RoadVitals

2008 Ford Focus Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
41
Latest Feb 19, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 250 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

The 25 most recent of 41, in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Feb 19, 2022

Both Front Door latches have failed and will not open from the outside

NHTSA ID
11452973
Incident
Feb 14, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Nov 23, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11375887
Incident
Nov 21, 2020
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Sep 21, 2019

ES UNA EXCELENTE HERRAMIENTA DONDE SE PUEDE SACAR INFORMACION

NHTSA ID
11257131
Incident
Sep 20, 2019
Body & structureEngine
Filed Aug 14, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11119906
Incident
Aug 12, 2018
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 17, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11034136
Incident
Oct 17, 2017
Body & structure
Filed Mar 28, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
10968965
Incident
Mar 24, 2017
Mileage
90,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jan 21, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
10946882
Incident
May 5, 2016
Mileage
180,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 3, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10923986
Incident
Sep 10, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 3, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10923958
Incident
Oct 10, 2016
Mileage
76,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 10, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10915136
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 6, 2016

IN JULY OF 2015 THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OF MY CAR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN JULY AND AUGUST OF 2016 MY DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL AS THE BACK DOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I'M DISABLED AND I HAVE TO LEAVE MY DOORS UNLOCKED SO THAT I CAN CRAWL INTO THE BACK SEAT AND OPEN MY DRIVERS DOOR WITH MY CANE TO GET IN.

NHTSA ID
10903808
Incident
Aug 2, 2016
Mileage
106,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 21, 2016

THE TAKATA RECALL-BOTH OF MY DOOR LATCH ARE NOT WORKING ON MY FORD FOCU 2008

NHTSA ID
10897469
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Body & structure
Filed Aug 17, 2016

TAKATA RECALL ONE DAY WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR ON DRIVERSIDE AND MY DOORHANDLE BROKE FROM OUTSIDE, CAN OPEN IT FROM INSIDE BUT NOT OUTSIDE TOOK IT TO LOCAL DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME 200-300 DOLLARS TO FIX I DONT HAVE THAT KINDA MONEY SO I GET IN PASSINGER SIDE AND ROLL WINDOW DOWN SO I CAN REACH IN DRIVERS DOOR TO OPEN DOOR ITS A HASSLE

NHTSA ID
10896530
Incident
Apr 14, 2010
Mileage
18,671 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 7, 2016

THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN TWICE ON MY CAR, I CAN UNLOCK THE CAR BUT CANNOT OPEN THE CAR, CURRENTLY BOTH DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN ON THE CAR AND THE ONLY ACCESS INSIDE THE CAR IS THROUGH THE TRUNK, THE PART /LABOR TO FIX THE DOOR IS ABOUT $400 AND THE PART ONLY LASTS ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE IT BREAKS AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE I HAD STEPPED OUT OF MY CAR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING TO GET MY MAIL, WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN! THERE WERE TWO EMT'S ACROSS THE STREET AND THEY CALLED THE DEPUTY SHERIFF TO HELP ME GET ACCESS TO THE CAR. THEY SAID IT WAS LUCKY THAT I HAD NOT HAD AN INFANT OR SMALL CHILD IN THE CAR. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TO KEEP MY WINDOW ROLLED DOWN OR CRAWL THROUGH THE TRUNK UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED.

NHTSA ID
10893798
Incident
Jul 27, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 19, 2016

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE 4 DOOR HANDLES THAT HAVE BROKEN TWICE AND HAVE 3 BROKEN DOOR HANDLES RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS $400 PER DOOR. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE DOOR HANDLES AND PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIR ON THE BROKEN DOORS I HAVE NOW. IF I HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WHILE DRIVING, NO ONE COULD OPEN MY DOOR TO HELP!

NHTSA ID
10865759
Incident
May 16, 2016
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jan 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/06/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
10821969
Incident
Jan 12, 2015
Body & structure
Filed Dec 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS RUSTING AT THE BOTTOM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10807769
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 4, 2015

THE VEHICLE HAS FLAWED LATCHING MECHANISMS. WITHIN 6 MONTHS, 3 OUT OF MY 4 DOORS FAILED TO CLOSE. THEY STILL WILL NOT CLOSE. I WAS TAKING A TURN, WHEN MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENED. I EVENTUALLY GOT IT TO CLOSE, HOWEVER AFTER SEVERAL USES, IT WILL NOT LATCH SHUT. NEITHER WILL THE REAR DRIVER DOOR. THE DRIVER DOOR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT I HAD IT FIXED. BOTH BACK DOORS ARE CURRENTLY DUCT TAPED SHUT DUE TO HIGH PRICE OF PARTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A FOCUS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF A DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING, SOMEONE WILL GET SERIOUSLY HURT IN A COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10681339
Incident
Feb 6, 2014
Mileage
101,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 29, 2014

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR NO LONGER OPENS FROM OUTSIDE. IN ORDER TO ENTER CAR, MUST EITHER ENTER THROUGH PASSENGER SEAT, OR LEAVE THE DRIVER'S WINDOW DOWN SO I CAN REACH IN AND OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WOULD BE UNABLE TO REMOVE THE DRIVER FROM THE VEHICLE, SINCE ALL OF THE CAR'S DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK THEMSELVES! I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE ON THIS WEBSITE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10651141
Incident
Aug 20, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Aug 5, 2014

MY FATHER IS DISABLED. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, HE HAS BEEN LOCKED INSIDE HIS CAR DUE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NOT OPENING FROM THE INSIDE. HE HAS STRUGGLED TO CRAWL OUT OF THE PASSENGER'S DOOR. HE ALSO HELPS TO TAKE CARE OF HIS 91 YEAR OLD MOTHER. I PRAY THAT THEY WILL BOTH BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE A CHILD WAS IN THE CAR IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER? HIS VEHICLE IS A 2008 FORD FOCUS S/SE/SES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10618892
Incident
Aug 2, 2014
Mileage
92,314 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Jul 5, 2014

DOOR LATCHES CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE HAD THEM REPAIRED BY DEALER TWICE NOW AND THE REAR DOOR LATCHES ARE BROKEN AGAIN NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME! THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN SINCE REAR PASSENGERS CANNOT QUICKLY OR SAFELY EXIT VEHICLE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY! *TR

NHTSA ID
10608293
Incident
Jul 31, 2008
Mileage
50,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureOther / unspecified
Filed May 13, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING NW ON SR626 ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN A WHITE CAR PULLED FROM STOP SIGN STRIKING MY CAR IN THE PASS SIDE, HITTING REAR TIRE AND BODY JUST IN FRONT OF TIRE AS I WAS SWERVING LEFT TO MISS CAR. AT IMPACT MY CAR SPUN 180 DEGREES SLIDING BACKWARDS INTO A DEEP DITCH, ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD, ROLLING ONTO DRIVERS SIDE THEN BACK ONTO ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AS I WAS TOSSED AROUND INSIDE CAR HITTING MY HEAD, NECK AND LEFT SHOULDER AREA CAUSING INJURY. I DID HAVE MY LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ON AND IN THE CORRECT POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10588150
Incident
May 2, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 27, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT THE DOOR WAS JAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED AND INCLUDED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID
10575085
Incident
Mar 9, 2011
Mileage
30,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Mar 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A LOUD POPPING NOISE OCCURRED AS THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED WHEN THE DEFECT OCCURRED. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED RUSTING AND CORROSION LOCATED WHERE THE SUNROOF WAS POSITIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10572861
Incident
Mar 13, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Dec 9, 2013

THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR LATCH FAILED RESULTING IN THE DOOR NOT REMAINING CLOSED. THE DOOR HAD TO BE HELD SHUT WITH A BELT SO THAT IT COULD BE SAFELY DRIVEN. THANK GOD THAT NO ONE WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AS THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN HURT IF THE DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE AMATO FORD DEALER DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST (FOR WHAT WE ARE NOT SURE AS IT IS A MANUAL DOOR NO ELECTRONIC LOCKS OR WINDOWS) THAT COST 113 DOLLARS AND THEN TOLD US IT WOULD COST 385 DOLLARS TO FIX. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER BUT NEVER AGAIN WILL I PURCHASE A FORD VEHICLE IF THEY CARE THIS LITTLE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10555395
Incident
Dec 26, 2012
Mileage
110,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .