Nissan Altima vs Ford Focus
Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.
Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.
| Measure | Nissan Altima | Ford Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 20,238 | 29,786 |
| Model years covered | 1993–2025 | 1999–2018 |
| Worst model year | 2014 | 2000 |
| Best model year | 2004 | 1999 |
| Crashes reported | 1,256 | 1,631 |
| Fires reported | 317 | 424 |
| Injuries reported | 783 | 979 |
| Deaths reported | 17 | 54 |
| Most complained-about part | Engine & Cooling | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 11.7% | 10.4% |
Nissan Altima by year
What breaks
Engine & Cooling
3,482
17.2%
Transmission & Drivetrain
2,205
10.9%
Airbags
1,967
9.7%
Electrical System
1,775
8.8%
Body & Structure
1,769
8.7%
Other & Unspecified
1,496
7.4%
Steering
1,346
6.7%
Lights
1,235
6.1%
Ford Focus by year
What breaks
Transmission & Drivetrain
6,857
23.0%
Electrical System
4,474
15.0%
Engine & Cooling
3,622
12.2%
Fuel & Propulsion
2,723
9.1%
Steering
2,111
7.1%
Other & Unspecified
1,536
5.2%
Brakes
1,204
4.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
1,082
3.6%