There are 33 stored owner reports matching the body & structure leading-label group for the 2008 Ford Focus in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 33 of 33 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)Both Front Door latches have failed and will not open from the outside
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE TAKATA RECALL-BOTH OF MY DOOR LATCH ARE NOT WORKING ON MY FORD FOCU 2008
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.
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!
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.
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
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
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
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
THIS DATE MARKS FIVE TIMES THAT DOOR LATCHES / LOCKS HAVE QUIT WORKING. CURRENTLY THE LOCKS WILL NOT WORK AND THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM FOUR TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE RECURRING PROBLEM. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE STATED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FROM RURAL ROAD DUST CAUSING LATCH / LOCK FAILURE, THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT HELP COVER ANOTHER LATCH REPLACEMENT. *TR
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
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
Showing 1-20 of 33 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 29, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.