2003 Ford Focus vs 2003 Lexus IS 300
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 | 2003 Ford Focus | 2003 Lexus IS 300 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 977 | 21 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 109 | 56 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 52 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 17 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–27 | 18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 57,019 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Lexus IS 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 522 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 82 | 0 |
| Steering | 73 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 60 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 51 | 0 |
| Suspension | 49 | 2 |
| Power Train | 48 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 46 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 60 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 22 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 20 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 0 |
2003 Ford Focus
2003 Lexus IS 300
Compare all Ford Focus vs Lexus IS 300 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.