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
106,000 miles · Sep 6, 2016
Structure
IN JULY OF 2015 THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OF MY CAR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN JULY AND AUGUST OF 2016 MY DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL AS THE BACK DOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I'M DISABLED AND I HAVE TO LEAVE MY DOORS UNLOCKED SO THAT I CAN CRAWL INTO THE BACK SEAT AND OPEN MY DRIVERS DOOR WITH MY CANE TO …
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IN JULY OF 2015 THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OF MY CAR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN JULY AND AUGUST OF 2016 MY DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL AS THE BACK DOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I'M DISABLED AND I HAVE TO LEAVE MY DOORS UNLOCKED SO THAT I CAN CRAWL INTO THE BACK SEAT AND OPEN MY DRIVERS DOOR WITH MY CANE TO GET IN.
NHTSA ODI #10903808
90,000 miles · Aug 23, 2016
Electrical System
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
NHTSA ODI #10897976
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2016
Structure
THE TAKATA RECALL-BOTH OF MY DOOR LATCH ARE NOT WORKING ON MY FORD FOCU 2008
NHTSA ODI #10897469
18,671 miles · Aug 17, 2016
Structure
TAKATA RECALL ONE DAY WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR ON DRIVERSIDE AND MY DOORHANDLE BROKE FROM OUTSIDE, CAN OPEN IT FROM INSIDE BUT NOT OUTSIDE TOOK IT TO LOCAL DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME 200-300 DOLLARS TO FIX I DONT HAVE THAT KINDA MONEY SO I GET IN PASSINGER SIDE AND ROLL WINDOW DOWN SO I CAN REACH IN DRIVERS DOOR TO OPE…
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TAKATA RECALL ONE DAY WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR ON DRIVERSIDE AND MY DOORHANDLE BROKE FROM OUTSIDE, CAN OPEN IT FROM INSIDE BUT NOT OUTSIDE TOOK IT TO LOCAL DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME 200-300 DOLLARS TO FIX I DONT HAVE THAT KINDA MONEY SO I GET IN PASSINGER SIDE AND ROLL WINDOW DOWN SO I CAN REACH IN DRIVERS DOOR TO OPEN DOOR ITS A HASSLE
NHTSA ODI #10896530
190,000 miles · Aug 16, 2016
Electrical System
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.
NHTSA ODI #10896408
52,975 miles · Aug 9, 2016
Latches/locks/linkages
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE DOOR FAILED TO LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE DOOR FAILED TO LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/05/16*LJ UPDATED 12/06/2017*JS
NHTSA ODI #10894492
100,000 miles · Aug 7, 2016
Structure
THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN TWICE ON MY CAR, I CAN UNLOCK THE CAR BUT CANNOT OPEN THE CAR, CURRENTLY BOTH DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN ON THE CAR AND THE ONLY ACCESS INSIDE THE CAR IS THROUGH THE TRUNK, THE PART /LABOR TO FIX THE DOOR IS ABOUT $400 AND THE PART ONLY LASTS ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE IT BREAKS AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME T…
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THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN TWICE ON MY CAR, I CAN UNLOCK THE CAR BUT CANNOT OPEN THE CAR, CURRENTLY BOTH DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN ON THE CAR AND THE ONLY ACCESS INSIDE THE CAR IS THROUGH THE TRUNK, THE PART /LABOR TO FIX THE DOOR IS ABOUT $400 AND THE PART ONLY LASTS ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE IT BREAKS AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE I HAD STEPPED OUT OF MY CAR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING TO GET MY MAIL, WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN! THERE WERE TWO EMT'S ACROSS THE STREET AND THEY CALLED THE DEPUTY SHERIFF TO HELP ME GET ACCESS TO THE CAR. THEY SAID IT WAS LUCKY THAT I HAD NOT HAD AN INFANT OR SMALL CHILD IN THE CAR. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TO KEEP MY WINDOW ROLLED DOWN OR CRAWL THROUGH THE TRUNK UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED.
NHTSA ODI #10893798
97,000 miles · Aug 1, 2016
Unknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT SHIFTS HARD INTO GEARS AND THEN IT DOESN'T WANT TO STAY IN 4TH GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT DOWN SHIFTS AND THEN WANTS TO RUN 3,000 OR HIGHER RPMS WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA ODI #10892313
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2016
EnginePower Train
2008 FORD FOCUS SE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN HARD DOWNSHIFTING AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATED IT NEEDED"FLASHING". LEFT IT ONE DAY PICKED IT UP SHIFTED FINE. HAD NEW BATTERY INSTALLED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO, BAD SHIFTING STARTED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS OUT OF WARRANTY. CAR NOW HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT AND …
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2008 FORD FOCUS SE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN HARD DOWNSHIFTING AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATED IT NEEDED"FLASHING". LEFT IT ONE DAY PICKED IT UP SHIFTED FINE. HAD NEW BATTERY INSTALLED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO, BAD SHIFTING STARTED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS OUT OF WARRANTY. CAR NOW HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT AND BAD TRANSMISSION. ENGINE FLOGS AT SLOW SPEEDS EVER SINCE PURCHASED. NO RELIEF IN SIGHT. WARMER IT GETS OUTSIDE, WORSE TRANSMISSION BEHAVES. THESE THINGS HAPPEN ALL OVER TOWN, THE CAR IS NOT CHOOSEY!!
NHTSA ODI #10891514
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2016
Electrical System
I HAD TO PUSH THE KEY IN REALLY HARD TO START THE CAR. WELL, AFTER DOING THAT SO MANY TIMES IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING.
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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