2004 Ford Focus vs 2004 Volvo S40
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 Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 387 | 48 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 60 | 238 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 13 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–27 | 22–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 53,898 mi | 64,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 183 | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 31 | 8 |
| Air Bags | 24 | 11 |
| Steering | 29 | 4 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 28 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 4 |
| Power Train | 20 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 38 | 9 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 8 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 6 |
2004 Ford Focus
2004 Volvo S40
Compare all Ford Focus vs Volvo S40 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.