2004 Ford Focus vs 2004 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 | 2004 Ford Focus | 2004 Lexus IS 300 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 387 | 19 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 60 | 56 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 13 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–27 | 18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 53,898 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Lexus IS 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 183 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 31 | 1 |
| Steering | 29 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 28 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 24 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 4 |
| Power Train | 20 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 38 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 8 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 0 |
2004 Ford Focus
2004 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.