ROAD IN GRASS TO AVOID A HEAD ON CRASH WHEN MERGING BACK ON TO ASPHALT TIE ROD SEPARATED FROM RACK AND PINION CAUSING CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL CRASHING IN TO A TELEPHONE POLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10216930
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2007
Seat Belts
2008 FORD FOCUS WITH SEAT BELT SAFETY DEFECT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SHOULDER STRAP AND LAP BELT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED FOR HEIGHT ON THE TWO DOOR MODEL. CONSUMER BELIEVES THESE WOULD BE UNSAFE IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. *KB
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
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