2004 Ford Focus vs 2004 Saturn Ion
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 | 2004 Ford Focus | 2004 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 387 | 898 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 8 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 60 | 525 |
| Investigations | 1 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 51 |
| Fire reports | 13 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–27 | 23–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 53,898 mi | 70,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 183 | 331 |
| Steering | 29 | 345 |
| Power Train | 20 | 60 |
| Air Bags | 24 | 52 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 33 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 27 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 31 | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 36 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 38 | 41 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 8 | 137 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 7 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 9 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 87 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 34 |
2004 Ford Focus
2004 Saturn Ion
Compare all Ford Focus vs Saturn Ion 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.