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2008 Ford Focus Other Problems

13 owner-reported other complaints from NHTSA data

13
Complaints
Jan 2018Dec 2015
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (13)

highUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2025

Your car's starter has been hard to turn over for a while, and now your key is stuck in the ignition and the car won't start at all. This suggests both the starter motor and the ignition switch may need attention. A mechanic will likely need to inspect and possibly replace the starter motor and/or ignition cylinder.

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NHTSA #: 11680029
highUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2023

Your trunk lid falls down on its own after you open it, dropping with force and speed. This has happened multiple times, and the owner was struck on the head and hand, resulting in cuts and concern about potential concussion. The trunk lid support system needs to be inspected and repaired to prevent injury.

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NHTSA #: 11518217
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2021

Your driver's side door handle doesn't work from the outside—it feels like the handle isn't gripping the mechanism inside the door properly. You can still open the door from the inside without any problem. The issue appears to be with the door handle bracket assembly, which reportedly affects many Focus owners.

NHTSA #: 11407286
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2018

STARTING ISSUES RELATED TO IGNITION HOUSING AND OR SWITCH. HAD TO PAY $500 TO HAVE REPLACED. WAS TOLD BY REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD VEHICLES ESPECIALLY THE FOCUS SERIES. THERE ARE ALSO NUMEROUS YOUTUBE VIDEOS DOCUMENTING THE SAME ISSUE AS WELL AS SEVERAL FORUMS AND ARTICLES THAT CAN ALL BE FOUND WITH AN EASY SEARCH ON THE WEB. MY CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING AT AROUND 100,000 MILES UNTIL IT WOULD START AT ALL.

NHTSA #: 11060681
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jul 2017

DOOR LOCKS STICK AND LOCK. VARIES WITH TEMPERATURE/DUST. UNKNOWN ACTUAL CAUSE BUT HAPPENS TO BACK DOORS. SOMETIMES DRIVERS SIDE SOMETIMES PASSENGER. MOST RECENT BACK DOORS ARE UNLOCKED AGAIN BUT DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE BUT WILL FROM INSIDE. WHEN IT WAS BACK DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT. DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF MOVING OR NOT. THIS STARTED WITH THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND THEN SWITCHED TO DRIVER SIDE OVER A YEAR AGO AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR ME. THE PASSENGER SIDE FINALLY RELEASED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO BUT DRIVERS SIDE WAS STILL LOCKED. AFTER A TRIP SHOPPING I HIT THE LOCK SWITCH BY ACCIDENT AND DOOR UNLOCKED. AFTER I OPENED THE DOOR IT DID NOT WANT TO LATCH. I FINALLY GOT IT TO CLOSE AFTER MESSING WITH THE LOCK BETWEEN COMPRESSED AIR, PB BLASTER AND GREASE. BOTH BACK DOORS ARE FREE NOW BUT MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE NOW. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE LOCKED BUT ITS NOT WORKING RIGHT. THE BACK PASSENGER WAS VERY SIMILAR BUT IT FREED ITSELF. NOT SO SURE I WILL HAVE ANY LUCK WITH THE NEW ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11010646
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jul 2017

IGNITION SWITCH THE CAR IS HARD TO START GOT TO PUSH KEY IN TO START

NHTSA #: 11002682
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2017

DOOR LATCH WILL NOT CLOSE.DOOR BOUNCED OPEN UPON TRYING TO CLOSE IT. THIS IS THE 3RD DOOR LATCH! NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!!

NHTSA #: 10980968
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2016

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT SHIFTS HARD INTO GEARS AND THEN IT DOESN'T WANT TO STAY IN 4TH GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT DOWN SHIFTS AND THEN WANTS TO RUN 3,000 OR HIGHER RPMS WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA #: 10892313
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2016

THE KEY HAS TO BE PUSHED IN EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN ON THE ENGINE. IT TAKES SOMETIMES UP TO 5 MINUTES REPEATEDLY TURNING THE KEY FOR IT TO ENGAGE.

NHTSA #: 10851182
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Dec 2015

2008 FORD FOCUS - 2 DR DRIVER DOOR ONLY KEYED ENTRY POINT... LOCKED CAR CAME BACK ...DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN WITH KEY .CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AFTER THE 1ST TIME JUST LEFT UNLOCKED. TOOK CAR FOR OIL CHANGE FORGOT TO TELL THEM DON'T LOCK AND OF COURSE THEY LOCKED WHEN DONE.HAD TO CALL ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO GET IT UNLOCKED. THIS IS REALLY UNSAFE IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS.

NHTSA #: 10808568
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2015

THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS BEGAN TO SEIZE UP OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A YEAR. NOW ONLY ONE DOOR WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK USING THE ELECTRONIC LOCKING SYSTEM. THE DOORS CAN BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY BY PULLING AND PUSHING ON THE PLASTIC MANUAL DOOR LOCKS.

NHTSA #: 10745625
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2015

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.

NHTSA #: 10725045
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2013

MANUAL DOOR LATCHES ON 4-DOOR, KEY ENTRY. USE OF KEY TO GAIN ENTRY ON BOTH FRONT DOORS BEGAN A GRADUAL FAILURE. HAD TO WORK THE KEY, APPLY PRESSURE TO THE DOORS, ETC, UNTIL BOTH LOCKS FAILED TO OPEN WITH KEY. TWICE HAD PUT CHILDREN IN THE CAR, ACCIDENTALLY LOCKED DOORS, THEN UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS WITH KEYS. FORD SAYS IT ISN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY, ALTHOUGHT THE PROBLEMS FIRST STARTED APPEARING WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS, HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE UNLOCKED. EVENTUALLY HAD AN AUTO BODY MAN DISASSMBLE THE DOORS, LUBE THE LATHES, AND THE WORK AGAIN, ALTHOUGHT THEY ARE STARTING TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN. NEW LATCHES ARE $120 TO $160 EACH IF YOU CAN FIND THEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10494542

Other 2008 Ford Focus Issues