Amidst a bevy of new car introductions, the quality of Ford Motor Company vehicles has taken a hit, and several popular nameplates have experienced high-profile issues since their debuts. Throughout 2022, Ford CEO Jim Farley has repeatedly stated the fixing quality issues is a top priority, and the automaker did hire a new quality czar to address the outstanding issues, who previously said that recurring problems should start to subside in 2023. However, based on recent comments from Farley, it seems that the process will be an affair that lasts several years.
“Fixing quality is my No. 1 priority,” Farley told the Ford Retired Engineering Executives group at their most recent gathering. “It is the most important initiative in the whole company. And it’s going to take several years. We didn’t lose it in just one or two years. Until we fix quality, nothing else matters.”
As Ford Authority previously detailed, a number of Ford Motor Company vehicles fared poorly on the most recent reliability survey conducted by Consumer Reports. The Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Mustang Mach-E both lost out on being recommended by CR for 2023, after previously being added to the publication’s list in late 2021. Additionally, the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator continue to be among the least reliable vehicles in the survey, and have been among that group since their introduction three years ago. As a whole, the Ford brand dropped four spots in the most recent survey. That said, a number of models performed well, including the Ford Escape hybrid, Ford Maverick, Lincoln Corsair, and Lincoln Nautilus, as all four models are now recommended by Consumer Reports.
In addition to ramping up production on its current and upcoming EVs, the company is still betting on its internal combustion lineup to grow and attract new and returning customers. Quality is a key components of its reorganization, which has essentially split its ICE and EV divisions into two distinct portions of the company.
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Even the executive's own son was frustrated by the new pony car's encrypted ECU.
It shows a lot of promise thus far.
He apparently tuned his pickup and now needs pricey repairs.
A nifty way to conceal additional lighting sources when they aren't needed.
The resulting mine will churn out massive amounts of the material when it's finished.
Not much has changed on that front.
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I thought you build quality into the vehicle you can’t fix quality if you don’t have it in the first place.
My family has always bought fords starting with the model t. I always bought fords but now I’m considering off shore manufactures , I have not been pleased with the lack of quality in the product Ford produces at one time quality was job 1 now that’s just history.
Thank you for the sage analysis random [competitor vehicle touting] Ram guy.
Farley has his head up his a$$....
Nothing More...Nothing Less
Been hearing this from the dealerships also. When the people that sell your products don't have confidence in you it is time for a change.
Wasn't retired exec Jim Hackett responsible for a wave of massive cost-cutting and content reduction? I suspect pride in engineering took a hit as well. Did that strategy help the stock price? Was the plan to gut current builds to fund EV development? Our 2018 C-Max Hybrid was bulletproof and fun to drive, but that was German DNA, not Dearborn's. Our 2021 Escape Hybrid has been reliable, but did not even come with an engine cover. The fender liners are recycled "felt" that hold moisture and dirt that puddles in our garage overnight.
Farley is to blame. He himself stated he diverted chips and supplier capacity from ICE vehicles to the EV side of the business. He caused the "shortages." Farley screwed Ford completely.
I guess maybe people ought to start taking those annoying robo calls and quit shredding the junk mail from those extended warranty companies.
Maybe Farley ought to have a chat with the UAW about their lack of attention to quality. Seems the union is never part of the discussion.
That is definitely the case in the Chicago Assembly Plant that builds the Explorer....Quality is the lowest its ever been. During all the George Floyd protests the employees were directly sabotaging the Police Interceptor Utility's and no one called them out on it. Ford is too woke for its own good, Go Woke, Go Broke.
Oh please stop with the hateful disinformation.
All the above comments crack me up. Newsflash folks, Ford has never had high quality! The cars they made in the 70’s 80s and 90s were very poor as well. The original Taurus sold like hotcakes, but the engines and transmissions were very problematic and the body fit and finish was terrible. Nothing has changed at Ford. It has nothing to do with electrification. The company just has a culture of indifference toward quality that goes on for decades.
Years? Good luck staying in business. Toyota and Honda don't seem to have these problems.
I hyink the push on ev has ruined ford eople are not into ev this is what happen to ford had fords all my life ford better wake uy
Somebody need to put a new battery in their bot.
You have to have screws loose in your head to buy a ford now. Crap of the highest order.