2004 Ford Focus vs 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
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 | 2004 Ford Focus | 2004 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 387 | 231 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 60 | 254 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 13 | 20 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–27 | 22–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 53,898 mi | 70,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 183 | 36 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 37 |
| Power Train | 20 | 35 |
| Air Bags | 24 | 21 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 31 | 8 |
| Steering | 29 | 4 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 28 | 4 |
| Seats | 8 | 22 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 38 | 23 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 8 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 8 |
| Overheating | 0 | 11 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 8 |
2004 Ford Focus
2004 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Jetta 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.