Driven by Quality: Ford Outpaces Rivals in 2025 J.D. Power Rankings

Ford has emerged as the most honored brand in the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, with four models taking top honors in their respective segments: the F‑150 (full‑size pickup), the F‑Series Super Duty (heavy‑duty pickup), the Mustang (midsize sports car), and the Escape (compact SUV). This achievement outpaced all other manufacturers, especially Chevrolet, which garnered three segment awards. In total, Ford’s segment-topping wins place it alongside General Motors, which had five model-level awards, and ahead of Honda with three.

The J.D. Power Initial Quality Study measures problems experienced by owners during their first 90 days of ownership, with a focus on defects per 100 vehicles (PP100). In 2025, industry-wide PP100 improved slightly, from 194 to 192. Ford’s strong showing—with half of eligible models finishing in the top three—reflects marked strides in reliability and owner satisfaction early in the vehicle lifecycle.

Strategic Quality Initiatives

Josh Halliburton, Ford’s Executive Director of Quality, emphasized the alignment between customer expectations and vehicle performance from day one, noting that these honors reflect tangible improvements across the lineup. Meanwhile, Ford’s COO Kumar Galhotra outlined that the company has more than doubled its safety and technical experts, expanded failure-mode testing (spanning powertrains, steering, braking, and software), and elevated its software validation and over-the-air update capabilities to preempt warranty issues.

Ford’s aggressive recall management has played a pivotal role in its headline quality performance. In early 2025 alone, the company issued 88 recalls—already matching or exceeding annual totals from competitors—as part of an internal audit strategy aimed at proactively identifying safety and software concerns. Recalls have included fixes for fuel‐pump issues, Mustang Mach‑E battery-door access problems, and longstanding trim defects in older Explorers. Although the volume of recalls drew scrutiny—particularly from dealers grappling with part shortages and service delays—Ford maintains that many are software‑fixable via OTA updates, and that this vigorous strategy will ultimately reduce long‑term quality issues.

Premium Edge & Lincoln’s Progress

Ford’s luxury brand Lincoln posted its second consecutive quality improvement, climbing six positions among all brands. Notably, the Lincoln Nautilus leaped from eighth to fourth in the Midsize Premium SUV class. Halliburton cautioned, however, that quality remains an ongoing journey—“a marathon, not a sprint”—and committed to continuing enhancements.

Key Industry Observations

Across the automotive landscape, infotainment systems continue to top complaint charts despite advancements in screen quality. J.D. Power flagged that touchscreen controls—covering climate functions and additional features—are contributing to owner frustration, even as luxury interiors improve. Moreover, challenges with cupholder design are rising, as drivers seek containers that accommodate a wider variety of bottle and mug shapes.

Ford executives predict ongoing gains. Instead of considering software degradation and hardware failures as static challenges, Ford views recalling and testing as a proactive pathway to future reduction in quality issues. Galhotra and other leaders emphasized that this intensive investment in testing, technical expertise, and OTA capability is intended to push the brand toward world‑class quality levels