YearToAvoid

2008 Ford Focus Engine Problems

NHTSA has 33 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2008 Ford Focus, 13% of all 250 complaints for this model year. That is #13 highest engine complaint count among 14 Focus model years. These complaints report 1 crash and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 68,250 miles.

Engine complaints
33
13% of 250
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
68,250 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Ford Focus engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 7, 2010, latest Mar 20, 2024.

2008 Ford Focus engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2010May 2012Nov 2013Sep 2014Jul 2015Dec 2016Jan 2021
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2010 to Mar 2024; peak Jul 2010 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2008 Ford Focus

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Focus model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200572 (16%)
  2. 200633 (16%)
  3. 200742 (11%)
  4. 200833 (13%)
  5. 200949 (21%)
  6. 201094 (33%)
  7. 201111 (10%)
  8. 2012606 (16%)
  9. 2013430 (20%)
  10. 2014560 (22%)
  11. 2015205 (20%)
  12. 2016303 (26%)
  13. 2017326 (36%)
  14. 2018364 (44%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Ford Focus have engine problems?
NHTSA has 33 owner complaints about the engine in the 2008 Ford Focus, 13% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 68,250 miles.
Which Ford Focus year has the most engine complaints?
The 2012 Ford Focus has the most engine complaints (606), compared with 33 for the 2008.
Is there a engine recall for the 2008 Ford Focus?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Ford Focus is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

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.