Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Air Bags (16.2% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Air Bags complaints here are 1.9× the median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
None of the 6 most-reported categories on this page have a recall or open investigation on file — they rest on unverified owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 33 · 16.2% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 32 · 15.7% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 · 10.8% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System:ignition | 14 · 6.9% | No official action | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 12 · 5.9% | No official action | — |
| Power Train | 11 · 5.4% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 204 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 08E050000 · 2008 · reported 08/11/2008
WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 06E056000 · 2006 · reported 06/13/2006
FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“I HAVE A 2006 FORD FOCUS WITH APROX 65,000 MILEAGE. RECENTLY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY, MORE OFTEN AND FOR MORE LENGTHY…”NHTSA complaint 10395892 — filed 04/14/2011 · AIR BAGS
“INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. VEHICLE PULLED OUT INTO MY PATH OF TRAVEL AND I WAS FORCED TO HIT THEIR VEHICLE HEAD ON AT 50…”NHTSA complaint 10373954 — filed 01/03/2011 · AIR BAGS
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND HAD…”NHTSA complaint 10336427 — filed 06/15/2010 · AIR BAGS
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Air bags issues are the most-reported category, cited in 33 of 204 NHTSA complaints (16.2%), followed by electrical system (32), vehicle speed control (22), electrical system:ignition (14). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
204 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 22 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, and 19 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Yes — 2 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 08E050000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
0 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
