2003 Ford Focus vs 2003 Toyota Corolla
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 | 2003 Ford Focus | 2003 Toyota Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 977 | 720 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 109 | 153 |
| Investigations | 1 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 52 | 101 |
| Fire reports | 17 | 9 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–27 | 28–31 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 57,019 mi | 90,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Toyota Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 522 | 34 |
| Air Bags | 46 | 332 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 60 | 92 |
| Power Train | 48 | 61 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 77 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 82 | 4 |
| Steering | 73 | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 51 | 23 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 60 | 21 |
| Rust / corrosion | 22 | 7 |
| Won’t start | 20 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 5 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 20 |
| Brake problems | 7 | 7 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 11 |
2003 Ford Focus
2003 Toyota Corolla
Compare all Ford Focus vs Toyota Corolla 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.