# Ford Focus 2008–2011 Pre-Purchase Checklist | CarCaseFile Canonical: https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/ford-focus-2008-2011/checklist/ > Printable pre-purchase inspection checklist for the 2008–2011 Ford Focus: the generation-specific checks that separate a good one from someone else's problem. Case file · FORD-FOCUS-2008-2011 · Field document # Ford Focus 2008–2011 · Pre-purchase checklist Bring this to the inspection. Every check below is specific to this generation's documented failure modes, not generic used-car advice. [← Full case file](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/ford-focus-2008-2011/) Check 01 Crouch behind the car and check the rear tires' inner edges. Feathered or bald inner shoulders is the classic rear camber/toe wear pattern on this car. Ask when it was last aligned. Check 02 Cycle the ignition key several times, including wiggling the wheel. Any sticking, hard turning, or 'jiggle the key' ritual means the ignition lock cylinder is on its way out. Check 03 Lock and unlock every door from the fob AND the interior switch, twice. A door that doesn't respond or clicks without moving is a failed lock actuator. Check 04 Confirm the factory lug wrench actually fits the lug nuts. Swollen two-piece lug nuts are common and will strand you with a flat you can't remove. Check 05 On automatics, test-drive from cold and watch the 2-3 and 3-4 shifts. RPM flare or a slipping sensation between gears is the expensive failure. Walk away or price it in. Check 06 Verify the engine starts promptly on the first turn and the battery light stays off. Scattered no-start and charging complaints exist for this generation. Check 07 In salt states, check rear wheel arches, rocker panels, and under the carpet edges for rust like any 15+-year-old economy car. Walk-away signals None are outright bad. 2008 (first year of the refresh) logged the most complaints; 2009–2011 improved CarCaseFile.com/vehicles/ford-focus-2008-2011/ · Independent case files on used cars · We buy our own parts. Nobody pays for a verdict.