2008 Ford Focus
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 250 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 19 Focus model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 21 involved a crash. 20 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, headlightsAug 11, 2008
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
Campaign 08E050000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleNov 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.
THIS CONDITION MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER AIR BAG FROM PROPERLY DEPLOYING AND REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 07V541000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: structure
41 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Oct 5, 2013
THIS DATE MARKS FIVE TIMES THAT DOOR LATCHES / LOCKS HAVE QUIT WORKING. CURRENTLY THE LOCKS WILL NOT WORK AND THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM FOUR TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE RECURRING PROBLEM. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE STATED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FROM RURAL ROAD DUST CAUSING LATCH / LOCK FAILURE, THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT HELP COVER ANOTHER LATCH REPLACEMENT. *TR
Structure, May 8, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Feb 3, 2013
THE RIGHT REAR DOOR IS LOCKED SHUT AND CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY ACCIDENT OR OCCURANCE. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OR WITH THE KEY OR REMOTE OPERATOR. IF ANYONE IS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR IF INGRESS IS NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY, THIS DOOR IS INOPERABLE. THERE IS A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH MAKES THE DOOR UNUSABLE. *TR
Structure, Jan 30, 2013
THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE WE HAVE HAD SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LEAK DUE TO A FAULTY SPLASH GUARD. WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED BY FORD SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE ISSUE HAS COME BACK AGAIN, AND WE ARE NO LONGER IN WARRANTY. I HAVE 3 COMPLAINTS THAT COME WITH THIS ISSUE, 1 I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH RUSTING OUT, 2 EVEN WITH DEFROSTERS ON HIGH, IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS BECAUSE OF THE MOISTURE IN THE CAR (EVEN AFTER DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SOAK UP THE MOISTURE) AND 3 I HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WILL BECOME AN ISSUE IE. THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER IS ALMOST ALWAYS WET. AT THIS POINT WE ARE NOT DEALING WITH MOLD CONCERNS, BUT WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE MOLD CLEAN FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR BEFORE. I AM WRITING YOU, BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE FORD KNOWS ABOUT, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT AT SOME POINT SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT, AND I FEEL AS THOUGH FORD IS NO LONGER CONCERNING THEMSELVES WITH THIS ISSUE, AND ARE NOT CONCERNED WITH CORRECTING THEIR ISSUE. *TR
Structure, Oct 4, 2012
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN APRIL 2008 BY JUNE THE DOORS WERE HARD TO OPEN. AT THAT TIME I LUBRICATE THEM, THAT SEEM TO HELP FOR A SHORT TIME. THEN THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT CLOSE OPENING AS I WAS DRIVING. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I WENT TO MEREDITH FORD IN PLYMOUTH NH. I WAS TOLD IT WAS COSMETIC AND THEY DID'N WORK BECAUSE I LIVED ON A DIRT ROAD.WHICH I DID NOT. I TOLD THEM SOME ONE WAS GOING TO FALL OUT OF MY CAR I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER I BETTER HAVE GOOD INSURANCE. I STILL HAVE A ROPE HOLDING BY BACK DOORS CLOSED. AND I WAS NEVER TREATED SO BADLY BEFORE IN MY LIFE. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Aug 6, 2012
MY CAR HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE DOORS FOR QUITE AWHILE. ITS ALWAYS BEEN ANNOYING, BUT ITS NEVER REALLY SEEMED LIKE SUCH A BIG DEAL TO ME. TODAY, HOT SUMMER DAY, I WENT SHOPPING WITH MY BOYFRIEND, HE SAID I'M GOING TO GO GET YOUR CAR I WILL BE BACK, AS 30 MINUTES PASS HE IS FINALLY BACK TO TELL ME THAT MY DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE KEY WOULD NOT UNLUCK THE DOOR. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK DOORS JUST BEING STUCK ON LOCK FOR DAYS AT A TIME BUT IT ALWAYS EVENTUALLY FIXES ITSELF, WHICH IS WHY I HAVE NEVER REPORTED IT BEFORE. BUT TODAY I HAD TO PAY 30 DOLLARS FOR A LOCKSMITH TO COME OUT AND UNLOCK MY DOOR. I AM NOT VERY HAPPY BECAUSE I AM A POOR COLLEGE KID WHO COULD REALLY USE THAT MONEY ON SOMETHING ELSE. AS I RESEARCH THIS ONLINE I SEE MORE THAN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VERY SAME THING HAPPENING TO PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR THAT I HAVE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF FOR SOME REASON THERE WAS A KID IN THE CAR THAT WE COULD NOT GET OUT. IT INFURIATES ME THAT NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT THIS PROBLEM BE INVESTIGATED AND IF NECESSARY THE CARS BE ON RECALL TO GET FIXED FOR FREE. THANK YOU. *TR
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 23, 2012
KEY LOCKS FOR FRONT DOORS AND DOOR LATCHES WON'T OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP, OF COURSE IT ISN'T COVERED. IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY LOCK YOUR DOOR WITH YOUR CHILD IN IT ON A HOT DAY, YOU CAN'T GET THEM OUT IN TIME. SHOULDN'T THE LOCKS AND LATCHES WORK FOR AT LEAST 100K MILES? HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR UNLOCKED ALL THE TIME. *TR
Structure, Jul 23, 2012
THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR. THE REAR HANDLE SEEMS TO PULL NORMALLY BUT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK. THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE PULLS OUT LOOSELY. WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR 3 DAYS AGO SOMETHING BROKE INSIDE THE DOOR. THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE MOTOR WILL GO DOWN BUT THE WINDOW WILL NOT. I CAN PULL IT DOWN BY PUTTING ONE HAND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE GLASS (AFTER OPERATING THE BUTTON THAT WOULD NORMALLY OPEN THE WINDOW) THE WINDOW CAN BE CLOSED USING THE BUTTON. *TR
Structure, Mar 6, 2012
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 DOOR HANDLES DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THEM BREAKING. I TALKED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HE SAYS HE HAS REPLACED OVER 10 OTHER 2007/08/09 FOCUS EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. NONE HOWEVER WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND OF COURSE BOTH OF MY BROKE AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THE COST WAS 142.00/PER THIS IS A HUGE DESIGN FLAW AS WELL AS COSTLY. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Jan 22, 2012
RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKED. CANNOT BE OPENED. CANNOT BE UNLOCKED ELECTRONICALLY NOR MANUALLY. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Dec 29, 2011
THE BACK DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. DOOR IS UNLOCKED BUT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. *KB
Structure, Nov 2, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH FRONT DOORS COULD ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Suspension, Electrical system, Structure, Aug 2, 2011
I PURCHASED A '08 FORD FOCUS- 4DR SDN SE IN MARCH '08 FROM MARK MARTIN FORD IN BATESVILLE, AR. JULY '08, DOORS LOCKED & WOULDN'T OPEN. SINCE THE ORIGINAL DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE, IT'S BEEN RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP 14+ TIMES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR REPAIRS FOR A TOTAL OF 209 CALENDAR DAYS (JUST FROM MAY 14,'10-DEC. 31,'10). IT IS DOCUMENTED THAT THE CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS BEFORE 12,000 MI. HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE AR ATTY. GEN'S OFF, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, FORD CREDIT, MARK MARTIN FORD. STARTED LEMON LAW PROCEEDINGS & HAD AN ARBITRATION MEETING SET IN JAN. '11. FORD CUSTOMER CARE WAS WORKING ON A BUYBACK/REPLACEMENT. FORD WANTED A SECOND OPINION. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. FORD MADE MANY ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I SENT A DEMAND LETTER TO FORD. THEY DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO DO A FINAL FIX. INSTEAD THEY REPOSSESSED THE CAR. I WAS ONLY 2 MOS BEHIND & MADE ARRANGEMENTS W/FORD CREDIT TO MAKE A PAYMENT IN DEC. '10. I DID. I HAVE A LETTER FROM MARK MARTIN FORD STATING,"THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY KNOW TO DO." I HAVE A LETTER FROM FORD STATING, "ALTHOUGH THEY ADMIT TO NO WRONG DOING ON THEIR PART, THEY WANT ME TO BE A SATISFIED CUSTOMER & ARE WILLING TO WAIVE THE BALANCE I OWE" (YET IT'S ON MY CREDIT REPORT). THE AR ATTY GEN'S OFF SAYS I HAVE A CASE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MARK MARTIN FORD ON THESE DATES FOR REPAIRS/DEFECTS:7/30/08-RR DOOR STAYS LOCKED;7/30/08-RUMBLE SOUND WHEN DRIVING;10/08/08-DRS HARD TO OPEN W/OUTSIDE HANDLE;10/08/08-RR DR WONT UNLOCK;10/08/08-STARTER HUNG AFTER CAR STARTED;10/08/08-DUST LEAKING IN RR & LF;3/16/09-RR;3/16/09-RR DR WEATHER-STRIPPING FALLING DOWN;3/16/09-POPPING NOISE IN RF&LF;3/26/09-LR DR WONT UNLOCK;8/07/09-LR TIRE SENSOR OFF;06/09/10-LFRONT DR WONT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE;06/09/10-LR DR WONT OPEN;06/09/10-DR SEAL LEAKING DUST IN;8/21/10-LREAR DR WONT OPEN FROM;8/21/10-DUST COMING IN
Structure, Jul 27, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 30, 2010
I HAVE A 2008 FORD FOCUS THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE ISSUE IS THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME MONEY JUST TO LOOK AT IT.. I DON'T THINK A DOOR OPENING SHOULD BE VIEWED IN THIS WAY. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT. IT JUST STOPPED OPENING. I LOVED MY FOCUS UNTIL THE INITIAL WARRANTY EXPIRED. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 21, 2009
CONCERNING A '08 FOCUS, 4 DOOR SE. CAR IS APPROXIMATELY 18MONTHS OLD AND HAS COVERED 38,000 APPROX.. REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. WHEN USING POWER LOCKS, THE DOOR BUTTON WOULD FAIL TO MOVE. ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS (LUCKY) THE DOOR COULD BE OPENED. THEN THE SAME HAPPENED TO THE OTHER REAR DOOR. SO NOW BOTH REAR DOORS WERE INOPERABLE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MONTANA FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS EXPLAINED. CAR WAS KEPT IN SHOP FOR FOUR DAYS WHILST BITS WERE ORDERED, AND PROBLEM RECTIFIED. WAS CHARGED $100 AND TOLD THIS WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY (ALTHOUGH A RENTAL CAR WAS PROVIDED FOR THIS PERIOD). IN HINDSIGHT I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED BOTH DOORS, AS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE OTHER DOOR HADN'T BEEN FIXED. CAR NOW HAS TO GO INTO SHOP FOR FURTHER RECTIFICATION. I REALIZE THAT IN '05 FORD RECALLED APPROX 359,000 01-02 FOCUS FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH OTHER DOOR LATCHES ON VARIOUS VEHICLES. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ON A 08 FOCUS, WHICH HAS BEEN DRIVEN CAREFULLY BY ONE OWNER, FAIL TO SEE HOW THE FORD DEALER CAN SAY IT'S NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT? ARE THEY WORRIED THAT IT'LL COST MORE FOR A RECALL THAN ANY LAWSUITS? *TR