FoMoCo has struggled with initial quality for some years now, prompting the automaker to prioritize improving the rigor of its industrial fitness. Ford CEO Jim Farley says the automaker is making significant progress in addressing its quality issues, starting with the 2024 model year, and while things are looking up on the Ford side of things, its luxury arm, Lincoln, didn’t fare so well in the 2024 Initial Quality Study from J.D. Power.
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. Owners were asked to respond to a series of questions and provide relevant repair data, which is then organized into 10 vehicle categories: infotainment; features, controls and displays; exterior; driving assistance; interior; powertrain; seats; driving experience; climate; and unspecified (unique to repair).
The study collected responses between July 2023 through May 2024, finding that owners reported more problems with their vehicles this year. Overall, average problems per 100 (PP100) vehicles increased from 192 last year to 195 in 2024.
In a similar vein, the study returned that owners of Lincoln vehicles reported a PP100 score of 224, placing it below the industry average of 195. Last year, Lincoln earned a PP100 score of 208, signifying that the luxury brand’s initial quality has declined a bit since 2023 despite Ford’s efforts toward the contrary. Lincoln underperformed rivals like Lexus (174), Genesis (184), Acura (193), and Cadillac (214). However, it did outperform Audi (242). Lincoln also slotted in well below Ford, which earned a PP100 score of 179. That said, it did improved its rank from number 25, or three positions higher than its 2023 ranking.
The study found that owners seem to be particularly dissatisfied with tech features in their vehicles, indicating that they are frustrated with false warnings from driver assist features and rear seat reminder technology. Smartphone connectivity features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also proved troublesome, and vehicle controls seem to be getting more convoluted, making it difficult to access simple functions like wiper blades and turn signals.
We’ll have more insights like this to share soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Lincoln news and around-the-clock Ford news coverage.
Comments
No surprise. With an incomplete lineup composed of only boring SUV’s and crossovers, Lincoln is way behind its competitors and is not even the shadow of the luxury brand they once were. Lincoln is today nothing but a vulgar joke.
Lincoln…..What a Luxury Car Was.
2021 GMC pick-up called and they want their grill back.
I’m not sure if Ford really cares about Lincoln. I walked into a dealership that had four models in the showroom, all were white with black interiors. It struck me, that’s all they have to offer. Boring.
Agreed. Not enough dealerships to be price competitive in any one region, and basically (like most mfrs today) only variations of black and white colors. Some redemption due the last two years in non-black interiors, finally, but still mostly black. Why they think dust-showing, heat absorbing, indeed boring black interiors are what the public wants is beyond understanding. The highways are choked with 80% gray, black, and white… blah. Lincoln’s Jewel Sandstone was great on the ‘23 Nautilus, and yeah fed into my color gripe a bit, but had richness of tone noticeably vacant in most “whites”. So what do they do; they barely made any, then discontinued it! And stupidly topped that off by moving the Nautilus build out of North America.
That all said, however, check out PBS’ Motorweek test of the 2024 Nautilus. They didn’t find it boring.
Motorweek does not put its vehicles thru the 40,000-mile torture test like Car and Driver does. Motorweek never finds a single vehicle boring even if it is boring. If you trust Motorweek, then you should trust Consumer Reports.
I don’t see how Lincoln dealers can survive with such a paltry lineup.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
But wait, “we are working really hard to fix our quality” said the management team for the 10th or 15th year in a row. “Outsourcing the assembly to China will fix that problem”.
Styling of this model makes me really think it is Korean. Either way, doesn’t look like a success. And it has fallen off my short list of vehicles to consider.
Lincoln started going to hell when they closed the Wixom plant. That plant was designed for the building of Luxury cars and had the best quality resources available at their disposal. Now Lincoln vehicles are just an add-on to the lower priced Ford vehicles they share plants with.
Right on.
This does not entirely jive with Consumer Reports’ findings.
I own a 2023 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEV and I love it. I’ve had zero problems with this vehicle. It’s my sanctuary and it pampers me.
Let me know how you feel about it when it has 100,000 miles on it.
Lincoln, with its boring Milk Truck lineup and Alfa Romeo quality will be China-only by 2030.