YearToAvoid

2008 Ford Focus Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

15/100

#12 most-complained of 14 Focus years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Ford Focus has 250 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 15 out of 100 — #12 highest of 14 Focus model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is structure & body (61 complaints, 24% of the total). Complaints report 21 crashes and 20 injuries.

Complaints
250
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
21 / 0
Injuries / deaths
20 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28
24 city / 34 hwy

Top 2008 Ford Focus problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body61 (24%)
  2. Electrical System57 (23%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires43 (17%)
  4. Engine33 (13%)
  5. Airbags26 (10%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain23 (9%)
  7. Other20 (8%)
  8. Brakes13 (5%)
  9. Steering12 (5%)
  10. Seat Belts8 (3%)
2008 Ford Focus complaints: complaints filed per quarter152007 Q42010 Q12012 Q12014 Q12016 Q12018 Q12020 Q12022 Q4
308 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2011 Q3 (15).

2008 Ford Focus recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 07V541000Nov 21, 2007Airbags45 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2008 Ford Focus fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Focus years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Best8204025
2007Good46391026
2008Best15250128
2009Good38229027.5
2010Good31287028

All Ford Focus years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Ford Focus a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Ford Focus ranks #12 of 14 among Focus model years (Complaint Index 15/100, verdict: Best). It has 250 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford Focus?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (61 complaints), electrical system (57 complaints), and suspension, wheels & tires (43 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 61,640 miles.
Does the 2008 Ford Focus have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Ford Focus, most recently reported 2007, covering airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Ford Focus?
EPA rates the 2008 Ford Focus at 28 MPG combined (24 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.