Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2002 vs 2003 FORD FOCUS

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 287 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 6.9% more reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2002 share 2003 share Share change
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27.9% 47.5% ▲ 19.6 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 6.9% 1.3% ▼ 5.6 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 9.1% 4.4% ▼ 4.7 pts smaller share
ENGINE 10.3% 5.7% ▼ 4.6 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 6.7% 4.2% ▼ 2.5 pts smaller share
WHEELS 3.3% 0.8% ▼ 2.5 pts smaller share
TIRES 2.9% 1.1% ▼ 1.8 pts smaller share
STEERING 4.1% 5.7% ▲ 1.6 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 4.1% 2.8% ▼ 1.3 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1.9% 0.8% ▼ 1.1 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 6.3% 5.3% ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 4.6% 3.6% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 0.8% 1.5% ▲ 0.7 pts larger share
PARKING BRAKE 0.3% not reported ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 2.3% 2.1% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 1.1% 1.3% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 68.4% 70.2% ▲ 1.8 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2002 8

Campaign components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

2003 7

Campaign components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
20 → 17
◆ Injuries
75 → 50