2008 Ford Focus Body & Structure Problems

Your driver's side door swung open while you were driving on a city street. When you tried to close it, the door bounced back open repeatedly. After pulling over and trying multiple times, you got it shut, but now the door latch is stuck in the pulled position and won't open at all. This appears to be a broken door latch mechanism, and you cannot safely operate the vehicle until it's repaired.

Both of your front door latches have failed and won't open from the outside. This prevents normal entry to your vehicle from the front doors. The fix will likely involve replacing the door latch mechanisms on both front doors.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. IN THE PROCESS, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 15332352. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO SPOKE WITH AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRING THE SUBFRAME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HAD TO BE SECURED WITH A ROPE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

MANUALLY UNLOCKED VEHICLE FROM DRIVER'S DOOR, BUT LATCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE TO OPEN THE DOOR. VEHICLE MUST BE ENTERED VIA THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR MUST BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR.

THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE & THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. THE PROBLEM STARTED ONE DAY WHEN IT WAS PARKED AT WAL MART & I COULD NOT GET INTO THE CAR UPON RETURNING TO IT. I POP TRUNK, PUSH SEAT DOWN & CRAWL THROUGH. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON LINE WITH SAME ISSUES & RECALLS ON NEWER MODELS FOR SAME COMPLAINTS.

DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. 2 WEEKS LATER PASSENGER DOOR FAILED FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL. I DRILLED A HOLE THROUGH THE INTERIOR HANDLE AND STRUNG IT OUTSIDE THE DOOR SO I CAN GET INTO MY COUPE. YEAH THAT'S RIGHT ALL DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. WHAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE IS FORD IN THEIR INFINITE WISDOM DISCONTINUED BOTH PARTS I NEED TO FIX IT FAULTY THOUGH THEY MAY BE. 8S4Z-5421812-D (PASSENGER) AND POSSIBLY 8S4Z-5421813-B (DRIVER - THOUGH I'M NOT ENTIRELY CERTAIN THIS IS THE CORRECT MANUAL LOCK ASSEMBLY.) SO FORD PUT MILLIONS OF FAULTY LATCHES OUT THERE AND DISCONTINUED THE PART NEEDED TO FIX IT. IN THE MEANTIME I'M NOT ABLE TO KEEP MY CAR SECURED WITH ANY BELONGS I MAY PUT IN IT AS I HAVE TO HAVE A ROPE/STRING HANGING OUT ANYONE CAN WALK BY AND PULL TO GET IN MY CAR.

IN JULY OF 2015 THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OF MY CAR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN JULY AND AUGUST OF 2016 MY DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL AS THE BACK DOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I'M DISABLED AND I HAVE TO LEAVE MY DOORS UNLOCKED SO THAT I CAN CRAWL INTO THE BACK SEAT AND OPEN MY DRIVERS DOOR WITH MY CANE TO GET IN.

THE TAKATA RECALL-BOTH OF MY DOOR LATCH ARE NOT WORKING ON MY FORD FOCU 2008

TAKATA RECALL ONE DAY WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR ON DRIVERSIDE AND MY DOORHANDLE BROKE FROM OUTSIDE, CAN OPEN IT FROM INSIDE BUT NOT OUTSIDE TOOK IT TO LOCAL DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME 200-300 DOLLARS TO FIX I DONT HAVE THAT KINDA MONEY SO I GET IN PASSINGER SIDE AND ROLL WINDOW DOWN SO I CAN REACH IN DRIVERS DOOR TO OPEN DOOR ITS A HASSLE

THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN TWICE ON MY CAR, I CAN UNLOCK THE CAR BUT CANNOT OPEN THE CAR, CURRENTLY BOTH DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN ON THE CAR AND THE ONLY ACCESS INSIDE THE CAR IS THROUGH THE TRUNK, THE PART /LABOR TO FIX THE DOOR IS ABOUT $400 AND THE PART ONLY LASTS ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE IT BREAKS AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE I HAD STEPPED OUT OF MY CAR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING TO GET MY MAIL, WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN! THERE WERE TWO EMT'S ACROSS THE STREET AND THEY CALLED THE DEPUTY SHERIFF TO HELP ME GET ACCESS TO THE CAR. THEY SAID IT WAS LUCKY THAT I HAD NOT HAD AN INFANT OR SMALL CHILD IN THE CAR. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TO KEEP MY WINDOW ROLLED DOWN OR CRAWL THROUGH THE TRUNK UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED.

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE 4 DOOR HANDLES THAT HAVE BROKEN TWICE AND HAVE 3 BROKEN DOOR HANDLES RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS $400 PER DOOR. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE DOOR HANDLES AND PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIR ON THE BROKEN DOORS I HAVE NOW. IF I HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WHILE DRIVING, NO ONE COULD OPEN MY DOOR TO HELP!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/06/16*LJ *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS RUSTING AT THE BOTTOM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

THE VEHICLE HAS FLAWED LATCHING MECHANISMS. WITHIN 6 MONTHS, 3 OUT OF MY 4 DOORS FAILED TO CLOSE. THEY STILL WILL NOT CLOSE. I WAS TAKING A TURN, WHEN MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENED. I EVENTUALLY GOT IT TO CLOSE, HOWEVER AFTER SEVERAL USES, IT WILL NOT LATCH SHUT. NEITHER WILL THE REAR DRIVER DOOR. THE DRIVER DOOR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT I HAD IT FIXED. BOTH BACK DOORS ARE CURRENTLY DUCT TAPED SHUT DUE TO HIGH PRICE OF PARTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A FOCUS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF A DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING, SOMEONE WILL GET SERIOUSLY HURT IN A COLLISION. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR NO LONGER OPENS FROM OUTSIDE. IN ORDER TO ENTER CAR, MUST EITHER ENTER THROUGH PASSENGER SEAT, OR LEAVE THE DRIVER'S WINDOW DOWN SO I CAN REACH IN AND OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WOULD BE UNABLE TO REMOVE THE DRIVER FROM THE VEHICLE, SINCE ALL OF THE CAR'S DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK THEMSELVES! I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE ON THIS WEBSITE. *TR

MY FATHER IS DISABLED. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, HE HAS BEEN LOCKED INSIDE HIS CAR DUE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NOT OPENING FROM THE INSIDE. HE HAS STRUGGLED TO CRAWL OUT OF THE PASSENGER'S DOOR. HE ALSO HELPS TO TAKE CARE OF HIS 91 YEAR OLD MOTHER. I PRAY THAT THEY WILL BOTH BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE A CHILD WAS IN THE CAR IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER? HIS VEHICLE IS A 2008 FORD FOCUS S/SE/SES. *TR

DOOR LATCHES CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE HAD THEM REPAIRED BY DEALER TWICE NOW AND THE REAR DOOR LATCHES ARE BROKEN AGAIN NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME! THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN SINCE REAR PASSENGERS CANNOT QUICKLY OR SAFELY EXIT VEHICLE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT THE DOOR WAS JAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED AND INCLUDED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR LATCH FAILED RESULTING IN THE DOOR NOT REMAINING CLOSED. THE DOOR HAD TO BE HELD SHUT WITH A BELT SO THAT IT COULD BE SAFELY DRIVEN. THANK GOD THAT NO ONE WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AS THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN HURT IF THE DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE AMATO FORD DEALER DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST (FOR WHAT WE ARE NOT SURE AS IT IS A MANUAL DOOR NO ELECTRONIC LOCKS OR WINDOWS) THAT COST 113 DOLLARS AND THEN TOLD US IT WOULD COST 385 DOLLARS TO FIX. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER BUT NEVER AGAIN WILL I PURCHASE A FORD VEHICLE IF THEY CARE THIS LITTLE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFETY. *TR

THIS DATE MARKS FIVE TIMES THAT DOOR LATCHES / LOCKS HAVE QUIT WORKING. CURRENTLY THE LOCKS WILL NOT WORK AND THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM FOUR TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE RECURRING PROBLEM. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE STATED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FROM RURAL ROAD DUST CAUSING LATCH / LOCK FAILURE, THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT HELP COVER ANOTHER LATCH REPLACEMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

THE RIGHT REAR DOOR IS LOCKED SHUT AND CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY ACCIDENT OR OCCURANCE. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OR WITH THE KEY OR REMOTE OPERATOR. IF ANYONE IS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR IF INGRESS IS NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY, THIS DOOR IS INOPERABLE. THERE IS A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH MAKES THE DOOR UNUSABLE. *TR

THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE WE HAVE HAD SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LEAK DUE TO A FAULTY SPLASH GUARD. WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED BY FORD SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE ISSUE HAS COME BACK AGAIN, AND WE ARE NO LONGER IN WARRANTY. I HAVE 3 COMPLAINTS THAT COME WITH THIS ISSUE, 1 I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH RUSTING OUT, 2 EVEN WITH DEFROSTERS ON HIGH, IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS BECAUSE OF THE MOISTURE IN THE CAR (EVEN AFTER DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SOAK UP THE MOISTURE) AND 3 I HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WILL BECOME AN ISSUE IE. THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER IS ALMOST ALWAYS WET. AT THIS POINT WE ARE NOT DEALING WITH MOLD CONCERNS, BUT WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE MOLD CLEAN FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR BEFORE. I AM WRITING YOU, BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE FORD KNOWS ABOUT, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT AT SOME POINT SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT, AND I FEEL AS THOUGH FORD IS NO LONGER CONCERNING THEMSELVES WITH THIS ISSUE, AND ARE NOT CONCERNED WITH CORRECTING THEIR ISSUE. *TR

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN APRIL 2008 BY JUNE THE DOORS WERE HARD TO OPEN. AT THAT TIME I LUBRICATE THEM, THAT SEEM TO HELP FOR A SHORT TIME. THEN THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT CLOSE OPENING AS I WAS DRIVING. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I WENT TO MEREDITH FORD IN PLYMOUTH NH. I WAS TOLD IT WAS COSMETIC AND THEY DID'N WORK BECAUSE I LIVED ON A DIRT ROAD.WHICH I DID NOT. I TOLD THEM SOME ONE WAS GOING TO FALL OUT OF MY CAR I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER I BETTER HAVE GOOD INSURANCE. I STILL HAVE A ROPE HOLDING BY BACK DOORS CLOSED. AND I WAS NEVER TREATED SO BADLY BEFORE IN MY LIFE. *TR

THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR. THE REAR HANDLE SEEMS TO PULL NORMALLY BUT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK. THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE PULLS OUT LOOSELY. WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR 3 DAYS AGO SOMETHING BROKE INSIDE THE DOOR. THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE MOTOR WILL GO DOWN BUT THE WINDOW WILL NOT. I CAN PULL IT DOWN BY PUTTING ONE HAND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE GLASS (AFTER OPERATING THE BUTTON THAT WOULD NORMALLY OPEN THE WINDOW) THE WINDOW CAN BE CLOSED USING THE BUTTON. *TR

KEY LOCKS FOR FRONT DOORS AND DOOR LATCHES WON'T OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP, OF COURSE IT ISN'T COVERED. IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY LOCK YOUR DOOR WITH YOUR CHILD IN IT ON A HOT DAY, YOU CAN'T GET THEM OUT IN TIME. SHOULDN'T THE LOCKS AND LATCHES WORK FOR AT LEAST 100K MILES? HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR UNLOCKED ALL THE TIME. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 DOOR HANDLES DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THEM BREAKING. I TALKED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HE SAYS HE HAS REPLACED OVER 10 OTHER 2007/08/09 FOCUS EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. NONE HOWEVER WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND OF COURSE BOTH OF MY BROKE AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THE COST WAS 142.00/PER THIS IS A HUGE DESIGN FLAW AS WELL AS COSTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH FRONT DOORS COULD ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

I HAVE A 2008 FORD FOCUS THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE ISSUE IS THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME MONEY JUST TO LOOK AT IT.. I DON'T THINK A DOOR OPENING SHOULD BE VIEWED IN THIS WAY. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT. IT JUST STOPPED OPENING. I LOVED MY FOCUS UNTIL THE INITIAL WARRANTY EXPIRED. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

CONCERNING A '08 FOCUS, 4 DOOR SE. CAR IS APPROXIMATELY 18MONTHS OLD AND HAS COVERED 38,000 APPROX.. REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. WHEN USING POWER LOCKS, THE DOOR BUTTON WOULD FAIL TO MOVE. ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS (LUCKY) THE DOOR COULD BE OPENED. THEN THE SAME HAPPENED TO THE OTHER REAR DOOR. SO NOW BOTH REAR DOORS WERE INOPERABLE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MONTANA FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS EXPLAINED. CAR WAS KEPT IN SHOP FOR FOUR DAYS WHILST BITS WERE ORDERED, AND PROBLEM RECTIFIED. WAS CHARGED $100 AND TOLD THIS WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY (ALTHOUGH A RENTAL CAR WAS PROVIDED FOR THIS PERIOD). IN HINDSIGHT I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED BOTH DOORS, AS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE OTHER DOOR HADN'T BEEN FIXED. CAR NOW HAS TO GO INTO SHOP FOR FURTHER RECTIFICATION. I REALIZE THAT IN '05 FORD RECALLED APPROX 359,000 01-02 FOCUS FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH OTHER DOOR LATCHES ON VARIOUS VEHICLES. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ON A 08 FOCUS, WHICH HAS BEEN DRIVEN CAREFULLY BY ONE OWNER, FAIL TO SEE HOW THE FORD DEALER CAN SAY IT'S NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT? ARE THEY WORRIED THAT IT'LL COST MORE FOR A RECALL THAN ANY LAWSUITS? *TR