NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
250 reports62,000 miles · Jun 1, 2010
Electrical System
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, USUALLY AT SPEEDS AROUND 67 MPH, THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND GOES TO IDLE. IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE, BUT IDLES AT 1100 RPMS. THE FIX IT LIGHT TURNS ON. ONCE PULLED OVER, I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THEN RESTART. IT RUNS ROUGHLY FOR A MOMENT THE APPEARS TO RUN NORMALLY AND THE FIX IT LIGHT GOES OUT. I HAVE TAK…
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ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, USUALLY AT SPEEDS AROUND 67 MPH, THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND GOES TO IDLE. IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE, BUT IDLES AT 1100 RPMS. THE FIX IT LIGHT TURNS ON. ONCE PULLED OVER, I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THEN RESTART. IT RUNS ROUGHLY FOR A MOMENT THE APPEARS TO RUN NORMALLY AND THE FIX IT LIGHT GOES OUT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WILL NOT DRIVE IT LONG ENOUGH TO DUPLICATE THE EVENT - USUALLY HAPPENS EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WAS MAY 30TH 2010 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE 405 FREEWAY, LOS ANGELES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10334056
23,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages
I BEEN LOCKED IN MY CAR 2X. I HAVE A FORD FOCUS 2008. WHERE THE DOOR LATCHES DUST BUILDS UP TO WERE I CANT GET OUT. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP THEY NEVER SEEN THIS IN 18 YRS. I HAVE TO SPRAY COMPUTER CLEANER/BRAKE CLEANER WHICH I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325544
36,000 miles · Mar 4, 2010
SuspensionWheels
I HAVE A 2008 FORD FOCUS, I HAVE REPLACE THE TIRES ON IT 3 TIMES ALREADY DUE TO WEAR THERE IS ONLY 37,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND FROM THE FORD DEALER THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION ON THESE CARS AND ITS GONING TO CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH WHEN THESE CARS START TO FAIL EXPECIAL…
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I HAVE A 2008 FORD FOCUS, I HAVE REPLACE THE TIRES ON IT 3 TIMES ALREADY DUE TO WEAR THERE IS ONLY 37,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND FROM THE FORD DEALER THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION ON THESE CARS AND ITS GONING TO CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH WHEN THESE CARS START TO FAIL EXPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I AM ON MY FOURTH SET OF TIRES AND THEY WILL SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED. I AM ALSO HEARING A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. I BELIEVE IT IS ALSO THE SUSPENSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10316822
10,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISES IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE WHERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DRIVER REPLACED THE TIRES WITH GOODYEAR …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISES IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE WHERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DRIVER REPLACED THE TIRES WITH GOODYEAR TIRES AND AROUND 13,000 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST HIM. THE DRIVER HAS NOW REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES. THE NOISE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING MORE THAN 60 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,100.
NHTSA ODI #10315853
25,000 miles · Feb 22, 2010
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE WAS DRIVING SOMEONE REAR ENDED HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HUGGED HER TIGHT ENOUGH. THE CONTACT HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE SHE RECEIVED A CUT ABOVE HER EYE AND HAD TO HAVE STITCH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE WAS DRIVING SOMEONE REAR ENDED HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HUGGED HER TIGHT ENOUGH. THE CONTACT HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE SHE RECEIVED A CUT ABOVE HER EYE AND HAD TO HAVE STITCHES. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED SHE INFORMED THE DEALER BUT HAD NOT CALLED THE FORD MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 03/18/10 *BF UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10312854
29,000 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO THE PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD AS IF IT WAS NOT IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE CONTACT NOTICED PREVIOUSLY THAT THE E…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO THE PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD AS IF IT WAS NOT IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE CONTACT NOTICED PREVIOUSLY THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 29000.
NHTSA ODI #10311773
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2010
Power Train
LTR TO THE POTUS RE A DEFECTIVE 2008 FORD FOCUS HE CO-SIGNED FOR HIS GRANDSON, CAR IS A LEMON AND WANTS FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY/ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 13 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DIFFERENT PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE CONSTANTLY BEING REPLACED. TH…
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LTR TO THE POTUS RE A DEFECTIVE 2008 FORD FOCUS HE CO-SIGNED FOR HIS GRANDSON, CAR IS A LEMON AND WANTS FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY/ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 13 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DIFFERENT PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE CONSTANTLY BEING REPLACED. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF SMELLING BURNT TRANSMISSION FLUID, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT, THE COOLER LINES AND CONTROL VALVE WERE REPLACED. EVENTUALLY, THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10299410
8,800 miles · Nov 20, 2009
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHEN DRIVING OVER ICE OR SNOW THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SHIMMY. THIS CONDITION REDUCES HIS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. SINCE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, A REMEDY COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHEN DRIVING OVER ICE OR SNOW THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SHIMMY. THIS CONDITION REDUCES HIS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. SINCE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, A REMEDY COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8800. UPDATED 01/12/10 *BF UPDATED 01/13/10.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10293064
25,000 miles · Nov 5, 2009
Seat Belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT SECURE THE SEAT BELT AFTER INSERTION. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEATS BELT IS MORE LIKELY TO UNLATCH FROM THE BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
NHTSA ODI #10291111
38,000 miles · Sep 21, 2009
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10284788
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