2008 Ford Focus Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2008 Ford Focus, and owners have filed 250 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2008 Ford Focus
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Inflator module (air bags)
Certain vehicles fail to conform to the requirements specified in federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' the driver air bag module may not have been properly assembled.
Remedy: Dealers will replace your driver air bag module free of charge. The recall began on november 20, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
250 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2008 Ford Focus have filed 250 complaints with NHTSA; 21 describe a crash. Reports cite 20 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 73,671 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 36 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The brakes went to the floor and the whole car locked up. When I pressed the brakes to slow down it felt like something on the brakes just fell apart. I was in a car accident because of this I hit ano”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 25, 2025 · Service brakes
“Starter has always been difficult but now key stuck in ignition and won't start either”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 12, 2025 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2008 Ford Focus. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 24 / 33–35 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Focus model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Focus model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 Ford Focus | 0 | 11 |
| 2000 Ford Focus | 11 | 3,686 |
| 2001 Ford Focus | 7 | 1,761 |
| 2002 Ford Focus | 1 | 939 |
| 2003 Ford Focus | 1 | 977 |
| 2004 Ford Focus | 1 | 387 |
| 2005 Ford Focus | 1 | 441 |
| 2006 Ford Focus | 0 | 205 |
| 2007 Ford Focus | 0 | 391 |
| 2008 Ford Focus | 1 | 250 |
| 2009 Ford Focus | 0 | 229 |
| 2010 Ford Focus | 0 | 287 |
| 2011 Ford Focus | 0 | 113 |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 7 | 3,769 |
| 2013 Ford Focus | 11 | 2,112 |
| 2014 Ford Focus | 12 | 2,603 |
| 2015 Ford Focus | 9 | 1,021 |
| 2016 Ford Focus | 10 | 1,181 |
| 2017 Ford Focus | 10 | 898 |
| 2018 Ford Focus | 7 | 835 |
Checking a specific 2008 Ford Focus
How do I know if my 2008 Ford Focus has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2008 Ford Focus; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 07V541000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.