2013 Ford Focus vs 2013 Volkswagen Golf
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 | 2013 Ford Focus | 2013 Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 2,105 | 43 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 154 | 1,296 |
| Investigations | 3 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 49 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–30 | 26–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 56,000 mi | 50,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1,098 | 1 |
| Engine | 343 | 14 |
| Electrical System | 273 | 7 |
| Steering | 273 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 208 | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 111 | 3 |
| Structure | 83 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 53 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 384 | 0 |
| Stalling | 347 | 5 |
| Hesitation / surging | 293 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 180 | 5 |
| Shifting problems | 120 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 98 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 57 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 46 | 0 |
2013 Ford Focus
2013 Volkswagen Golf
Compare all Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Golf 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.