2008 Ford Focus
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Body, Seats & Latches
Body, Seats & Latches leads by volume: 61 of 250 complaints (24%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (14) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 391 in 2007 to 250 in 2008.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | vs. 2008 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–2,700 | 2,300–2,700 | 2,250 | 2,250–2,300 | 2,250 | |
| Combined MPG | 23–26 | 23–27 | 28 | 27–28 | 28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–23 / 28–31 | 20–24 / 29–33 | 24 / 33–35 | 24 / 33–35 | 24 / 34–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 342–386 | 329–386 | 317 | 317–329 | 317 | |
| Complaints filed | 204 | 391 | 250 | 229 | 287 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 22 | 60 | 21 | 26 | 22 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 19 | 75 | 20 | 21 | 19 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford Focus have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2008 Ford Focus?
Body, Seats & Latches: 61 of 250 NHTSA complaints (24%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Ford Focus get?
EPA rates it 28 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Ford Focus?
EPA estimates $2,250 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 33 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 317 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 35 mpg (high) | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 317 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 13 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 43 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 31 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 61 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · Campaign 08E050000 · Aug 14, 2008
Defect: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 07V541000 · Nov 28, 2007
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER AIR BAG FROM PROPERLY DEPLOYING AND REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
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.