Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Body complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2008 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the body & structure of the 2008 Ford Focus, 16% of the model year's 250 complaints. The component named most often is body (27 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Ford Focus body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2008 Ford Focus, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Ford Focus body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.