general problems of the 2008 Ford Focus

Ignition cylinder fails, leaving drivers stranded. Ford Focus online forums are plastered with numerous complaints about the Focus ignition lock cylinder failure, and there are youtube videos showing how to repair it with tape or rigging a bypass push button ignition switch, but Ford should be fixing these issues so people are not stranded. Issue does not happen when driving, and only happens when key is off, and attempting to crank the car. Several people have complained about 500 dollar repairs that only last a few months before issue returns, and Ford is very aware, but there are no recalls for the defect. I suppose a car that wont start is not considered dangerous, in itself, but the "hacks and fixes" for the issue can potentially be, and I think this deserves extreme scrutiny, as it affects several Ford year models. Drivers can suddenly be stranded miles from home and stuck with expensive repair costs that can render them without any transportation at all with no means of resolution.

Our car in 2017 while driving on road suddenly stopped with all the dashboard lights on. Car got stuck and we could not start engine in next few mins. After few mins everything back to normal. We started driving again. And did not have that problem again for a while. Fast forward to October 2018 it has done it 3 times now where the lights come on while driving and it dies no power at all I have to put in park and turn off. It then normally starts right up again. This stops in the middle of traffic in busy streets never know when it is going to happen. Took car to local shop. They said serious problem bit where they could not diagnose. Next went to Ford dealer. Same issue happened in front of them . They told me it could be ignition as it was off a little but that it would not start so that would not be the problem with it dying while driving. But again same problem. We called them again and this time they had similar experience while driving car back to shop. But after going there they could not reproduce problem. So they said to take car back but advised to be careful while driving as car might stop anytime.

Vehicle stationary. Upon inserting the key into the ignition, the engine does not start. This occurs with several turns of the ignition. Once the key is strongly inserted or wiggles around the engine starts. Recently diagnosed as a faulty ignition cylinder. It happens daily!.

Our car in Feb 2017 while driving on road suddenly stopped with all the dashboard lights on. Car got stuck and we could not start engine in next few mins. After few mins everything back to normal. We started driving again. Same problem again. Took car to local shop. They said serious problem bit where they could not diagnose. Next went to invergrove Ford dealer. Same issue happened in front of them . They did something. Gave car back. But again same problem. We called them again and this time they had similar experience while driving car back to shop. But after going there they could not reproduce problem. So they said to take car back but advised to be careful while driving as car might stop anytime.

Our 2008 Ford Focus has become increasingly harder to crank. We have been have to apply pressure while turning the key and now it won't start at all. I am now stranded at work until I can get someone to come pick me up. I have been told it is a pin inside the ignition that wears down until it can no longer make contact with the part inside to get car to crank. I believe Ford really needs to look into this because I have seen many people having this issue on this and other websites.

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was parked, it failed to start while the key was in the on position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 94,437. The VIN was not available.

Switch to start vehicle is "sticking" when it works or not starting after 15+ attempts. Very annoying & perhaps dangerous when attempting to start the car. The pop feature, I believe , is not allowing the vehicle to start or remove the key. Car less than 80k miles. Otherwise, love the car. Car hasnt been fixed or repaired yet, looking for re-calls bc seems to be a common situation.

The ingniition switch went out for a second time. I replaced it once but decided to put a start button on my car. I can't afford to pay for an another ingniition switch. They should have been a recall on it.

I had to push the key in really hard to start the car. Well, after doing that so many times it eventually stopped working.

Have problems with passenger door and both rear doors. Door won't latch at times and power door lock won't lock at times and sometimes won't unlock or both.

We have spent over 700$ trying to fix a ignition problem. Never received a recall. This is awful. It isn't fun getting caught in hot weather stuck, not being able to start your car.

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the ignition key failed to start the vehicle numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Focus. When the ignition key was turned to the on position, the vehicle hesitated to start without warning. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was able to start after more than fifteen attempts. The contact also stated that the failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

I have to push the key in really hard before the engine will turn over. . . I just hope it dont leave me stranded one day. . . .

3 of my 4 door handles do not work the pin came out inside the door panel allowing me to only use my back passenger door to get in my car I had my keys in hand but the door wouldnt open causing me to call aaa to get in im very unhappy and I will be contacting anyone I have to in order to fix this im not paying for it.

Yes lately over the past couple months I'll put my key into the ignition and go to start my car nothing happens at all no click no noise no lights come on. So I will then proceed to turn the car key back to the starting position then try to start my car again and yes nothing happens again not a peep. So then I have to proceed to turn my key back pull my key out stick my key back into the ignition kind then as the two times previously turn to start my car and it actually starts except it takes like 2 second hesitation before it actually turns over my ignition is never been tampered with my car only has 40,000 miles on it so I'm kind of curious as to why this is happening because I see somebody else had the same problem.

While driving on the beltway the car stalls and shuts off and will not restart. This has happened several times and once a truck just missed me trying to coast to the emergency lane. It has been to two shops that say nothing is wrong. Today I had it towed to the dealership and I found the other complaint here on this site while looking for recalls. This is an extremely dangerous failure and these ignitions missing a screw should be recalled before someone is injured or killed.

My Focus door locks do not work. Not only will the electric system not lock and/or unlock the doors but it is physically impossible to lock them manually. So the car wherever it is is always unlocked. My mechanic said that parts are back ordered for months out as this is a common issue with the Focus. This is a serious safety concern when it comes to theft but more importantly predators.

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.

Throttle cut out several times while on the freeway and the check engine "wrench" would light up. Engine would idle, but stepping on the gas pedal would do nothing. Turning the car off and back on again would temporarily fix the issue. Searching the internet shows this to be a massive problem with electronic throttle bodies. Cannot believe Ford hasn't issued a recall. Dangerous!.

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle would sporadically fail to start. The contact had to continuously jiggle the ignition key for the vehicle to start. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

I am having major issues with starting my vehicle. I will turn the key and nothing happens. I have to forcefully turn my steering wheel back and forth before my vehicle will start. This is happening with both keys that I own. Also I'm on my thrid set of tires as they are wearing on the inside very quickly. I've had alignment after alignment done and nothing is fixing the issue. This is my second Focus and this 2008 compared to my 2000 is a piece of junk. I shouldn't be having so many issues with this vehicle.

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Focus. The contact stated the ignition at times would not start the vehicle. The contact had to continuously jiggle the ignition key for the vehicle to start. The contact also stated that the secondary key for the ignition had to be used to start the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,0000.

Drivers side, passenger door cannot be unlock by any means. This was discovered while a child was in a safety child-seat and could not be accessed through the door. The unlock buttons on the drivers door had no effect, the unlock buttons on the key bob had no effect and the manual lock/ unlock button can not be move from the lock position. The door remains locked until repairs can be made. A quick web search shows that their is no shortage of Focus owners having experience this same safety issue. What if the car had been involved in an accident and the child had to be immediately removed? I feel that even allowing vehicles to be manufactured that does not have fool proof manual lock releases for each door is irresponsible and a grossly negligent threat to everyone each time they are in a vehicle. Is it really that much of a stretch to imagine a vehicle involve in an accident and losing electrical power and none of the doors could be unlocked? so, my complaint is not that something broke or failed to work, but that its failure could unnecessarily cause such an eminent unnecessary threat to the safety of vehicle occupants.

My. 2008 Ford, Focus has factory installed sunshine shield on all windows. It has become impossible to see through the back windshield, especially at night, the installed shade had become foggy! my car eats tires which have to be replaced approximately every 2. 5years. The heater/air-conditioner fan has shorted out 3 times, thankfully, no fire has been started! all of these complaints occur on stationary or moving vehicle. The only complaint that has been taken to the shop is the tire complaint. No problem was identified.

Right rear passenger door locked. Cannot be opened. Cannot be unlocked electronically nor manually.

The back driver's door will not open. Door is unlocked but cannot be opened from the inside or outside of the car.

My car has had issues with the doors for quite awhile. Its always been annoying, but its never really seemed like such a big deal to me. Today, hot summer day, I went shopping with my boyfriend, he said I'm going to go get your car I will be back, as 30 minutes pass he is finally back to tell me that my door will not unlock. The key would not unluck the door. I have had problems with the back doors just being stuck on lock for days at a time but it always eventually fixes itself, which is why I have never reported it before. But today I had to pay 30 dollars for a locksmith to come out and unlock my door. I am not very happy because I am a poor college kid who could really use that money on something else. As I research this online I see more than enough complaints about the very same thing happening to people with the same car that I have. It could have been very dangerous if for some reason there was a kid in the car that we could not get out. It infuriates me that no one will do anything about this. I think it is only fair that this problem be investigated and if necessary the cars be on recall to get fixed for free. Thank you.

The back door won't unlock there for resulting in not being able to open them at all.

On numerous occasions, usually at speeds around 67 mph, the engine looses power and goes to idle. It will not accelerate, but idles at 1100 rpms. The fix it light turns on. Once pulled over, I turn off the engine, then restart. It runs roughly for a moment the appears to run normally and the fix it light goes out. I have taken it to the dealer, but they will not drive it long enough to duplicate the event - usually happens every few hundred miles. The most recent event was may 30th 2010 in heavy traffic on the 405 freeway, los angeles.

Door will not unlock manually or with the door unlock buttons. This problem is intermittent. Sometimes one door won't unlock, sometimes all doors won't unlock.

Randomly the back doors will not open. They will remain in the "locked" setting. They will not open from the outside or inside. Unable to manually unlock/open either door. Sometimes both do this simultaneously and other times it will be one or the other. I bought this car new and this started happening a few years later. It was seldom in the beginning but now it is almost always that one or both doors will not open. If I carried back seat passengers often this would be a major problem as this is a small car and very little room available to crawl in/out from front seat. This could easily turn into an emergency situation on a hot day and a large person locked inside unable to get out. A while back the front door handle also began sticking. The door unlocks but the handle doesn't always feel like it releases all the way to allow the door to open. Then when it does open, sometimes the handle has to be manually pushed back into the door before the door will latch.

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.