2008 Ford FOCUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
250 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
61,640 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 199 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 52 of 250 complaints (20.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 6.0% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 4.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 52 |
| Structure:Body | 27 |
| Air Bags | 23 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 19 |
| Suspension | 19 |
| Power Train | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Tires | 15 |
Electrical System: 52; Structure:Body: 27; Air Bags: 23; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 19; Suspension: 19; Power Train: 18; Unknown Or Other: 18; Tires: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 31 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 43 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 42 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 30 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 18 |
Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 43; 50,000 to 74,999: 42; 75,000 to 99,999: 30; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 18
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 51 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 26 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 29 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 9; 2009: 13; 2010: 23; 2011: 26; 2012: 19; 2013: 19; 2014: 36; 2015: 14; 2016: 29; 2017: 19; 2018: 10; 2019: 12; 2020: 7; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10281167 · 2009-08-20 (August 20, 2009)
THERE IS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE WITH 08 AND NEW FORD FOCUS. THE THROTTLE BODY DEFECT, LEANS THE FUEL MIXTURE CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE ALL POWER, BUT IDOLS KEEPING YOUR POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. YOU THEN HAVE TO PULL OVER, TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART CAR ONLY TO HAPPEN EVERY 50 MILES OR SO, DEPENDING ON A/C, SPEED, ROAD GRADES. FORD DEALER IN KINGMAN ADMITTED LOTS OF FOCUS HAVE BEEN COMING IN WITH SAME ISSUE. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE WRENCH LIGHTING COMING UP ON THE DASH THERE WAS NO CODES FOR THE DEALER TO FIX THE CAR. AFTER THE 7TH TIME OF THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 32,233 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281167 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10281600 · 2009-08-24 (August 24, 2009)
ON 4/9/09 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I NOTICED SLIGHT VIBRATION COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR PIRELLI P6 TIRE ON MY 2008 FORD FOCUS. I CHECKED THE TIRE AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY VISIBLE SIGN OF DAMAGE. ON THE WAY HOME THE VIBRATION GOT MORE SEVERE. ON ARRIVING HOME I CHECKED THE TIRE AND FOUND ONE SPOT THAT WAS COMPLETELY BALD. FROM WHEN I CHECKED THE TIRE AT WORK TO WHEN I ARRIVED AT HOME I HAD DRIVEN A TOTAL OF LESS THAN 90 MILES FOR THE TIRE TO GO COMPLETELY BALD IN THAT SPOT. BOTH PIRELLI AND 2 FORD DEALERS CLAIM THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH T…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,302 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218952 · 2008-02-23 (February 23, 2008)
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 S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10218952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259459 · 2009-02-20 (February 20, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY A SOLUTION. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242994 · 2008-09-20 (September 20, 2008)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344260 · 2010-07-20 (July 20, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXHIBITED AN EXTREMELY SLOW RESPONSE AT AN IDLE SPEED. THERE WAS A NINETY PERCENT LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT DROVE ACROSS TWO LANES WITH CAUTION ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES WITHIN THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TA…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346390 · 2010-07-30 (July 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AROUND TWO MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WRENCH ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY FAILURES. THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT AND STATED THAT THE BLACK BOX WAS NOT RECORDING ANY DATA. THE VEHICLE WARRANTY HAD NEARLY REACHED ITS LIMIT OF 60,000. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BEFORE THE MILEAGE REACHED 60,000. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10405862 · 2011-06-10 (June 10, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY DOOR ON THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD OPEN WAS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR WOULD OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR, BUT NOT THE EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FAILURE WAS EITHER DUE TO THE WIRING OR THE DOOR LATCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10405862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10441718 · 2011-12-30 (December 30, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY STARTING AND ALL OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10535885 · 2013-08-17 (August 17, 2013)
FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING NEARLY EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WAS ON. I PLACED 3.6 GALLONS OF FUEL INTO THE TANK, AND THE GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL WAS A SLIGHT BIT UNDER 1/2 TANK. VEHICLE HAS A 12 GALLON GAS TANK; FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING AN INACCURATE LEVEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535885 at NHTSA ↗