2008 Ford Focus Interior & seats Problems

"TAKATA RECALL" THE PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT REGISTERING THAT THERE'S SOMEONE SITTING THERE WHO 5'5" AND WEIGHS ALMOST 135 POUNDS AND IS WEARING HIS SEATBELT. SO THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE COMES ON AND SAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" AND THE YELLOW AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS LIT UP ON THE DRIVERS DASHBOARD UNTIL THE CAR IS SHUT OFF, ALL WITH SOMEONE WHO'S BIG ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR TO KNOW HE'S SITTING THERE. ALL VEHICLES HE SITS IN THAT HAVE SENSORS FOR AIRBAGS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ALWAYS READ THAT HE'S SITTING THERE, SO I KNOW HE'S BIG ENOUGH TO SET THE SENSOR OFF AND FOR IT YO KNOW HE'S SITTING THERE AND TO ACTIVATE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. PICTURES ARE OF THE YELLOW AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DRIVERS, THE CENTER CONSOLE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF", AND A FEW SHOWING WHERE HE'S SITTING IN THE SEAT AND BOTH THE YELLOW LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. THE YELLOW LIGHTS ARE ONLY ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, IN MOTION, ON HIGHWAY, STOPPED, ON CITY STREETS, TURNING, AND GOING FORWARD. (ITSL'S ALRIGHT TO SHARE ALL PICTURES PUBLICLY, I KNEW THEY'D BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC BEFORE TAKING THEM.)

NHTSA ID

11113710

Incident

Jul 25, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OR IN DRIVE, THE FRONT DRIVER, REAR DRIVER, AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16F698000 (LATCHES, LOCKS, LINKAGES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10915915

Incident

Nov 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE DOOR FAILED TO LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/05/16*LJ UPDATED 12/06/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10894492

Incident

Jan 15, 2016

Mileage

52,975 mi

I WENT SHOPPING WITH MY NIECE LAST YEAR AROUND THIS TIME AND I LOCKED MY CAR THE 2008 2 DOOR FORD FOCUS SES, I HAD COME OUT WITH IT POURING RAIN AND I GOT LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR ONLY INSTEAD OF THE KEYS BEING INSIDE THE VEHICLE IT JUST WASN'T WORKING. I RAN BACK INTO WAL-MART THINKING IT WAS THE KEYPADS BATTERY BUT NOPE SOON TO FIND OUT IT WAS WORKING FINE BUT THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO UNLOCK, SO I HAD TO CONTACT MY BOYFRIEND TO COME GRAB MY NIECE UNTIL THE LOCKSMITH GOT TO ME. HE CLICKED THE INSIDE UNLOCK BUTTON MANY MANY TIMES AND STILL COUPLING GET IN, WE TRIED USING THE ACTUAL KEY ITSELF STILL WOULDN'T WORK SO I HAD TO USE THE METAL ROD THAT'S NORMALLY USED FOR UNLOCKING THE CAR TO CLIMB FROM THE TRUNK AND GET THE LATCH THREW THE SEATS TO CLIMB ALL THE WAY THREW THE CAR SO ABOUT 5 HOURS LATER I FINALLY GOT INTO MY CAR AND OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR FIRST AND EVER SINCE MY OUTSIDE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT WORK. THIS HASN'T HAPPENED TO ME QUITE LIKE THIS BUT I'VE OWNED 6 FOCUSES THAT ALL THE DOOR HANDLES HAD TO BE REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS LOCKOUT THING HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES SO I CAN'T EVEN LOCK MY CAR AND I KEEP THE WINDOW DOWN JUST INCASE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649375

Incident

Oct 24, 2013

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE BACK DOOR WON'T UNLOCK THERE FOR RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THEM AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630893

Incident

May 18, 2011

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

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

PARKED THE CAR AT A LOCAL STORE, WENT BACK OUT AND THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN, PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH DRIVERS SIDE TO ENTER AND EXIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606764

Incident

Jun 28, 2014

Mileage

107,000 mi

DRIVER DOOR LATCH REINFORCEMENT. 2001-PRESENT ? MANY FAILURES THIN POT-METAL PIECE THAT OPERATES DOOR LATCH FAILS POSSIBLY HINDERING EMERGENCY WORKERS FROM ACCESSING OCCUPANT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578309

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

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

THE RIGHT REAR DOOR IS LOCKED SHUT AND CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY ACCIDENT OR OCCURANCE. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OR WITH THE KEY OR REMOTE OPERATOR. IF ANYONE IS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR IF INGRESS IS NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY, THIS DOOR IS INOPERABLE. THERE IS A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH MAKES THE DOOR UNUSABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496225

Incident

Jan 22, 2013

Mileage

212,023 mi

AFTER ARRIVING AT DESTINATION, WENT TO OPEN DOOR, IT WOULD NOT OPEN, UNLOCK WOULD NOT WORK. DOOR IS LOCKED AND UNABLE TO UNLOCK AND EXIT OUT. NEEDED TO CRAWL OVER TO DRIVERS DOOR TO EXIT VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10487206

Incident

Nov 21, 2012

KEY LOCKS FOR FRONT DOORS AND DOOR LATCHES WON'T OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP, OF COURSE IT ISN'T COVERED. IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY LOCK YOUR DOOR WITH YOUR CHILD IN IT ON A HOT DAY, YOU CAN'T GET THEM OUT IN TIME. SHOULDN'T THE LOCKS AND LATCHES WORK FOR AT LEAST 100K MILES? HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR UNLOCKED ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467049

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

36,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED AND THE REAR DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE ANY OF THE DOOR LATCHES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10445120

Incident

Jan 24, 2012

Mileage

96,000 mi

RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKED. CANNOT BE OPENED. CANNOT BE UNLOCKED ELECTRONICALLY NOR MANUALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444790

Incident

Jan 4, 2012

Mileage

74,100 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY DOOR ON THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD OPEN WAS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR WOULD OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR, BUT NOT THE EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FAILURE WAS EITHER DUE TO THE WIRING OR THE DOOR LATCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10405862

Incident

Apr 12, 2010

LOCKS FREEZE UP. THIS IS A 2008 FORD FOCUS 4 DOOR. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASED BRAND NEW THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. REPAIRED AT DEALER. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER STARTED FREEZING UP AGAIN AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN TO GET REPAIRED THE FRONT DOORS DID THIS AS WELL. I HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED THE DOORS THEN NONE OF THE DOORS WOULD OPEN UP, HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH TRUNK. ALL FOUR DOORS REPAIRED. 6 MONTHS LATER DOORS LOCKED UP AGAIN. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD NOT. EVENTUALLY THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN AT ALL. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I HAD A CHILD IN AN INFANT SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT AND HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO GET CHILD OUT OF THE BACK SEAT. THIS WAS FIXED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONE MORE TIME THREE OF THE DOORS. THEY WHERE REPAIRED AND AT THIS TIME I NOW HAVE A BACK DOOR THAT WILL NO LONGER OPEN. I HAVE VOICED MY CONCERNS TO FORD BUT ALL THEY DO IS CONSTANTLY REPAIR THE SAME WAY AND EVEN TRIED TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO DUST BUILDING UP IN THE CAR DOORS, I HAVE LIVED IN THE COUNTRY AND HAD MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF DUST. ALSO I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS IS HAPPENING TO WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT JUST MY VEHICLE. THE DOORS FREEZE UP RANDOMLY WITH NO WARNING AND IF SOMEONE WHERE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN DOORS THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OF WINDOWS TO GET IN AND OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND PUT CHILDREN IN THE CAR THROUGH WINDOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397190

Incident

Jul 4, 2008

Mileage

9,000 mi

DOORS ON FORD FOCUS MALFUNCTION. ONLY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS KEY ENTRY BUT DOES NOT WORK WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENS WITH REMOTE UNLOCK ENTRY BUT AT TIMES MALFUNCTIONS AND WON'T OPEN. DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL ANYMORE. HAVE TO ENTER ON PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CRAWL OVER CONSOLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE IT'S THE FORD DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR THAT IS MALFUNCTIONED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10374955

Incident

Dec 4, 2010

Mileage

69,000 mi

I HAVE A 2008 FORD FOCUS SE/SES AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS NOT UNLOCKING AND NOT OPENING FROM TIME TO TIME. THE ONLY WAY I AM ABLE TO OPEN THEM IS WITH A SET OF PLIERS. I HAVE GONE TO FORD WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY CLAIM IT IS BECAUSE "I DRIVE ON A DIRT ROAD"; BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE FROM DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD. LUCKILY I HAVEN'T HAD ANY INSTANCES WHERE I NEED MY PASSENGERS TO BE OUT OF THE BACK SEAT IMMEDIATELY. I ALSO HAVE A CHILD THAT IS 3 AND I AM CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY IF WE CANNOT GET THE BACKDOORS OPEN IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD CLEAN OUT THE LOCKS OF THE DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361351

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

I HAVE A 2008 FORD FOCUS THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE ISSUE IS THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME MONEY JUST TO LOOK AT IT.. I DON'T THINK A DOOR OPENING SHOULD BE VIEWED IN THIS WAY. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT. IT JUST STOPPED OPENING. I LOVED MY FOCUS UNTIL THE INITIAL WARRANTY EXPIRED. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358531

Incident

Sep 25, 2010

Mileage

49,500 mi

CAR DOOR LOCKS ON 2008 FORD FOCUS SE WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH ELECTRONIC POWER BUTTON, KEY FOB REMOTE, DOOR KEY, PULLING UP ON PLUNGER OR ATTEMPTING TO OPEN DOOR WITH HANDLE OR ANY COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE. DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY AT 5 MPH SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID LOCKING AND THEN PASSENGERS MUST CRAWL OUT OF ANOTHER DOOR. SO FAR NO ONE HAS BEEN TRAPPED, BUT I HAVE HANDICAPPED FRIENDS AND A PREGNANT DAUGHTER, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY CANNOT GET OUT. IT SEEMS TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED AND MECHANICAL - THE FIRST TIME IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOW I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH RECURRING AND DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE LOCKS THAT INTERMITTENTLY LOCK AND THEN UNLOCK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AT NIGHT - IT IS AS IF I NEED TO CAMP OUT AT THE DEALER UNTIL IT HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349722

Incident

Nov 28, 2008

Mileage

10,400 mi

THE DOOR LOCK, LOCKS AND YOU CANT OPEN THEM TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE CAR IF YOU WONT IN OR OUT YOU HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE WINDOWS. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WILL NOT STAY ALIGNED EATS UP TIRES. HEAD LIGHTS. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE DEALERS MANY TIMES THEY TELL ME THAT ITS NORMAL. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT BUT THEY WOULD NEVER FIX THE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349430

Incident

Jul 3, 2008

Mileage

33 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOORS LATCHES BEGAN STICKING MAKING UNABLE TO BE OPENED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD CONTINUOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LATCH REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE LATCH AND WAS INFORMED TO LUBRICATE THE LATCHES, BUT THAT HAS NOT REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THE ROAD WAS MADE OF GRAVEL IT COULD ALSO HAVE CAUSED THE LATCHES TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF A CHILD WAS LEFT INSIDE THE VEHICLE IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO BREAK THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. UPDATED 10/25/10

NHTSA ID

10348196

Incident

Jun 13, 2010

Mileage

5,272 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES WERE STICKING WHICH MADE UNABLE TO BE OPENED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE DOOR LATCHES BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD CONTINUOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LATCHES REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE LATCHES AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT TO LUBRICATE THE LATCHES BUT THAT HAS NOT REMEDIED THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE GRAVEL ROAD CAN ALSO CAUSE THE DOOR LATCHES TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED IF A CHILD IS LEFT INSIDE THE VEHICLE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY OPTION IS TO BREAK THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/25/10

NHTSA ID

10348192

Incident

Jun 26, 2009

Mileage

26,222 mi

I BEEN LOCKED IN MY CAR 2X. I HAVE A FORD FOCUS 2008. WHERE THE DOOR LATCHES DUST BUILDS UP TO WERE I CANT GET OUT. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP THEY NEVER SEEN THIS IN 18 YRS. I HAVE TO SPRAY COMPUTER CLEANER/BRAKE CLEANER WHICH I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325544

Incident

Apr 9, 2010

Mileage

23,000 mi