Ford Leads All Brands in J.D. Power’s 2025 Quality Rankings

Ford Motor Company has achieved a major milestone in the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), earning more segment-level honors than any other automotive brand. This annual study evaluates new vehicle owners’ experiences during the first 90 days of ownership and highlights early quality concerns such as manufacturing defects, design issues, and technology usability. Ford’s strong performance in the latest study reflects its ongoing efforts to elevate build quality, address customer concerns, and refine vehicle functionality from day one.

Ford models claimed four segment wins in this year’s IQS—more than any other individual brand. The top-performing vehicles include the Ford F-150, F-Series Super Duty, Mustang, and Escape. These wins span across multiple categories: full-size trucks, heavy-duty pickups, sports cars, and compact SUVs. This breadth reinforces Ford’s ability to deliver quality across a diverse product lineup, not just in one specialized segment. According to Ford, half of its eligible models ranked among the top three in their respective segments, a signal of widespread improvements in design and manufacturing consistency.

Josh Halliburton, Executive Director of Quality at Ford, commented on the achievement, emphasizing the brand’s customer-first approach. “Customers expect new vehicles to make their lives easier and more enjoyable right from the first mile,” he said. Halliburton pointed out that most of Ford’s nameplates saw improvement in their IQS scores, describing the results as a strong indication that the company is heading in the right direction. He also acknowledged that the work is far from over, reinforcing Ford’s commitment to ongoing product development and issue resolution.

The broader industry context provided by J.D. Power indicates that the 2025 study showed modest year-over-year improvement, with overall industry PP100 dropping from 194 to 192. Mass-market brands, on average, performed better than luxury brands. Infotainment systems remained the most problematic area across all vehicle types, contributing over 42 PP100 industry-wide. Common complaints included unintuitive touchscreens, hard-to-navigate menus, and the elimination of physical buttons and knobs—issues that affected both mass-market and premium vehicles.

Ford’s luxury division, Lincoln, also showed steady progress in the 2025 IQS. The brand climbed six positions in the overall ranking and recorded its second straight year of improvement. One of Lincoln’s standout models was the 2025 Nautilus, which improved significantly in its segment, rising from eighth to fourth place in the midsize premium SUV category. The results for Lincoln further support Ford Motor Company’s broader trend toward quality improvement across its entire vehicle portfolio.

J.D. Power also presented plant quality awards based on manufacturing location. BMW’s Graz plant (operated by Magna Steyr) earned the top honor for quality, while Toyota and Lexus facilities across North America and Asia earned additional recognition for assembly excellence.

In closing, Ford has much to celebrate with its top-tier performance in the 2025 Initial Quality Study. The four segment victories reflect clear gains in design and manufacturing, especially in high-volume and high-visibility models like the F-150 and Escape. While the overall brand average was impacted by specific model rollouts, the company’s responsiveness and continued upward trend in nameplate rankings show strong momentum. Ford’s leadership has made clear that quality remains a long-term priority, not a one-time win—positioning the brand well for continued gains in customer satisfaction and reputation.