2017 Ford Focus vs 2017 Volkswagen Golf
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.
| Metric | 2017 Ford Focus | 2017 Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 896 | 116 |
| Recall campaigns | 10 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 178 | 687 |
| Investigations | 5 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 18 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 28–34 | 29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 57,657 mi | 27,113 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 452 | 5 |
| Engine | 229 | 18 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 116 | 51 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 81 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 61 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 36 | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 37 | 4 |
| Steering | 20 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 178 | 6 |
| Vibration / shaking | 172 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 171 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 89 | 0 |
| Overheating | 50 | 5 |
| Loss of power | 40 | 6 |
| Shifting problems | 37 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 20 | 0 |
2017 Ford Focus
2017 Volkswagen Golf
Compare all Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Golf 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.