2008 Ford Focus Engine Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11578442

Incident

Mar 15, 2024

Mileage

159,625 mi

MY IGNITION SWITCH IS GETTING STUCK AND IT IS NOT ALLOWING ME TO TURN ON THE CAR. IT IS HARD TO TURN ON MY VEHICLE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MARKING ON MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, IT ISN'T ALLOWING MY VEHICLES MOTOR TO VENT OUT.

NHTSA ID

11389930

Incident

Nov 25, 2020

Mileage

265,767 mi

THE GAS PEDAL GOES WITH GAS AND DECELERATES ON ITS OWN. BRAKE BOOSTER DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE MOTOR SHAKES AND LOOSES HORSEPOWER.

NHTSA ID

11389917

Incident

Nov 15, 2020

Mileage

256,756 mi

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

I HAVE AN 2008 FORD FOCUS SE I BOUGHT IN 2016 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER SEAT BELT NOT LOCKING IN PLACE, DOORS NOT LOCKING/UNLOCKING PASSENGER SIDE, AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE EXPERIENCED TWICE IS THE ENGINE REVVENING UP AND MAKING STRANGE NOISES LIKE IT IS GOING TO BLOW UP THE CAR DOES NOT INCREASE WITH SPEED BUT ENGINE REVS AND WHEN BRAKING THE REV WILL SPEED UP THEN DECREASE TO BREAK. PLEASE RECALL BEFORE I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT!!!!!

NHTSA ID

11024677

Incident

Sep 19, 2017

Mileage

66,000 mi

THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS AT 83,000 MILES, AT THE TIME THE ISSUES BEGAN. WHEN THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE 1-2 GEARS STARTED SLIPPING, CHECK ENGINE AND WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, DIAGNOSTICS TEST STATED THAT IT WAS A "SHIFT SOLENOID D CLOSED" HAD MY MECHANIC REPLACE IT, IT STILL DID NOT WORK. I SPENT 400 BUCKS TO REPLACE THE D SOLENOID, AND THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SAME CONDITION! I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ONLINE, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL?! HAD I KNOWN THE 2008 FORD FOCUS SUCKED THIS BAD, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT!

NHTSA ID

10936773

Incident

Dec 15, 2016

Mileage

83,000 mi

THE SPARK PLUGS KEEP BLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD. SO FAR, 3 OUT OF 4 HAVE COME OUT. SOME MORE THAN ONCE AFTER REPAIRING WITH A HELICOIL.

NHTSA ID

10935355

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

2008 FORD FOCUS SE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN HARD DOWNSHIFTING AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATED IT NEEDED"FLASHING". LEFT IT ONE DAY PICKED IT UP SHIFTED FINE. HAD NEW BATTERY INSTALLED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO, BAD SHIFTING STARTED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS OUT OF WARRANTY. CAR NOW HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT AND BAD TRANSMISSION. ENGINE FLOGS AT SLOW SPEEDS EVER SINCE PURCHASED. NO RELIEF IN SIGHT. WARMER IT GETS OUTSIDE, WORSE TRANSMISSION BEHAVES. THESE THINGS HAPPEN ALL OVER TOWN, THE CAR IS NOT CHOOSEY!!

NHTSA ID

10891514

Incident

Sep 11, 2014

2008 FORD FOCUS DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY OR STALLS RANDOMLY. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I WAS IN TRAFFIC ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS AND NEARLY GOT HIT MORE THAN ONCE. I HAD THE PCM REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED FORD MECHANIC IN 11/14, IT HAD A TWO YEAR WARRANTY. IN 1/16 IT BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 4/16. AFTER REPLACING THE PCM AT A FORD DEALERSHIP THE SECOND TIME MY CAR STALLED OUT ON ME THE NEXT DAY. THE PCM CODE WAS THE SAME AT EACH LOCATION (CODE P00607). BOTH PCM'S WERE PURCHASED FROM FORD BRAND NEW. I AM NOW BEING TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE FOLLOWING CODE (P0320) WAS OBTAINED. THEY INDICATED THE FOLLOWING WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE AMOUNT OF $575.00: THE COST OF THE REPAIRS INCLUDE: TUNE UP IS $260.00 THIS INCLUDES SPARK PLUGS ,SPARK PLUG BOOTS, AND 2 IGNITION COILS AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL THEM. THE COST TO REPLACED THE VALVE COVER GASKET THAT IS LEAKING OIL INTO THE SPARK PLUG VALLEYS IS $315.00 THIS INCLUDES THE PARTS AND LABOR. (SPARK PLUG VALLEYS #3 AND #4 HAVE OIL IN THEM.) MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS WAS NEVER A PCM ISSUE; HOWEVER, IT IS SOMETHING ELSE FEEDING MISINFORMATION TO THE PCM TO SEND INACCURATE CODES TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THE PROBABILITY OF THREE PCM'S BEING FAULTY IN 1 YEAR IS NOT LIKELY. THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND IS A RISK TO OTHERS AND MYSELF ON THE ROADS. I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS REGARDING THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF THE 2008 FORD FOCUS SE. FORD NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10864695

Incident

May 12, 2016

Mileage

108,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY THE CAR STALLS AND SHUTS OFF AND WILL NOT RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND ONCE A TRUCK JUST MISSED ME TRYING TO COAST TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. IT HAS BEEN TO TWO SHOPS THAT SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. TODAY I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I FOUND THE OTHER COMPLAINT HERE ON THIS SITE WHILE LOOKING FOR RECALLS. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAILURE AND THESE IGNITIONS MISSING A SCREW SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10733066

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

122,056 mi

THE VEHICLE DOES NOT EXCEED 50 MPH. THE CAR WOULD STALL AND JUMP UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE UP HILL. THE CAR ALSO SHAKES CONTINUOUSLY AND ROARS LOUDLY WHEN 40-50 MPH IS REACHED. THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING BUT THE WRENCH LIGHT ALSO GOES AWAY WHEN YOU RESTART THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO MECHANICS WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT SERVICE WHEN WRENCH LIGHT IS OFF. WHEN I DID TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC WHEN THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON THE MECHANIC PLUGGED UP A SYSTEM AND INFORMED ME THAT IT MUST JUST BE A SENSOR. I AVOID HIGHWAYS BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AFTER 40-50MPH. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE. I RELY ON MY VEHICLE AND AM DISAPPOINTED, AFRAID AND UNCERTAIN WHAT TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695499

Incident

Oct 21, 2013

Mileage

99,794 mi

I PURCHASED MY FORD BACK IN MAY OF 2014, IT HAD 60,000 MILE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE CAR PASSED ALL INSPECTIONS. I DID PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. FOR THE PAST WEEK I NOTICED THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WAS IDLING HIGH AND NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY, ON AND OFF. ON OCTOBER 23, 2014, WHILE DRIVING AT 20-25 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND IT FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO BE LOOSING POWER, THE CAR NEVER SHUT OFF, IT REDUCED IN SPEED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, SOON AFTER THE WRENCH SIGN APPEARED. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, THE WRENCH SIGN WAS GONE AND THE CAR DROVE AS IT HAD PRIOR TO THE LIGHT APPEARING. I TOOK THE FORD INTO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS BEING THE THROTTLE BODY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE THROTTLE BODY AND WAS QUOTED $840.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649701

Incident

Oct 23, 2014

Mileage

68,500 mi

EVAPORATOR CORE LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639548

Incident

May 8, 2013

Mileage

59,430 mi

THE IGNITION SWITCH,WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION IT SOMETIMES STICKS IN THIS POSITION AND STICKS IT DOES THIS EVERY OTHER TIME WHEN I TURN ON THE VEHICLE IT FEELS THE KEY IS GOING TO GET STUCK IN THE STARTING POSITION IT DON'T SPRING BACK THE WAY IT SHOULD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610186

Incident

Jul 4, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS ON ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,203 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,400.

NHTSA ID

10596283

Incident

May 27, 2014

Mileage

54,203 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10459373

Incident

Jan 25, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS BEGAN TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS CAUSED BY SAGGING MOTOR MOUNTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER COULD NOT SIT IN THE SEAT DUE TO THE VIBRATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10428809

Incident

Aug 26, 2011

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE IGNITION KEY IS BINDING IN IGNITION CYLINDER WHEN TURNING TO START POSITION ONLY. TWICE IT HAS NOT STARTED ON THE FIRST TRY. TWICE I HEARD A METAL SOUND WHEN STARTING. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS 2008, AND HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY MY AUTO REPAIR SHOP. IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME TO GO DIRECT TO A FORD DEALER SERVICE SHOP WHICH I DID. THE CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED 5/2011 SO I DON'T QUALIFY FOR FREE REPAIR ON THIS PROBLEM. AS FAR AS I CAN SEE IN RESEARCHING THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON IT. I THINK FORD SHOULD PAY. *KB

NHTSA ID

10426328

Incident

Aug 3, 2010

VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER, ONLY CONTINUING TO RUN AT A ROUGH IDLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY ACCELERATION. THE ONLY POSSIBLE RESPONSE WAS TO LIMP TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RAN AS NORMAL FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP. FOUR DAYS LATER THE SAME THING OCCURRED. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND HAVING THEM TELL ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT OCCURRED AGAIN AND THEN HAVE IT TOWED IN, I CONVINCED THEM TO LOOK FURTHER INTO IT. I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE OF THE SAME TYPE. THE NECESSARY REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER CONTACTED ME AND SAID THE FORD HOTLINE STATED THEY HAD PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS AND ADVISED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS WAS DONE AND THE VEHICLE HAS OPERATED CORRECTLY SINCE THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10423786

Incident

Aug 23, 2011

Mileage

45,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE OIL FILTER DETACHED FROM THE ENGINE WHICH RESULTED IN INTERNAL DAMAGES. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID

10423035

Incident

Jul 23, 2011

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AROUND TWO MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WRENCH ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY FAILURES. THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT AND STATED THAT THE BLACK BOX WAS NOT RECORDING ANY DATA. THE VEHICLE WARRANTY HAD NEARLY REACHED ITS LIMIT OF 60,000. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BEFORE THE MILEAGE REACHED 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,100.

NHTSA ID

10346390

Incident

May 25, 2010

Mileage

56,000 mi