IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Focus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsTAKATA RECALL I HAVE 4 DOOR HANDLES THAT HAVE BROKEN TWICE AND HAVE 3 BROKEN DOOR HANDLES RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS $400 PER DOOR. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE DOOR HANDLES AND PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIR ON THE BROKEN DOORS I HAVE NOW. IF I HAD A…
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TAKATA RECALL I HAVE 4 DOOR HANDLES THAT HAVE BROKEN TWICE AND HAVE 3 BROKEN DOOR HANDLES RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS $400 PER DOOR. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE DOOR HANDLES AND PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIR ON THE BROKEN DOORS I HAVE NOW. IF I HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WHILE DRIVING, NO ONE COULD OPEN MY DOOR TO HELP!
2008 FORD FOCUS DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY OR STALLS RANDOMLY. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I WAS IN TRAFFIC ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS AND NEARLY GOT HIT MORE THAN ONCE. I HAD THE PCM REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED FORD MECHANIC IN 11/14, IT HAD A TWO YEAR WARRANTY. IN 1/16 IT BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED IN …
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2008 FORD FOCUS DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY OR STALLS RANDOMLY. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I WAS IN TRAFFIC ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS AND NEARLY GOT HIT MORE THAN ONCE. I HAD THE PCM REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED FORD MECHANIC IN 11/14, IT HAD A TWO YEAR WARRANTY. IN 1/16 IT BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 4/16. AFTER REPLACING THE PCM AT A FORD DEALERSHIP THE SECOND TIME MY CAR STALLED OUT ON ME THE NEXT DAY. THE PCM CODE WAS THE SAME AT EACH LOCATION (CODE P00607). BOTH PCM'S WERE PURCHASED FROM FORD BRAND NEW. I AM NOW BEING TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE FOLLOWING CODE (P0320) WAS OBTAINED. THEY INDICATED THE FOLLOWING WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE AMOUNT OF $575.00: THE COST OF THE REPAIRS INCLUDE: TUNE UP IS $260.00 THIS INCLUDES SPARK PLUGS ,SPARK PLUG BOOTS, AND 2 IGNITION COILS AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL THEM. THE COST TO REPLACED THE VALVE COVER GASKET THAT IS LEAKING OIL INTO THE SPARK PLUG VALLEYS IS $315.00 THIS INCLUDES THE PARTS AND LABOR. (SPARK PLUG VALLEYS #3 AND #4 HAVE OIL IN THEM.) MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS WAS NEVER A PCM ISSUE; HOWEVER, IT IS SOMETHING ELSE FEEDING MISINFORMATION TO THE PCM TO SEND INACCURATE CODES TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THE PROBABILITY OF THREE PCM'S BEING FAULTY IN 1 YEAR IS NOT LIKELY. THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND IS A RISK TO OTHERS AND MYSELF ON THE ROADS. I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS REGARDING THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF THE 2008 FORD FOCUS SE. FORD NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
I HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY IN REALLY HARD BEFORE THE ENGINE WILL TURN OVER...I JUST HOPE IT DONT LEAVE ME STRANDED ONE DAY....
YES LATELY OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS I'LL PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND GO TO START MY CAR NOTHING HAPPENS AT ALL NO CLICK NO NOISE NO LIGHTS COME ON. SO I WILL THEN PROCEED TO TURN THE CAR KEY BACK TO THE STARTING POSITION THEN TRY TO START MY CAR AGAIN AND YES NOTHING HAPPENS AGAIN NOT A PEEP. SO THEN I HAVE TO PROCEED TO…
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YES LATELY OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS I'LL PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND GO TO START MY CAR NOTHING HAPPENS AT ALL NO CLICK NO NOISE NO LIGHTS COME ON. SO I WILL THEN PROCEED TO TURN THE CAR KEY BACK TO THE STARTING POSITION THEN TRY TO START MY CAR AGAIN AND YES NOTHING HAPPENS AGAIN NOT A PEEP. SO THEN I HAVE TO PROCEED TO TURN MY KEY BACK PULL MY KEY OUT STICK MY KEY BACK INTO THE IGNITION KIND THEN AS THE TWO TIMES PREVIOUSLY TURN TO START MY CAR AND IT ACTUALLY STARTS EXCEPT IT TAKES LIKE 2 SECOND HESITATION BEFORE IT ACTUALLY TURNS OVER MY IGNITION IS NEVER BEEN TAMPERED WITH MY CAR ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT SO I'M KIND OF CURIOUS AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE I SEE SOMEBODY ELSE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM
THE KEY HAS TO BE PUSHED IN EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN ON THE ENGINE. IT TAKES SOMETIMES UP TO 5 MINUTES REPEATEDLY TURNING THE KEY FOR IT TO ENGAGE.
MY. 2008 FORD, FOCUS HAS FACTORY INSTALLED SUNSHINE SHIELD ON ALL WINDOWS. IT HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH THE BACK WINDSHIELD, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, THE INSTALLED SHADE HAD BECOME FOGGY! MY CAR EATS TIRES WHICH HAVE TO BE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY EVERY 2.5YEARS. THE HEATER/AIR-CONDITIONER FAN HAS SHORTED OUT 3 TIMES, …
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MY. 2008 FORD, FOCUS HAS FACTORY INSTALLED SUNSHINE SHIELD ON ALL WINDOWS. IT HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH THE BACK WINDSHIELD, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, THE INSTALLED SHADE HAD BECOME FOGGY! MY CAR EATS TIRES WHICH HAVE TO BE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY EVERY 2.5YEARS. THE HEATER/AIR-CONDITIONER FAN HAS SHORTED OUT 3 TIMES, THANKFULLY, NO FIRE HAS BEEN STARTED! ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS OCCUR ON STATIONARY OR MOVING VEHICLE. THE ONLY COMPLAINT THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SHOP IS THE TIRE COMPLAINT. NO PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED.
3 OF MY 4 DOOR HANDLES DO NOT WORK THE PIN CAME OUT INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL ALLOWING ME TO ONLY USE MY BACK PASSENGER DOOR TO GET IN MY CAR I HAD MY KEYS IN HAND BUT THE DOOR WOULDNT OPEN CAUSING ME TO CALL AAA TO GET IN IM VERY UNHAPPY AND I WILL BE CONTACTING ANYONE I HAVE TO IN ORDER TO FIX THIS IM NOT PAYING FOR IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/06/16*LJ *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY HAD TO BE FORCED INTO THE IGNITION AND SHAKEN FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Official recalls
107V541000 · 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
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