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Ford Surges to Top in Vehicle Quality Rankings
25 Jun
Summary
- Ford achieved top initial quality honors among mass market brands.
- Industry vehicle quality saw its best year-over-year improvement since 1997.
- Ford's score improved significantly from the previous year's data.
The automotive industry has witnessed a notable improvement in overall vehicle quality over the past year, with Ford Motor Company earning the highest initial quality award for mass market brands. This accomplishment represents Ford's first time leading new-vehicle quality rankings in 16 years, following a period of significant internal focus on enhancing product reliability.
Industry-wide, vehicle quality experienced its most substantial year-over-year gain since 1997, according to J.D. Power's survey data. This progress occurred even as vehicles incorporate more complex software and connectivity features, with automakers prioritizing robust, user-friendly systems. Ford's strategic initiatives, including breaking down internal "silos" and integrating various teams, have been cited as key drivers of its quality surge.
Despite the positive quality assessment, Ford continues to navigate a high volume of recalls, which largely address issues from previous model years. The company leads the industry in recall numbers for the current year, although it anticipates a future reduction as its quality improvement efforts take full effect. Newer vehicle models are already demonstrating clearer improvements compared to those designed between 2013 and 2020.
