2008 FORD FOCUS Complaints

View complaints related to 2008 FORD FOCUS. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 240 complaints submitted for the 2008 FORD FOCUS. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
    - PHARR, TX

    CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND I COULD NOT GET IT STARTED. STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION TO GET THE CAR STARTED. HAVE TO KEEP THE KEY PUSHED IN, STRAIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET IT STARTED AND SOMETIMES WOULD TAKE 10 TIMES. NOT A GOOD THING IN TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A MISSING SCREW IN AN ENCLOSED CRIMPED AREA OF THE HOUSING FOR THE IGNITION WHICH I WAS THEN TOLD THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE EXCEPT FOR AN ASSEMBLY ERROR. WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO WAY IT COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT. WE HAVE A STICK SHIFT SO IT IS VERY EASY TO STALL IT WHILE IN TRAFFIC IF NOT PAYING ATTENTION. WE ALMOST GOT HIT BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET IT STARTED. THIS PROBLEM STARTING IT HAS GONE ON FOR SOME TIME, BUT IT HAD CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. WAS TOLD THIS ONE SCREW HOLDS THE HOUSING IN PLACE SO THE KEY WORKS PROPERLY.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
    - JAMESTOWN, NY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,707. UPDATED 8/31/15*CN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY A REPAIR SHOP. UPDATED 09/08/15*JB

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
    - COLUMBUS, OH

    TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SPUTTER ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE 4TH OR 5TH TIME THE CAR HAD THIS PROBLEM. AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY CAR STRUGGLED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CAR WOULD FREE REV AND KICK/SHAKE INTO GEAR.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
    - COLUMBUS, OH

    THE CAR SUSPENSION IS EASILY UNALIGNED AND CAUSES THE CAR TO GO THROUGH TIRES AT AN ALARMINGLY ABOVE AVERAGE RATE. 30,000+ MILE TIRES DO NOT MAKE IT 20,000 WITHOUT SEVERE DAMAGE AND WEAR. AFTER OWNING THE CAR AND TAKING IT TO MANY DIFFERENT SHOPS THE RESULTS ARE ALWAYS THE SAME THAT MY CARS SUSPENSION IS NOT CORRECT. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 5 SETS OF SWAY BAR LINKS AND AT LEAST 8+ SETS OF TIRES IN THE 100,000 MILES I HAVE DROVE THE CAR. I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR 90% OF MY PURCHASES FOR REPAIRS, PARTS, AND SERVICE THAT ALL RELATE BACK TO THE CARS SUSPENSION NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND WEARING ABNORMALLY. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
    - BALTIMORE, MD

    I BROUGHT MY FIRST CAR IN MAY 2014. I STARTED NOTICING STEERING PROBLEMS 2-3 MONTHS AFTER I GOT IT. MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKING. SO ON AUGUST 22, 2014 ME & MY DAD TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND FIX IT (SINCE IT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY) BUT ALL THEY DID WAS PUT STEERING FLUID IN IT AND A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE PROBLEM RETURNED. IN MARCH 2015 WE DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE FORD FACTORY DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE STEERING GOT VERY UNBEARABLE AND THEY TOLD US THAT THE RACK SUSPENSION WAS BAD BUT THEY COULDN'T WORK ON IT BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BROUGHT IT FROM ALREADY TOLD THE WARRANTY COMPANY THAT THEY ALREADY FIXED THE PROBLEM (WHICH THEY DIDN'T) SO THE ONLY WAY THE FORD FACTORY COULD WORK ON IT IS IF THEY FIX IT WITHOUT THE WARRANTY WHICH WOULD COST $1500-1600 (WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD, JUST RECENTLY LOST MY JOB) SO APRIL 7, 2015-APRIL 13, 2015 I LEFT MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP I BROUGHT MY CAR FROM SO THEY WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO COMPLETELY FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP THEY BASICALLY SAID THERE'S NOT MUCH THEY COULD DO AND THAT THE STEERING IS STILL ROUGH BUT NOT AS BAD SINCE THEY TOOK OUT THE OLD RACK SUSPENSION AND SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE, THEY DID NOT CHARGE US FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID SO WE DIDN'T RECEIVE A RECEIPT AND THEY ONLY SHOWED US THE OLD RACK SUSPENSION THAT THEY TOOK OUT. SO IN CONCLUSION, MY STEERING IS STILL STIFF/ROUGH AND I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT IT MIGHT BE A RECALL ON THE CAR AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I'M STRESSED AND NEED ANSWERS. PLEASE HELP! *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
    - PHILADELPHIA, PA

    THE VEHICLE DOES NOT EXCEED 50 MPH. THE CAR WOULD STALL AND JUMP UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE UP HILL. THE CAR ALSO SHAKES CONTINUOUSLY AND ROARS LOUDLY WHEN 40-50 MPH IS REACHED. THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING BUT THE WRENCH LIGHT ALSO GOES AWAY WHEN YOU RESTART THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO MECHANICS WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT SERVICE WHEN WRENCH LIGHT IS OFF. WHEN I DID TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC WHEN THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON THE MECHANIC PLUGGED UP A SYSTEM AND INFORMED ME THAT IT MUST JUST BE A SENSOR. I AVOID HIGHWAYS BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AFTER 40-50MPH. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE. I RELY ON MY VEHICLE AND AM DISAPPOINTED, AFRAID AND UNCERTAIN WHAT TO DO. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
    - YOUNGSTOWN, OH

    THE VEHICLE HAS FLAWED LATCHING MECHANISMS. WITHIN 6 MONTHS, 3 OUT OF MY 4 DOORS FAILED TO CLOSE. THEY STILL WILL NOT CLOSE. I WAS TAKING A TURN, WHEN MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENED. I EVENTUALLY GOT IT TO CLOSE, HOWEVER AFTER SEVERAL USES, IT WILL NOT LATCH SHUT. NEITHER WILL THE REAR DRIVER DOOR. THE DRIVER DOOR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT I HAD IT FIXED. BOTH BACK DOORS ARE CURRENTLY DUCT TAPED SHUT DUE TO HIGH PRICE OF PARTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A FOCUS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF A DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING, SOMEONE WILL GET SERIOUSLY HURT IN A COLLISION. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
    - WATERVILLE, NY

    THE CAR HESITATES AND STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP (ESPECIALLY ON A HILL). SOMETIMES THE "WRENCH" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MALFUNCTION). WHEN THE WRENCH" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON IT DOES NOT STORE A CODE. WHEN IT STALLS IT ALWAYS WILL START BACK UP AND DRIVE FINE (UNLESS I AM ON A HILL) THIS HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN MOVING AND ACCELERATING. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP HOME MODE" THERE WAS A LINE OF CARS BEHIND ME AND NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. I WAS MOVING ABOUT 10 MPH. WHEN I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND DROVE HOME WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR RUNS PERFECT IN ALL OTHER INSTANCES. I AM SURE THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL PROBLEM. FORD HAS ADMITTED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE ON OTHER MODELS OF FORD CARS MY 2008 FORD FOCUS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
    - INDEPENDENCE, KY

    IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. REPEATED PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASED NEW!! KEY WON'T TURN LOCK OR GETS STUCK. *JS

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
    - NEW MILFORD, CT

    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. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE