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
What owners actually said
250 reports
30,000 miles · Sep 14, 2009
Tires
MY WIFE TOOK OUR 2008 FORD FOCUS IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT ROTATE THE TIRES BECAUSE THE REAR TIRES WERE BAD. THE "CORDS" IN THE REAR TIRES HAD BROKEN INSIDE THE TIRE AND NOW THEY ARE OUT OF ROUND. THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE RECORD OF…
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MY WIFE TOOK OUR 2008 FORD FOCUS IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT ROTATE THE TIRES BECAUSE THE REAR TIRES WERE BAD. THE "CORDS" IN THE REAR TIRES HAD BROKEN INSIDE THE TIRE AND NOW THEY ARE OUT OF ROUND. THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE RECORD OF ROTATING THE WHEELS (BECAUSE I HAD DONE IT AT HOME FOR FREE). I HAVE BEEN ON MANY INTERNET TIRE WEB SITES AND THE PIRELLI TIRES ARE KNOWN FOR THIS HAPPENING ON SMALLER VEHICLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10283943
35,302 miles · Aug 24, 2009
Tires
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…
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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 THE TIRE, THAT THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO A IMPROPER USE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, IMPROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE NOT BEING BALANCED OR FAILURE TO ROTATE THE TIRES. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10281600
32,233 miles · Aug 20, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
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.…
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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 POWER LOSS AND WRENCH, WE LEFT THE CAR RUNNING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TAKE VIDEO, AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FINALLY CAME ON. WHICH ALLOWED THE DEALER IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM TO IMMEDIATELY REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS AS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS YOU LOOSE ALL OR 90 PERCENT POWER AND HAVE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BASED ON THE DEALERS COMMENTS IT APPEARS A RECALL SHOULD HAPPEN ON THE THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10281167
38,000 miles · Aug 10, 2009
Air BagsCrash
2008 FORD FOCUS AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING AFTER ACCIDENT GOING 65 MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10280037
31,848 miles · Aug 8, 2009
SeatsCrashInjury
HEAD RESTRAINT FOR DRIVER'S SEAT CAME OUT OF THE SEAT DURING A REAR-END COLLISION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279764
30,000 miles · Jul 15, 2009
Suspension
TIRES WEAR UNEVEN ON 2008 FORD FOCUS WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER. SO FAR 2 SETS OF TIRES HAVE BEEN WORN OUT AND WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD I AM BEING BOUNCED ALL AROUND. THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10276909
13,000 miles · May 26, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED AND DESTROYED BY A HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AN OCCUPANT IN HER VEHICLE SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. BOTH THE CONTACT AND OCCUPANT WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE S…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED AND DESTROYED BY A HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AN OCCUPANT IN HER VEHICLE SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. BOTH THE CONTACT AND OCCUPANT WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
NHTSA ODI #10269968
17,268 miles · Apr 20, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONSUMERS SON LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND ROLLED ONCE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST IN A CREEK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACTS SON SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK AND ANKLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONSUMERS SON LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND ROLLED ONCE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST IN A CREEK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACTS SON SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK AND ANKLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000. UPDATED 6/4/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD STATING THE IMPACT WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT AIR BAD DEPLOYMENT. UPDATED 06/02/11
NHTSA ODI #10266162
12,400 miles · Mar 5, 2009
Tires
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED TO WARN OF LOW PRESSURE IN RIGHT REAR TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO FAIL, RESULTING IN INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE AUTO HAS NO SPARE, ONLY AN INFLATION SYSTEM, WHICH DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10260807
15,000 miles · Feb 20, 2009
Power Train
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 TRANSM…
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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.
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
1
PE08060 · 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
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