2004 Dodge Stratus vs 2004 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 | 2004 Dodge Stratus | 2004 Ford Focus |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 144 | 387 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 57 | 60 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 24 | 34 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–24 | 21–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 66,944 mi | 53,898 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Stratus | Ford Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 16 | 183 |
| Suspension | 38 | 17 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 22 |
| Steering | 13 | 29 |
| Air Bags | 15 | 24 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 31 |
| Power Train | 12 | 20 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 18 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 15 | 38 |
| Rust / corrosion | 9 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 11 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 7 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 6 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 5 |
2004 Dodge Stratus
2004 Ford Focus
Compare all Dodge Stratus 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.