2008 FORD FOCUS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
333
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
6
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2008 FORD FOCUS
The 2008 FORD FOCUS has received a total of 333 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. 6 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (52 complaints), Structurebody (27 complaints), and Air Bags (22 complaints).
Recalls for the 2008 FORD FOCUS
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2008 FORD FOCUS, potentially affecting up to 1,966 vehicles.
Recall 08E050000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 1,921 vehicles affected
Defect: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
View full details →Recall 07V541000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 45 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2008 FORD FOCUS
333 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 FORD FOCUS. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
The brakes went to the floor and the whole car locked up. When I pressed the brakes to slow down it felt like something on the brakes just fell apart. I was in a car accident because of this I hit another car no no
Starter has always been difficult but now key stuck in ignition and won't start either
I purchased a 2008 Ford Focus from my father (now deceased). The airbag warning light has been on. When I had the OBD read, it came back with code # B2294 indicating a fault in a control module. My research makes me believe this vehicle should be included in NHTSA# 07V541000 (Ford # 07C19); however, both NHTSA and Ford say it isn't. I would like to find out why this particular vehicle was excluded and is there something I can do at this point to have it included.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak and a corroded subframe. The contact was informed that the subframe was significantly thin due to corrosion and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,625. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak and a corroded subframe. The contact was informed that the subframe was significantly thin due to corrosion and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,625. The VIN was unavailable.
Safety Rating for the 2008 FORD FOCUS
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2008 FORD FOCUS in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2008 FORD FOCUS
Ford Motor Company has issued 6 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2008 FORD FOCUS. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SSM 46085 — ENGINE
The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM...
TSB-08-9-3 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
FORD: MIL ON DTC P0128/ DELAYED 3-4 UPSHIFT/IMPROVED HILL HOLD. BUILT ON OR BEFORE 4/18/08. VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A DELAYED 3-4 UPSHIFT/MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. *PE
TSB-0819-9 — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
FORD: SOME VEHICLES BUILT ON OR AFTER 10/3/05 MAY EXPERIENCE A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF THE POWER STEERING (P/S) SYSTEM LEAKING AND/OR SYSTEM NOISY. *PE
08-5-8 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4R27E TRANSAXLE NO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR--BUILT ON OR BEFORE 1/29/08. *NJ
07T08-S1 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
2008 FOCUS DEFROSTER PERFORMANCE UPGRADE PRIOR TO SALE - PARTS UPDATE. *NJ
SI-20014 — TIRES
FORD: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A SLIGHT TIRE SHAKE OR VIBRATION CAUSED BY TEMPORARY TIRE FLAT SPOTTING. IF TIRE SHAKE/VIBRATION IS EVIDENT AT PRE DELIVERY OR VERY LOW MILEAGE DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR 10-15 MILES PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING ANY REPAIRS. *PE
NHTSA Investigations for the 2008 FORD FOCUS
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FORD FOCUS
- 2003 FORD FOCUS — 1,224 complaints
- 2004 FORD FOCUS — 499 complaints
- 2005 FORD FOCUS — 599 complaints
- 2006 FORD FOCUS — 269 complaints
- 2007 FORD FOCUS — 524 complaints
- 2008 FORD FOCUS (current)
- 2009 FORD FOCUS — 321 complaints
- 2010 FORD FOCUS — 408 complaints
- 2011 FORD FOCUS — 156 complaints
- 2012 FORD FOCUS — 4,950 complaints
- 2013 FORD FOCUS — 2,902 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD EXPLORER — 42,140 total complaints
- FORD ESCAPE — 34,654 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints
- FORD MUSTANG — 11,551 total complaints