2004 Ford Focus vs 2004 Hyundai Elantra
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 | 2004 Ford Focus | 2004 Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 387 | 182 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 60 | 56 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 24 |
| Fire reports | 13 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–27 | 24–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 53,898 mi | 50,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 183 | 6 |
| Air Bags | 24 | 114 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 31 | 6 |
| Steering | 29 | 5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 11 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 28 | 0 |
| Power Train | 20 | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 38 | 11 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 8 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 29 |
2004 Ford Focus
2004 Hyundai Elantra
Compare all Ford Focus vs Hyundai Elantra 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.