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CarComplaints.com Notes: Even though the first model year of a major redesign should typically be avoided, Ford did a good job & the 2008 Ford Focus doesn't appear to have any major defects.

That said, the following model years of this 2nd generation Focus (2009-2011) do appear to be slightly better.

9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
30,000 miles
Total Complaints:
2 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. diagnostics says speed control sensor needs replaced (1 reports)
  2. rebuilt transmission (1 reports)
2008 Ford Focus transmission problems

transmission problem

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2008 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #2

Feb 072010

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought my 2008 ford focus new from a ford dealer. It had 38 miles on it. I bought a BRAND NEW car with a warranty so I wouldn't have to deal with it breaking down. Well...Late one night a couple days after my purchase, I was coming home on I77 in Virginia and the car powered down, steering wheel shook like it had a flat tire. Pulled over and turned the car off. Tires were fine. Turned the car back on. Made it home, no problem. I now have 25,000 miles and the car won't stay aligned, it needs breaks, it eats tires, a small temperature drop freezes the windows and washer fluid, and now my throttle control/transmission light is on (light on the dash that looks like a wrench-how appropriate) and there is a jackhammer noise coming from the right front of the car. I owe money on this piece of junk and I'm thinking about telling ford credit to come get the thing and I'll walk from now on! Ford service ran diagnostic and they say it's a speed control sensor. It took over a week to get the part in stock! If they tell me my warranty won't cover the cost, I'll leave it sitting at the dealer!

- silverstar9757, Elkins, WV, US

problem #1

Jun 192009

Focus SE

  • Manual transmission
  • 35,000 miles

I bought this car brand new with 23 miles on it and shortly after noticed a knocking sound from the manual transmission. It would knock while in neutral and then go away once the clutch was pressed in but as soon as you let up off the clutch it began knocking again. My fiance, owning an automotive businees, knew it was a problem with the throw out bearing and shims. I took the car to the dealer where we bought the car, i was told there were plenty of miles left on the warranty to just drive it. So I did, until June 2009 when the noise got to be too loud and annoying to stand and happend everyday. I took it to another dealership in my area and they told me right away that they needed to rebuild the transmission, which the original warranty would cover.

Thought nothing of it and was happy that the problem was fixed. But in December 2009 the noise came back, I took it back to the second dealer and they said they would rebuild it again, but the parts were on a 3 week back order. This sent a red flag out to me, maybe there is something really wrong with this car. Once the parts were available they rebulit the transmission again. Guess what, problem STILL not solved just 2 weeks after the second repair the same noise appeared worse thatn ever!

I called the dealer and was told that they would not repair it again. So, hoping they were just having a bad day I drove it until June 2010. I took it to the dealer and demanded they fix it and give me a service loaner. They had my car for 5 weeks and said they could find nothing wrong, that the noise I was hearing was "gear roll-over". How can the transmission be moving while in neutral? It can't!

Along with the transmission noise there was also bottom end knock in the motor. i was told that this was a "characteristic of the motor" and that neither would be repaired or covered by the oringinal warranty.

So after some careful consideration, we decided to quit making payments and take the hit on our credit and let Ford repo their P.O.S.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If anyone else has had these or similar problems please post!

- fordsucks55, Springfield, MO, US

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