Ford has faced its fair share of quality issues in recent years, leading to a tremendous number of recalls being issued, soaring warranty costs, and quite a lot of press. As one would expect, The Blue Oval has responded by implementing all sorts of new quality checks on its refreshed and redesigned vehicles, using things like artificial intelligence to help spot problems on the assembly line, and other techniques – including hiring a “quality czar” to oversee that process. Now, we’re learning about even more ways that Ford is working to improve quality.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Ford began making a variety of changes to its quality control process, starting back in 2023. Those include completing more rigorous procedures during new vehicle launches, along with implementing tougher tests to spot problems and fix them earlier in that process. The automaker hired 300 specialists to help with engineering and design, and changed its supply chain operations to ensure that it receives higher quality parts – not to mention benchmarking Toyota’s best practices as they pertain to manufacturing.
These changes happen as Ford is under a consent order from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that requires it to review all of the recalls it issued over the past three years to make sure that all affected vehicles are included in those actions. This is a big part of the reason why Ford has already broken the record for the most recalls issued by an automotive manufacturer in a given year, just halfway through 2025.
Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s chief operating officer, recently explained this in a lengthy statement, noting that the “increase in recalls reflects our intensive strategy to quickly find and fix hardware and software issues and go the extra mile to help protect customers. Ford has more than doubled its team of safety and technical experts in the past two years and significantly increased testing to failure on critical systems in current Ford vehicles such as powertrains, steering and braking. Insights from this testing are being incorporated into current production.”
Comments
They need a whole new thought process….start offering simplier engines and transmissions for one….need to work with garage mechanics..not everyone customer needs hi po engine in a pickup or suv….some us want a more reliable one..
They just need a new catch phrase like
Quality is Job 1
Quality Certified
If you find a better vehicle, buy it!
Oh wait don’t use that one Chrysler found out the results of that one
Maybe it’s time to fire Kumar Galhotra, Failure Farley and others. I don’t believe Ford is doing enough or have any idea on how to solve their terrible quality control.