Ford Ranked #1 Mainstream Brand in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study
Every year, J.D. Power surveys thousands of new-vehicle owners to see how their vehicles are holding up in the first few months on the road. For 2026, the results put a familiar name at the very top of the list. Ford earned the No. 1 spot among mainstream automakers in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, its first time reaching that position since 2010.
For anyone comparing brands before a purchase, a ranking like this offers a useful, independent way to see how automakers stack up on real-world reliability. Here's a closer look at what the study actually measures, how Ford reached the top, and which models led the way.
Ford's Climb to the Top
In 2023, Ford sat 15th among mainstream brands. Three years later, it holds the No. 1 spot. The brand reduced its problems per 100 vehicles by 41 compared with the year before, the largest year-over-year gain of any mainstream automaker in the study. Ford also placed second overall among corporations and third overall among all brands tested, a group that includes premium and luxury nameplates.
Ford president and CEO Jim Farley called it a proud moment for the company, noting that the brand had "worked together every day to deliver for our customers."
Infotainment quality showed the biggest gain, scoring 11 points better than the industry average, while powertrain reliability improved as well. Ford's momentum extended to Lincoln, which climbed to sixth from eighth among premium brands.
Which Ford Models Led the Way
Seven of the ten Ford models tested for 2026 finished in the top three of their segment, the highest share of any automaker in the study.
F-150: Ranked highest in its segment for the second year in a row
Mustang: Ranked highest in its segment for the second year in a row
Super Duty: Ranked highest in its segment for the second year in a row
Escape, Explorer, Expedition, and Maverick: Each landed in the top three of their respective segments
How Ford Improved Its Quality Scores
Reaching the top didn't happen overnight. Ford made changes across engineering, manufacturing, and its supplier network over several years.
Created a unified industrial system in 2023, bringing engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams together under one structure
Hired roughly 300 veteran engineers to run weekly design reviews and catch potential issues before production
Brought suppliers into the design process earlier, cutting launch issues by 30 percent year over year
Gave plant-floor operators a bigger role in spotting problems, including new AI vision systems that help identify defects
Overhauled software testing, running new code through hundreds of thousands of automated scenarios before it reaches a vehicle
Ford chief supply chain officer Liz Door summed up the shift in approach: "What we really want is to celebrate zero defects."
At a Glance
| Category | Result |
|---|---|
| Mainstream brand ranking | No. 1 (up from No. 15 in 2023) |
| Problems per 100 vehicles | Down 41 from the previous year |
| Models ranked highest in segment | F-150, Mustang, Super Duty |
| Models in top 3 of segment | Escape, Explorer, Expedition, Maverick |
| Overall corporate ranking | 2nd among all corporations |
| Overall brand ranking | 3rd among all brands |
Learn More at Kelleher Ford
A quality ranking like this reflects the vehicles rolling off Ford's production lines right now, and it's worth understanding before you start comparing your next vehicle. Visit the team at Kelleher Ford in Brandon to learn more about the models covered in this year's study.
