2008 Ford Focus: won't start

Filed Aug 12, 2025 · NJ

Starter has always been difficult but now key stuck in ignition and won't start either

Filed Oct 21, 2022 · Electrical · GA

Ignition cylinder fails, leaving drivers stranded. Ford Focus online forums are plastered with numerous complaints about the focus ignition lock cylinder failure, and there are youtube videos showing how to repair it with tape or rigging a bypass push button ignition switch, but FORD should be fixing these issues so people are not stranded. Issue does not happen when driving, and only happens when key is off, and attempting to crank the car. Several people have complained about 500 dollar repairs that only last a few months before issue returns, and ford is very aware, but there are no recalls for the defect. I suppose a car that wont start is not considered dangerous, in itself, but the "hacks and fixes" for the issue can potentially be, and I think this deserves extreme scrutiny, as it affects several ford year models. drivers can suddenly be stranded miles from home and stuck with expensive repair costs that can render them without any transportation at all with no means of resolution.

Filed Oct 23, 2017 · Electrical · 140,000 miles · ND

Our car in 2017 while driving on road suddenly stopped with all the dashboard lights on. Car got stuck and we could not start engine in next few mins. After few mins everything back to normal. We started driving again. And did not have that problem again for a while. Fast forward to october 2018 it has done it 3 times now where the lights come on while driving and it dies no power at all I have to put in park and turn off. It then normally starts right up again. This stops in the middle of traffic in busy streets never know when it is going to happen. Took car to local shop. They said serious problem bit where they could not diagnose. Next went to ford dealer. Same issue happened in front of them . They told me it could be ignition as it was off a little but that it would not start so that would not be the problem with it dying while driving. But again same problem. We called them again and this time they had similar experience while driving car back to shop. But after going there they could not reproduce problem. So they said to take car back but advised to be careful while driving as car might stop anytime

Filed Apr 19, 2017 · Electrical · 125,000 miles · CT

Vehicle stationary. Upon inserting the key into the ignition, the engine does not start. This occurs with several turns of the ignition. Once the key is strongly inserted or wiggles around the engine starts. Recently diagnosed as a faulty ignition cylinder. It happens daily!

Filed Feb 14, 2017 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford focus. After inserting the key into the ignition and turning the switch, the engine would not start. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Dec 12, 2016 · Electrical · 179,288 miles · LA

Our 2008 ford focus has become increasingly harder to crank. We have been have to apply pressure while turning the key and now it won't start at all. I am now stranded at work until I can get someone to come pick me up. I have been told it is a pin inside the ignition that wears down until it can no longer make contact with the part inside to get car to crank. I believe ford really needs to look into this because I have seen many people having this issue on this and other websites.

Filed Apr 15, 2013 · Electrical · 60,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford focus. The contact stated the ignition at times would not start the vehicle. The contact had to continuously jiggle the ignition key for the vehicle to start. The contact also stated that the secondary key for the ignition had to be used to start the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,0000.