2001 Ford Focus vs 2003 Ford Focus
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Ford Focus | 2003 Ford Focus |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,761 | 977 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 180 | 109 |
| Investigations | 8 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 172 | 52 |
| Fire reports | 47 | 17 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–28 | 20–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 59,000 mi | 57,019 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Ford Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 496 | 522 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 243 | 60 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 277 | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 176 | 51 |
| Suspension | 150 | 49 |
| Air Bags | 147 | 46 |
| Steering | 86 | 73 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 66 | 82 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 333 | 60 |
| Hesitation / surging | 98 | 9 |
| Vibration / shaking | 67 | 19 |
| Loss of power | 44 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 33 | 22 |
| Brake problems | 29 | 7 |
| Won’t start | 26 | 20 |
| Check engine light | 25 | 0 |
2001 Ford Focus
2003 Ford Focus
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Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.