Over the past several years, Ford executives have stressed that the automaker is working to improve the quality of its vehicles amid ballooning warranty costs and excessive recalls. To that end, CEO Jim Farley repeatedly claimed that 2024 model year vehicles would be the first to benefit from the company’s more rigorous attention to quality. And based on the results of J.D. Power’s annual study released today, there is now third party data to back his statements up.
The J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study surveyed 99,144 purchasers and lessees of 2024 model year vehicles early in their ownership period. The study, conducted from July 2023 through May 2024, revealed that owners are experiencing more problems with their vehicles than last year. Overall, problems per 100 vehicles increased from 192 in 2023 to 195 for the most recent study. Owners reported more problems with vehicle controls, false warnings, and wireless phone connectivity.
This year, Ford branded vehicles experienced 179 problems per 100 vehicles, a significant improvement of 21 problems when compared to the 2023 study. Direct Ford rivals like Ram (149), Chevy (160), Hyundai (162), Kia (163), Buick (164), and Nissan (166) outranked Ford. But the Blue Oval beat key rivals such as Honda (181), Subaru (183), Toyota (192), and Jeep (200). Ford ranked ninth overall, jumping 14 spots from last year.
“We are making a lot of progress on quality and customers with our latest vehicles are benefiting from it,” said Jim Baumbick, Ford’s vice president of Product Development and Quality. “We have more work to do, as our ambition is to have best-in-class quality and we won’t be satisfied until we achieve and sustain it.”
As parts of its renewed focus on quality, the refreshed 2024 Ford F-150 only shipped out to dealers after an extended review period where the first batch of pickups were held at their respective plants in order to identify problems before they reached dealers. As a result, Farley said the company avoided 12 recalls.
While the company’s new quality paradigm will result in delays, it has doubled down on its latest approach for its batch of significantly updated vehicles. As Ford Authority recently reported, the automaker will hold the 2025 Ford Explorer, 2025 Ford Bronco Sport, and 2025 Ford Maverick at their respective plants until it is confident all major issues have been sorted out. Ford refreshed the Explorer for the 2025 model year, and the Bronco Sport and Maverick are also expected to be significantly updated for 2025, although they have yet to be officially revealed.
We’ll have more on Ford’s efforts to improve quality soon, so subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford news updates.
Comment
Dodge is a dead brand walking. Without their V8s in the lineup and quality that ranks THAT low, there is zero reason to buy one.