IllustrationBoth Front Door latches have failed and will not open from the outside
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
Structure complaints
41 reportsENTERED 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 ATTEMP…
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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.
ES UNA EXCELENTE HERRAMIENTA DONDE SE PUEDE SACAR INFORMACION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. IN THE PROCESS, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND DEEMED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. IN THE PROCESS, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 15332352. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO SPOKE WITH AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRING THE SUBFRAME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HAD TO BE SECURED WITH A ROPE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER DOOR AND BOTH REAR DOORS. DOOR WON'T LATCH AT TIMES AND POWER DOOR LOCK WON'T LOCK AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES WON'T UNLOCK OR BOTH.
THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE & THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. THE PROBLEM STARTED ONE DAY WHEN IT WAS PARKED AT WAL MART & I COULD NOT GET INTO THE CAR UPON RETURNING TO IT. I POP TRUNK, PUSH SEAT DOWN & CRAWL THROUGH. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON LINE WITH SAME ISSUES & RECALLS ON NEWER MODELS FOR S…
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THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE & THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. THE PROBLEM STARTED ONE DAY WHEN IT WAS PARKED AT WAL MART & I COULD NOT GET INTO THE CAR UPON RETURNING TO IT. I POP TRUNK, PUSH SEAT DOWN & CRAWL THROUGH. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON LINE WITH SAME ISSUES & RECALLS ON NEWER MODELS FOR SAME COMPLAINTS.
MANUALLY UNLOCKED VEHICLE FROM DRIVER'S DOOR, BUT LATCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE TO OPEN THE DOOR. VEHICLE MUST BE ENTERED VIA THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR MUST BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR.
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. 2 WEEKS LATER PASSENGER DOOR FAILED FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL. I DRILLED A HOLE THROUGH THE INTERIOR HANDLE AND STRUNG IT OUTSIDE THE DOOR SO I CAN GET INTO MY COUPE. YEAH THAT'S RIGHT ALL DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. WHAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE IS FORD IN THEIR INFINITE WISD…
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DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. 2 WEEKS LATER PASSENGER DOOR FAILED FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL. I DRILLED A HOLE THROUGH THE INTERIOR HANDLE AND STRUNG IT OUTSIDE THE DOOR SO I CAN GET INTO MY COUPE. YEAH THAT'S RIGHT ALL DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. WHAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE IS FORD IN THEIR INFINITE WISDOM DISCONTINUED BOTH PARTS I NEED TO FIX IT FAULTY THOUGH THEY MAY BE. 8S4Z-5421812-D (PASSENGER) AND POSSIBLY 8S4Z-5421813-B (DRIVER - THOUGH I'M NOT ENTIRELY CERTAIN THIS IS THE CORRECT MANUAL LOCK ASSEMBLY.) SO FORD PUT MILLIONS OF FAULTY LATCHES OUT THERE AND DISCONTINUED THE PART NEEDED TO FIX IT. IN THE MEANTIME I'M NOT ABLE TO KEEP MY CAR SECURED WITH ANY BELONGS I MAY PUT IN IT AS I HAVE TO HAVE A ROPE/STRING HANGING OUT ANYONE CAN WALK BY AND PULL TO GET IN MY CAR.
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