2003 Ford Focus vs 2003 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 | 2003 Ford Focus | 2003 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 977 | 455 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 109 | 233 |
| Investigations | 1 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 52 | 25 |
| Fire reports | 17 | 70 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–27 | 22–39 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 57,019 mi | 56,861 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 522 | 97 |
| Air Bags | 46 | 76 |
| Seats | 18 | 100 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 60 | 45 |
| Power Train | 48 | 54 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 82 | 7 |
| Steering | 73 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 51 | 18 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 60 | 22 |
| Rust / corrosion | 22 | 8 |
| Won’t start | 20 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 6 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 9 |
| Brake problems | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 0 |
2003 Ford Focus
2003 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.