Saturday, August 8, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2002 Chevrolet Prizm vs 2002 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.

Metric2002 Chevrolet Prizm2002 Ford Focus
NHTSA complaints19939
Recall campaigns01
Service bulletins (TSBs)284143
Investigations05
Crash reports282
Fire reports020
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)27–3120–28
Median reported incident mileage54,000 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentChevrolet PrizmFord Focus
Electrical System2277
Suspension1109
Engine and Engine Cooling4103
Air Bags272
Service Brakes, Hydraulic064
Tires162
Fuel System, Gasoline058
Power Train058

Symptoms owners describe

Stalling0119
Vibration / shaking046
Hesitation / surging024
Rust / corrosion023
Won’t start017
Check engine light017
Loss of power014
Water leaks09

Compare all Chevrolet Prizm 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.