RoadVitals

2008 Ford Focus Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
18
Latest Jun 28, 2020
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.
7%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 18 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 powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 28, 2020

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY THROTTLE CONTROL/TRANSMISSION LIGHT JUST POPS ON AN I LOSE A GREAT AMOUNT OF POWER AND ACCELERATION. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW AN HAD THE SENSOR ON THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH SEEMED TO HELP FOR ABOUT 2 DAYS THEN THE LIGHT POPPED BACK ON. IT DOES THIS A LOT WILL DRIVE FINE FOR ABOUT 25-30 MINUS AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH THE LIGHT POPS ON WITH ABOUT 30MPH WORTH OF POWER.I PULL OVER TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON IT TURNS THE LIGHT OUT AN ALL POWER IS RESTORED. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND EVERYONE SEEMS TO POINT TO THE THROTTLE BODY GOING BAD. THE CAR IS IN PERFECT SHAPE AND HAS A FRESH ALL AROUND TUNE UP.

NHTSA ID
11331286
Incident
Jun 26, 2020
Mileage
150,802 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 16, 2020

2008 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *LD THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ID
11298775
Incident
Sep 27, 2013
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Sep 21, 2019

ES UNA EXCELENTE HERRAMIENTA DONDE SE PUEDE SACAR INFORMACION

NHTSA ID
11257131
Incident
Sep 20, 2019
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 15, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, IT ERRONEOUSLY ROLLED FORWARD AND MADE CONTACT WITH A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO EITHER OF THE VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. TRI STAR MOTORS (151 WALNUT ST, KITTANNING, PA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED IN 2015 AND THE SHIFT CABLE WAS ADJUSTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
11231923
Incident
May 1, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 7, 2019

MY FORD FOCUS ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS JUMPING HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING AND GOING IN REVERSE SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING BURNING. FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES I WILL BE CALLING FORD THIS IS RIDICULOUS I HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCER AND IN THE HOSPITAL AND DONT HAVE A INCOME AND NOW I DONT NO WHAT I SHOULD DO FORD NEEDS TO FIX IT

NHTSA ID
11164974
Incident
Jan 2, 2019
Mileage
61,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jan 4, 2019

CAR TRIES TO DRIVE ITSELF WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE ( STATIONARY) & THE MALFUNCTION ALMOST CAUSED A ACCIDENT IN THE CITY.LIGHTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED SINCE PURCHASE. NO BACKSEAT LIGHTS WORKING.CAR ISLES RANDOMLY AND WILL NOT STOP UNTIL STITCH TO NEUTRAL AND THEN IT GIVES ME CONTROL TO DRIVE AGAIN.PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE

NHTSA ID
11165300
Incident
Sep 7, 2014
Mileage
119,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 22, 2018

CAR STARTED REVEING HARD AND THEN ACTING LIKE GEARS WERE SLIPPING AND NEXT DAY REVERSE IS OUT OF CAR AND CAN NOT DRIVE IT

NHTSA ID
11163147
Incident
Dec 7, 2018
Mileage
144,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 21, 2016

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
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 29, 2016

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
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 14, 2015

TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SPUTTER ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE 4TH OR 5TH TIME THE CAR HAD THIS PROBLEM. AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY CAR STRUGGLED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CAR WOULD FREE REV AND KICK/SHAKE INTO GEAR.

NHTSA ID
10716576
Incident
Apr 25, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 19, 2015

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
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 24, 2014

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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 30, 2014

THIS 2008 FORD FOCUS HAS HAD SLIPPING WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN 4TH GEAR FROM 30000 MILES WHEN I TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID UNTIL IT HAS A COMPLETE FAILURE THEY WOULD NOT TAKE DOWN AND INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION.IT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND I SOLD CAR TAKING A SIGNIFICANT LOSS. AT 58,000 THE 4TH GEAR COMPLETELY FAILED CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 30-40 MPH .IF THIS HAPPENED ON A EXPRESSWAY A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.I'M AM SURE I AM NOT A UNIQUE FORD OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND A RECALL ON THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10617555
Incident
Jul 15, 2014
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,640.

NHTSA ID
10615332
Incident
Jul 21, 2014
Mileage
61,640 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 21, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EDGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO THE REVERSE POSITION AND THE SERVICE ENGINE, TRACTION AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,500.

NHTSA ID
10615117
Incident
Jul 13, 2014
Mileage
98,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 2, 2014

I HAVE AN 08 FORD FOCUS S THAT HAS JUST UNDER 80,000 MILES AND THE CAR IS HORRENDOUS RECENTLY IT WON'T ACCELERATE IN LOW GEAR. YOU CAN PUT THE PEDAL DOWN BUT THE ENGINE RPMS GO UP BUT WON'T ACCELERATE UNTIL YOU SLIGHTLY LET THE PEDAL GO AND IT WILL JOLT FORWARD AND ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST CASE FROM WHAT IM HEARING AND WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON FORDS TRANSMISSIONS BEING FAULTY AND OR DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10595576
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
79,800 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 7, 2014

MY WIFE WAS CUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY SHE GAVE GAS TO MOVE AND THE TRANSMISSION BAND BROKE ALMOST GOT HIT. THERE'S A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUSES TRANSMISSIONS AND SHOULD DEMAND A RECALL. CAR ONLY HAS 77000 MILES TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BREAK WHEN GIVEN GAS. NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563427
Incident
Feb 6, 2014
Mileage
77,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 19, 2012

I OWN A 2008 FORD FOCUS. IN 2010 MY CAR WOULD JERK BADLY WHEN I WOULD PRESS ON THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT IN TO FORD AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS MY TRANSMISSION. LUCKILY I STILL HAD WARRANTY AND THEY GAVE ME A NEW ONE. WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP I STILL NOTICED SOME JERKINESS TO IT AND TOLD THEM. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND IT WOULD GO AWAY, IT NEVER DID. 6 MO.LATER I NOTICE THE CAR GETTING WORSE. THE GAS PEDAL IS HESITANT AND THE GEARS HESITATE TO SHIFT. ESPECIALLY WHEN I DRIVE UPHILL AND TURN A CORNER. IT ALSO TAKES A LONG TIME TO GO UP TO SPEED. I TOOK IT FOR SERVICE AGAIN AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. NOTE: THEY DID NOT TEST DRIVE MY CAR. HOW CAN A DOCTOR DIAGNOSE A PATIENT IF HE DOESN'T GIVE HIM A CHECK UP? I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND THEY HAD THE NERVE TO CHARGE ME $200. IF I HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? I SERVICE MY CAR ON TIME AND HAVE IT WELL KEPT. IT'S NOW 2012 NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR. I'VE HAD SPARK PLUGS, FUEL FILTER, ENGINE OIL CHANGE, AIR FILTER CHANGED AND "NEW" TRANSMISSION AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10481075
Incident
Aug 2, 2010
Mileage
60,000 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .