Ford has been hard at work behind the scenes to improve its quality, and it's paying off big time
But if I'm being honest, Ford hasn't always been the first brand that comes to mind when people talk about quality and reliability. Those conversations have traditionally been dominated by brands from Japan and, to a lesser extent, Europe.
Then came the pandemic. It disrupted virtually every automaker, Ford included, forcing companies to rethink everything from supply chains to manufacturing processes. Ford responded with a renewed commitment to what it calls its "Quality Comes First" initiative, investing heavily in engineering, manufacturing and software development. Here's why that matters, what Ford changed behind the scenes and why you'll want to put Ford on your shopping list.
J.D. Power Initial Quality Study carries more weight than most. Now in its 40th year, the study measures problems reported by owners during the first 90 days of ownership. This year's results are based on responses from more than 78,000 owners and lessees of new 2026 model-year vehicles, along with real-world repair data collected from dealers.
The way it works is by problems per 100 vehicles — known asThis year, Ford posted a score of 152 PP100, edging out Nissan and Buick to become the highest-ranked mainstream brand.
"This is a proud day for everyone at Ford, and the result of years of intensive work across our company," said. "Many doubted that an American company could compete with the world's best on quality, let alone reach the top. But we put our heads down and worked together every day to deliver for our customers. Today, Ford is the gold standard for new vehicle quality.
"The Ford F-150, Mustang and Super Duty each ranked highest in their respective segments for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, the Escape, Explorer, Expedition and Maverick all finished in the top three of their classes. In total, seven of Ford's 10 eligible vehiclesWhat impressed me most about Ford winning this award wasn't the award itself — it was how they got there.
And I'll give credit where credit is due: Ford moved away from the quick fixes to their quality problems and For starters, in 2023, the company brought its engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and quality control teams under one organization. This allowed these departments to collaborate more effectively — from the earliest stages of a vehicle's development to final production.
"We rallied the whole company around a clear vision: Quality Comes First," said Ford's Chief Operating Officer, Kumar Galhotra. "That means hard-wiring rigorous processes deep into the way we work, building a culture of relentless problem-solving and recognizing our teams when they prevent issues from reaching customers. " Ford also hired 300 veteran engineers whose sole responsibility is to identify potential problems before a vehicle ever reaches production.
Weekly design reviews are now mandatory, which gives these engineers plenty of opportunities to catch issues early. Impressively, Ford says that this proactive approach, combined with improvements to supply chain coordination and quality assurance software, has reduced launch issues by 30% year over year. Panels fit together well. Interiors feel solid.
Engines are strong. Seats are comfortable. Technology operates easily and reliably. Which, when all is said and done, is strong evidence for their "Quality Comes First" mantra introduced several years ago.
Everything I've driven from Ford in the past few years has worked as it should and has never given me reason to worry. That's definitely worth something. I don't think anyone should ever buy a vehicle just because it won an award. You need to drive it, sit in it and thoroughly "try it on" before you put your hard-earned money down.
And, at the same time, if you've counted Ford out because of quality concerns from years past, it may be time to give their lineup another look. This award didn't just happen, nor was it bought, nor was it luck. It happened because some things have changed at Ford — and it shows. , "Are we proud?
You bet. Satisfied? Not even close. This is a milestone, not a finish line.
We will celebrate this moment today, but tomorrow we are back at it: chasing perfection, driving continuous improvement and getting better every single day.
" The folks at the Blue Oval have always built vehicles people wanted. Now, increasingly, it's building vehicles that owners can feel confident about for the long haul — and that's worth celebrating. About the author: Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, podcaster and automotive journalist. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press.
You can contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com or on hisThird man charged in connection with large fight, shooting, outside Salt Lake bar
Please follow us on Google to support usTraffic Weather Sports Classifieds Cars Jobs Homes Television Radio Salt Lake Utah Local Cars Business Technology Lifestyle
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Air quality alert for New York City area due to wildfire smoke from CanadaMost of the Tri-State Area, including New York City, is under an air quality alert Wednesday and Thursday due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.
Read more »
NYC air quality is 'moderate': Air quality index breakdownThe air quality in New York City has been deemed “moderate' – let's break down what that means.
Read more »
Ohio EPA issues air quality alert as wildfire smoke from Ontario moves into stateThe Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued a statewide air quality alert Wednesday for Thursday for smoke from the Ontario wildfires moving into Ohio.
Read more »
Chicago weather: Air Quality Alert in effect as Canadian wildfire smoke moves into areaMuch of the Chicago area is under an Air Quality Alert due to unhealthy ozone and wildfire smoke levels, The National Weather Service said.
Read more »