Owners have filed 336 complaints
about the 2008 Ford Focus with NHTSA between 2007 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 17 of 20 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 11
Against the median year of the Ford Focus. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 71
13.7% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 47
28% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Body
2742.9%
Door
1320.6%
Latch
69.5%
Ignition
46.3%
Automatic Transmission
46.3%
Pressure Monitoring AND Regulating Systems
34.8%
Rear
34.8%
Frontal
34.8%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
83.0%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
103.7%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
238.6%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
5520.6%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
6223.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
3914.6%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
4516.9%
150,000+ miles
259.4%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Dec 2007peak 8Jun 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2008 Ford Focus
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE08060Opened 14 Oct 2008Closed 9 Apr 2009TIRES:VALVE
TIRE VALVE CRACKING
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 BO...
Recalls on the 2008 Ford Focus
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20073733 units in Canada
Airbag
Certain vehicles may contain an incorrectly assembled driver's airbag module. The airbag may not deploy properly during a frontal crash, which could increase the driver's risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the driver airbag module assembly. Note: All vehicles were in dealer inventory at time of recall.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Oxford, ALCrash2 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
The brakes went to the floor and the whole car locked up. When I pressed the brakes to slow down it felt like something on the brakes just fell apart. I was in a car accident because of this I hit another car no no
NHTSA complaint #11689608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesAshville, OHCrash
AIR BAGS
MY SON REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35 MPH AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY OTHER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED
NHTSA complaint #11266604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 234,000 milesWalterboro, SCCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11219724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesNEW Carlisle, OHCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
MY VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH IN TURN CAUSED SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO BOTH PARTIES OCCUPYING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11194324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesBoston, MACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING A FORD FOCUS 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH IN TRAFFIC AND DROVE DIRECTLY INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WITHOUT BREAKING. THE OTHER VEHICLE, A LEXUS SEDAN WAS STOPPED. THE FORD FOCUS WAS UP TO DATE ON ALL SAFETY INSPECTIONS AND AIRBAGS WERE SET ON. IN SPITE OF THIS, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND I SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY FROM THE COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #10968458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesNEW Milford, CTCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT TO THE RIGHT OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER AND I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT AS I SAW A GUY GET OUT OF HIS CAR. I SWERVED AND LOOKED FORWARD. IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT I SAW A TRUCK COMPLETELY STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE TRUCK AND DID COMPLETE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS EXTREME DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND MY DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAD NO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, NO OTHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY STATE POLICE TROOPER WHO WAS ON THE SCENE SAID TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED SOME INJURIES AND I AM LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER FURTHER. I JUST HOPE IN THE MEAN TIME THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE AS IT COULD BE FATAL FOR THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10667541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Maxton, NC
AIR BAGS
N/a
NHTSA complaint #11743045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maxton, NC
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
N/a
NHTSA complaint #11743045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maxton, NC
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
N/a
NHTSA complaint #11743045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxford, ALCrash2 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
The brakes went to the floor and the whole car locked up. When I pressed the brakes to slow down it felt like something on the brakes just fell apart. I was in a car accident because of this I hit another car no no
NHTSA complaint #11689608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Laurel, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Starter has always been difficult but now key stuck in ignition and won't start either
NHTSA complaint #11680029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Summerville, SC
AIR BAGS
I purchased a 2008 Ford Focus from my father (now deceased). The airbag warning light has been on. When I had the OBD read, it came back with code # B2294 indicating a fault in a control module. My research makes me believe this vehicle should be included in NHTSA# 07V541000 (Ford # 07C19); however, both NHTSA and Ford say it isn't. I would like to find out why this particular vehicle was excluded and is there something I can do at this point to have it included.
NHTSA complaint #11602380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 159,625 milesLouisville, KY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak and a corroded subframe. The contact was informed that the subframe was significantly thin due to corrosion and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,625. The VIN was unavailable.
NHTSA complaint #11578442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 159,625 milesLouisville, KY
SUSPENSION:SUBFRAME/MOUNTING BRACKET
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak and a corroded subframe. The contact was informed that the subframe was significantly thin due to corrosion and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,625. The VIN was unavailable.
NHTSA complaint #11578442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Buford, GA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Steering began to wobble and vehicle pulling hard to the right. Took car to Tires Plus for alignment and inspection. Technician advised the drivers side front tire has advanced tread separation and the front passenger side tire is beginning to separate and is cupping. My daughter drives this car. 205/50R/16 87H, passenger tire is dot [XXX], drivers side is [XXX] . Tires rated for 65k, they only have 34k miles of wear on them. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11550037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toluca Lake, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The trunk when pulled open will drop down. I pulled my trunk door all they way up went to get something inside the trunk it came down and hit me on the head. This has happened before I was able to catch it before it hit me. This time it hit me on the top of the head hard and my left hand when I tried to catch it. It comes down fast and forcefully. Something is wrong and seriously injure someone. I had a cut on my hand and couldn’t see my head for laceration. But I was afraid I could have been knocked out or had a concussion. Please look into this.
NHTSA complaint #11518217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Augusta, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Ignition cylinder fails, leaving drivers stranded. Ford Focus online forums are plastered with numerous complaints about the focus ignition lock cylinder failure, and there are youtube videos showing how to repair it with tape or rigging a bypass push button ignition switch, but FORD should be fixing these issues so people are not stranded. Issue does not happen when driving, and only happens when key is off, and attempting to crank the car. Several people have complained about 500 dollar repairs that only last a few months before issue returns, and ford is very aware, but there are no recalls for the defect. I suppose a car that wont start is not considered dangerous, in itself, but the "hacks and fixes" for the issue can potentially be, and I think this deserves extreme scrutiny, as it affects several ford year models. drivers can suddenly be stranded miles from home and stuck with expensive repair costs that can render them without any transportation at all with no means of resolution.
NHTSA complaint #11490319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Green River, WY
STRUCTURE:BODY
Both Front Door latches have failed and will not open from the outside
NHTSA complaint #11452973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fayetteville, NC
AIR BAGS
Airbag light came on. The vehicle has 123,000 on it. It just recently came on the dash while driving. I see there is no recall for airbag light indicator.
NHTSA complaint #11443405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesKansas City, MO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE NO LONGER WORKS FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT FEELS LIKE THE DOOR HANDLE ISN'T LATCHING ON TO THE MECHANISM INSIDE THE DOOR TO OPEN IT. I CAN OPEN MY DOOR FROM THE INSIDE THOUGH. I HAVE FOUND ONLINE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND AM CONFUSED TO WHY NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED OUT FOR THE FAULTY DOOR HANDLE BRACKETS.
NHTSA complaint #11407286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 256,756 milesBrownsville, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE GAS PEDAL GOES WITH GAS AND DECELERATES ON ITS OWN. BRAKE BOOSTER DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE MOTOR SHAKES AND LOOSES HORSEPOWER.
NHTSA complaint #11389917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 265,767 milesBrownsville, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY IGNITION SWITCH IS GETTING STUCK AND IT IS NOT ALLOWING ME TO TURN ON THE CAR. IT IS HARD TO TURN ON MY VEHICLE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MARKING ON MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, IT ISN'T ALLOWING MY VEHICLES MOTOR TO VENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11389930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 265,767 milesBrownsville, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY IGNITION SWITCH IS GETTING STUCK AND IT IS NOT ALLOWING ME TO TURN ON THE CAR. IT IS HARD TO TURN ON MY VEHICLE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MARKING ON MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, IT ISN'T ALLOWING MY VEHICLES MOTOR TO VENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11389930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 256,756 milesBrownsville, TX
ENGINE
THE GAS PEDAL GOES WITH GAS AND DECELERATES ON ITS OWN. BRAKE BOOSTER DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE MOTOR SHAKES AND LOOSES HORSEPOWER.
NHTSA complaint #11389917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 265,767 milesBrownsville, TX
ENGINE
MY IGNITION SWITCH IS GETTING STUCK AND IT IS NOT ALLOWING ME TO TURN ON THE CAR. IT IS HARD TO TURN ON MY VEHICLE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MARKING ON MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, IT ISN'T ALLOWING MY VEHICLES MOTOR TO VENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11389930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 256,756 milesBrownsville, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
THE GAS PEDAL GOES WITH GAS AND DECELERATES ON ITS OWN. BRAKE BOOSTER DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE MOTOR SHAKES AND LOOSES HORSEPOWER.
NHTSA complaint #11389917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canoga Park, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
ENTERED VEHICLE AS USUAL CLOSED DOOR AND BEGAN DRIVING (VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION). WHILE IN OPERATION DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR SWUNG OPEN. I ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE DOOR IMMEDIATELY BUT DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. IT BOUNCED OPEN AT EVERY ATTEMPT. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS I WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR. I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN DOOR TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE THE DOOR LATCH PULLED BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN LATCH REMAINED IN PULLED POSITION AND DOOR UNABLE TO BE OPENED AT ALL. THIS MALFUNCTION APPEARS TO BE A BROKEN DOOR LATCH WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR VEHICLES (NOT INCLUDING MINE) NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V652000. HOWEVER FORD STATED MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING A ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR AS IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #11375887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 229,000 milesBranford, CT
SERVICE BRAKES
IF YOU HIT YOUR BRAKES AND THE ABS ACTIVATES MOMENTARILY BECAUSE YOU HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING OR JUST BECAUSE YOU HIT THE PEDAL A BIT TOO HARD, A LOSS OF BRAKES OCCURS. THE VALVE INSIDE THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTIVATION OF THE ABS FAILS TO CLOSE COMPLETELY CAUSING FLUID BYPASS AND NO BRAKE PRESSURE RESULTING IN THE PEDAL FALLING TO THE FLOOR. AFTER SOME TIME, THE PEDAL RETURNS TO NORMAL FUNCTION AND THE HCU VALVE SEEMINGLY SEALS BE IT THE SAME DRIVE, OR A COUPLE DRIVES . THIS OCCURS AT RANDOM, ONLY WHEN THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF BRAKE PRESSURE AND ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS COMBINE FOR THE ABS TO ACTIVATE. HOWEVER, THE BREAKS DO NOT RETURN IMMEDIATELY, SO YOU ARE FORCED TO DRIVE WITH VIRTUALLY NO BRAKES TILL IT FINALLY RESOLVES ON ITS OWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN STORMS, WHERE I HAD TO STOP HARD DUE TO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC WHEN EXITING A HIGHWAY AND THE EXIT RAMP IS MILLED, SO WHEN YOU ARE BREAKING AND HIT THE GROOVED SECTION THE BRAKES DISAPPEAR. THIS ALSO OCCURS IF YOU HIT A ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD OR POTHOLE WHILE BREAKING. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, WITH THE ROOT CAUSE BEING A DEFECTIVE VALVE DESIGN IN THE HCU AND IS A COMMON ISSUE ACROSS THE FORD LINEUP. THE ISSUE IS THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, HARD TO DIAGNOSE, AND ALWAYS MISDIAGNOSED AS AIR IN THE SYSTEM. THE ROOT CAUSE IS A FAULTY HCU CAUSING A VALVE TO FAIL TO SEAT PROPERLY AND ALLOW PRESSURE BLOWBY. THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE, AND IT DOES NOT RECOVER UNTIL SOME TIME HAS PASSED. SO IMAGINE A FOCUS EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND LOSING THE BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY AND FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE - THAT IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING ABNORMAL IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, NO LIGHTS. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN THE OTHER DAY AND IT HAS YET TO RESET ITSELF - FORD NEEDS TO FIX IT!! LOSS OF BRAKES FROM HITTING A BUMP - SO DANGEROUS! *LN
NHTSA complaint #11352355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,802 milesPrince Frederick, MD
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY THROTTLE CONTROL/TRANSMISSION LIGHT JUST POPS ON AN I LOSE A GREAT AMOUNT OF POWER AND ACCELERATION. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW AN HAD THE SENSOR ON THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH SEEMED TO HELP FOR ABOUT 2 DAYS THEN THE LIGHT POPPED BACK ON. IT DOES THIS A LOT WILL DRIVE FINE FOR ABOUT 25-30 MINUS AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH THE LIGHT POPS ON WITH ABOUT 30MPH WORTH OF POWER.I PULL OVER TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON IT TURNS THE LIGHT OUT AN ALL POWER IS RESTORED. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND EVERYONE SEEMS TO POINT TO THE THROTTLE BODY GOING BAD. THE CAR IS IN PERFECT SHAPE AND HAS A FRESH ALL AROUND TUNE UP.
NHTSA complaint #11331286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 127,000 milesRacine, WI
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PORCARO FORD (6001 WASHINGTON AVE, RACINE, WI 53406 (262) 886-5200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11328306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wickliffe, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSTITUENT WRITES IN REGARDS TO SWITCH ASY IGNITION FAILURE ON 2008 FORD FOCUS. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS FOR THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #11323710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.