Ford has recorded one of its strongest performances in years in the latest J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, climbing from below the industry average to the top-ranked mainstream automaker. The results mark a significant turnaround for a company that has spent recent years battling quality concerns and a high volume of recalls.
The annual study measures the number of problems new owners report during the first 90 days of vehicle ownership. While it does not evaluate long-term reliability or recall performance, it provides an important snapshot of initial build quality and the ownership experience immediately after purchase.
According to the 2026 results, Ford finished third overall among all brands and ranked first among mainstream manufacturers. The improvement places the automaker ahead of several brands traditionally associated with strong quality performance.
Ford says the gains are the result of a company-wide effort to improve engineering, manufacturing, supplier collaboration, and quality control that began several years ago.
A Significant Jump in the Rankings
Ford’s improvement is reflected in its Problems Per 100 Vehicles (PP100) score, the metric J.D. Power uses to compare brands.
The automaker reduced its score from 193 problems per 100 vehicles in last year’s study to 152 this year. Lower scores indicate fewer owner-reported issues during the first three months of ownership.
That improvement moved Ford from 14th overall in the previous study to third place this year. Among mainstream manufacturers, Ford finished at the top of the rankings.
Although the results represent a major step forward, the Initial Quality Study measures only early ownership experiences and should not be interpreted as a measure of long-term durability.
Multiple Ford Models Earn Category Honors
Ford also performed well at the individual vehicle level. The F-150 and Super Duty pickups each ranked highest in their respective truck categories, while the Maverick, Explorer, Expedition, Escape, and Mustang all finished among the top three vehicles in their segments.
Strong performances across several of Ford’s highest-volume models helped reinforce the company’s overall improvement in the study.
Quality Improvements Extend Beyond Assembly
Ford says its quality initiative has focused on more than manufacturing processes alone. The company began restructuring its quality operations in 2023, bringing engineering, manufacturing, supply-chain teams, and suppliers into earlier stages of vehicle development.
Ford also says it has replaced approximately two-thirds of senior leadership positions within its industrial operations as part of its broader effort to improve execution.
According to the automaker, earlier collaboration with suppliers has reduced launch-related issues by roughly 30 percent, helping identify and resolve problems before vehicles reach customers.
Infotainment Was a Bright Spot
One of Ford’s strongest gains came in infotainment, an area where much of the industry continues to struggle. J.D. Power found that infotainment was the only major category in which the industry average worsened this year, with owners continuing to report issues involving connectivity and digital interfaces.
Ford, however, improved its performance in this category, finishing above the industry average while also making gains in areas such as powertrain quality and driver-assistance systems.
A Positive Sign, But More Work Remains
The latest results suggest Ford’s quality improvement efforts are beginning to deliver measurable results for new-vehicle buyers. Stronger initial quality can lead to higher customer satisfaction and fewer early ownership frustrations, making the study an important benchmark for manufacturers.
At the same time, initial quality represents only one aspect of overall vehicle ownership. Long-term dependability, warranty claims, and recall performance are measured separately and will continue to shape perceptions of the brand over time.
Even so, Ford’s dramatic rise in this year’s J.D. Power Initial Quality Study represents one of the company’s strongest quality performances in recent memory. If the automaker can sustain these improvements across future model years, it could strengthen consumer confidence while demonstrating that its extensive quality initiatives are producing results.