Monday, September 21, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2004 Ford Focus vs 2004 Saab 9-3

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2004 Ford Focus2004 Saab 9-3
NHTSA complaints387207
Recall campaigns15
Service bulletins (TSBs)6082
Investigations13
Crash reports3410
Fire reports132
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)21–2721–24
Median reported incident mileage53,898 mi72,500 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentFord FocusSaab 9-3
Electrical System18313
Seat Belts579
Suspension1752
Air Bags2420
Service Brakes, Hydraulic316
Steering294
Engine and Engine Cooling229
Latches/locks/linkages282

Symptoms owners describe

Stalling3812
Hesitation / surging110
Won’t start80
Vibration / shaking70
Brake problems60
Check engine light50
Clunking / rattling06

Compare all Ford Focus vs Saab 9-3 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.