Straightline - Ford products ace J.D. Power Initial Quality Study

Ford products ace J.D. Power Initial Quality Study

Finally some good news for Ford as the Mustang, Lincoln MKZ and the Mercury Milan all get top scores from the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. Other winners are the Porsche Boxster and Kia Rio.

Specifically the winners of those listed are:

Compact Premium Sportycar: The 2007 Porsche Boxster

Midsize Sporty Car: The 2007 Ford Mustang

Midsize Car: The 2007 Mercury Milan which beat out such competitors as the Honda Accord and Mitsubishi Galant

Entry Premium Car: The 2007 Lincoln MKZ, which was ahead of the Acura TSX and the Cadillac CTS

Subcompact Car: The Kia Rio

Power noted that 14 Ford models placed in the top three of the respective segments. “An achievement unmatched by any other corporation this year—which is a testament to the improvement in quality for Ford Motor Company vehicle models and plants,” the study noted.

Mercedes-Benz was cited for showing the most dramatic improvement, largely on the strength of the new S-Class. The S-Class tied with the Audi A8 for having the fewest quality problems in the industry. “Overall, Mercedes-Benz improves its nameplate rank by 20 positions, the greatest rank increase of any nameplate in the study,” Power said.

Full story here.

Here's Inside Line's take: Embattled Ford Tops Rankings in J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study

Here's AutoObserver's take: J.D Power: Ford Is a Winner

Posted by Bob Jun 6, 2007 1:22 pm

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Comments

estreka - Jun 6, 2007 4:25 pm (#1 Total: 8)

subarctic north - Great Falls, MT

The article states that Toyota dropped to 7th overall and later states that Ford took 7th place. What gives?

Humorously, the article also talks about the Wixom plant being the most efficient.

bobbyvassallo - Jun 6, 2007 6:57 pm (#2 Total: 8)

Mercedes fell after the '90 models came out. I traded in my '86 S-500 and was immediately disappointed. Too much plastic. I'm glad to see the improvements and looking forward to the new Audi S-5, as well, when it gets out.
(Alfred L.) Bobby Vassallo

gmguy111 - Jun 6, 2007 8:35 pm (#3 Total: 8)

its nice to see some positive news for Ford for a change unlike the flood of bad news that the media spews almost every day about ford

psychogun - Jun 6, 2007 10:56 pm (#4 Total: 8)

Phoenix Metro Area

I honestly have no use for these survey-based studies.
Not only is the sample rather small, no one has any idea how the categories and associated responses are weighted (i.e. zero transparency).
What use is inital quality since it is not really a consistent predictor of durability/reliability. Not to mention that poor gas mileage is considered a defect...

isaacl - Jun 7, 2007 6:49 am (#5 Total: 8)

Harrisburg PA United States of America

"""""What use is inital quality since it is not really a consistent predictor of durability/reliability."""""

PSYCHOGUN just said out loud what MANY of us FEEL...
I could care less about studies like this.....

ateixeira - Jun 7, 2007 7:39 am (#6 Total: 8)

Recife, PE, Brazil

This is just the first 90 days. I think their Durability study is far more significant.

anythngbutgm - Jun 8, 2007 9:44 am (#7 Total: 8)

Massachusetts, Boston

Either way, this is great news. I grew up a Ford guy so this gives me hope that the company will gain some positive ground because of this.

And as a Mercedes fan, it is great to see those claims of Mercedes reliability being disproved as well.

hondacura4 - Jun 8, 2007 2:33 pm (#8 Total: 8)

Id rather see something like the long term tests that Edmunds or other publications have instead of just a 90 day survey as some of the "issues" with the vehicles are not issues at all. Now if the survey was extended to say 50,000 miles or a certain amount of time with the same number of surveys for each vehicle, and a more accurate list of actual problems,defects, and malfunctions then I think people would actually have more faith in the tests.