FORD: SOME VEHICLES BUILT ON OR AFTER 10/3/05 MAY EXPERIENCE A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF THE POWER STEERING (P/S) SYSTEM LEAKING AND/OR SYSTEM NOISY.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Ford Focus steering problems
severe Owners of the 2008 Ford Focus have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 29,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Focus | 18 |
| 2006 Focus | 5 |
| 2007 Focus | 13 |
| 2008 Focus (this page) | 12 |
| 2009 Focus | 9 |
| 2010 Focus | 13 |
| 2011 Focus | 10 |
| 2012 Focus | 932 |
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 12 steering complaints filed for the 2008 Ford Focus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report power steering failures on 2008 Focus models. Around 55,000 miles, one owner experienced intermittent power assist with steering that jumped side to side; a dealer diagnosed teflon flakes contaminating the rack and pinion gears. Another owner's steering seized completely at 5,000 miles, requiring pump and reservoir replacement. One owner's tie rod separated from the rack and pinion at highway speeds, causing loss of control and a crash into a telephone pole.
Multiple owners report stiff, hard steering, especially when parking. Several dealership repairs involving steering fluid top-offs, rack and pinion replacement, and pump service have provided only temporary relief.
Beyond the power steering system, owners cite severe handling issues. Two early-model buyers report the vehicle pulls hard to one side or drifts when hands are off the wheel, requiring constant steering correction—behavior dealers claim is normal. One owner experienced shimmy on snow and ice.
Tire wear patterns are troubling. Owners report rear passenger-side tires wearing excessively while other sets last only 20,000 miles despite rotation and balancing. Front tie rods have failed at 50,000 miles. One owner documented nine wheel bearing replacements over vehicle ownership, raising concerns about loss of control from bearing failure. Suspension components including struts have required replacement.
Same Ford Focus steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering rack and pinion failure
Rack and pinion assembly deteriorates, with teflon flakes contaminating the system and internal gears breaking apart. One owner reported the tie rod separating from the rack and pinion, causing loss of vehicle control and a crash.
When: 55,000 miles (one case); 5,000 miles (power steering pump/reservoir replacement case)
Symptoms owners cite: Stiff, rough steering; Intermittent power assist causing steering to jump side to side; Steering wheel difficult to turn especially when parking; Complete loss of steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement (cost cited as $1500-1600 by dealer); one owner had dealership replace rack and pinion after initial steering fluid top-off failed; another owner had power steering pump and reservoir replaced at 5,000 miles
Power steering pump failure and leakage
Power steering pump either seizes completely or develops fluid leaks that render power steering inoperative.
When: 5,000 miles (one case); not specified in leakage case
Symptoms owners cite: Steering seizes and wheel cannot be turned; Power steering fluid leaks; Loss of power assist
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering pump and reservoir replacement; one owner reports leaking pump
Steering alignment and drift issues
Vehicle pulls strongly to one side or drifts when hands are off the wheel, requiring constant correction. Alignment adjustments do not resolve the issue, and dealer attributes it to normal vehicle behavior.
When: Present from early ownership (300-1,200 miles); 7,800 miles (drift worsens)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls to ditch when hands off wheel; Drifts left and wobbles left and right; Requires constant steering wheel adjustment to maintain straight line; Shimmy on ice or snow
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed alignment at 1,200 miles and found it off; subsequent recheck found alignment off again but dealer claimed normal; tire replacement (multiple sets worn prematurely)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer initially refused alignment service citing suspension break-in period; later claimed vehicle behavior was normal
Suspension-related tire wear and steering component wear
Excessive and uneven tire wear, particularly on rear passenger side, combined with premature failure of front tie rods and struts. Owners cite replacement of multiple tire sets and suspension components.
When: Ongoing from early ownership; tie rod replacement at 50,000 miles; four tire replacements documented
Symptoms owners cite: Rear suspension cups and bounces; Uneven tire wear with rear passenger side wearing slick quickly; Each tire set lasting around 20,000 miles; Wobbling sensation
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement (third set noted at 77,000 miles); front tie rod replacement at 50,000 miles; strut replacement; one owner replaced rack and pinion after fluid leak
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer told owner no recalls existed
Wheel bearing premature failure
Wheel bearings fail repeatedly throughout vehicle ownership, creating a significant safety concern as bearing failure can cause loss of vehicle control.
When: Multiple failures over vehicle ownership; one bearing changed in April 2014 and failed again by time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Wheel bearing failure repeated 9 times over vehicle ownership
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel bearing replacement (nine replacements documented by one owner)
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Potential for accident. My 2008 Ford focus started having power steering issues around 55000 miles. It would become intermittent in power assist to the point it would cause the steering to feel it was jumping from side to side. Took into the Ford dealership and they stated that teflon (used to help reduce friction on the gears, along with fluid) flakes were in the system and and that some…
Had steering trouble with your 2008 Ford Focus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2008 Ford Focus?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 8,800 and 57,000 miles, with the median around 29,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,800; a quarter make it past 57,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Ford/Focus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.