2003 Chevrolet Cavalier vs 2003 Ford Focus
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2003 Ford Focus |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 678 | 977 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 477 | 109 |
| Investigations | 4 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 31 | 52 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 17 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25 | 20–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 63,250 mi | 57,019 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Cavalier | Ford Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 106 | 522 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 340 | 12 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 43 | 60 |
| Steering | 19 | 73 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 82 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 30 | 51 |
| Exterior Lighting | 57 | 15 |
| Suspension | 22 | 49 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 138 | 60 |
| Loss of power | 27 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 19 | 20 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 19 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 7 |
| Rust / corrosion | 10 | 22 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 7 |
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
2003 Ford Focus
Compare all Chevrolet Cavalier vs Ford Focus years →
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.