Ford now the highest-quality car manufacturer
It wasn’t too long ago – maybe ten years, maybe five, maybe two – when people would’ve laughed had you said Ford made a quality car.
Perhaps it was a mix of things. Decades of lemons. A reputation that American manufacturers take nothing but shortcuts. Bumper stickers like this.
But maybe the turnaround is now complete for Ford, the one Big Three automaker that didn’t file for bankruptcy protection this past recession.
Yes, Ford is back in a big way in 2010, now ranking tops in quality for the company’s first time in 24 years.
A new J.D. Power and Associates study of initial quality showed this week that, among non-luxury automakers, Ford tops all automakers in driver feedback after 90 days of vehicle ownership.
“The blue oval is becoming synonymous with high quality,” a Ford exec told the Star yesterday.
Now, three months of quality isn’t exactly the argument to woo “Yeah, but let’s see how it is five years down the road” Ford sceptics, but the automaker’s position in the closely-monitored J.D. Power survey is a landmark moment in Ford’s transition.
It is, unlike Toyota, a manufacturer on the rise – earning trust among North American car buyers.
Meanwhile, while Toyota’s fall has been well-documented, now it’s been quantified. According to the J.D. Power survey, Toyota tumbled from 7th to 21st place in initial quality.
Does this sound right to everyone? Could Ford - not Toyota - really be the most dependable non-luxury automaker right now?
Ford buyers: do your recent Ford purchases reflect this change in quality?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Russ | Jun 21, 2021 1:24:57 PM
I have 2000 f150 Harley Davidson ford pickup, it is awsome . Never had any repairs and still turns heads on the street . For my money ford is #1 . Just bought my wife a 2010 Fusion and nothing on the market in that class compares in style and quality.
Posted by: Phil | Jun 21, 2021 1:27:36 PM
Purchased a 1998 Mazda B 4000 brand spanking new. Continues to have the same tires and no break jobs at this point on the odometer which is 90,000 Kms. Nothing but oil changes and the usual issues related to maintaining the vehicle. I also own a 2008 Tribute and to date no problems.
I know that Ford and Mazda amalgamated some time ago and the resulting fusion of manufacturers did not do the Mazda wing any harm! But, I have owned Fords all my life and I cannot complain. GM, however, is another story.
I would prefer to support North American products and it is good to hear that Ford is receiving some good press!
Posted by: Mike | Jun 21, 2021 1:39:37 PM
Ford vehicles are very popular during recessions. They let everybody who cannot afford quality still drive around with something new. Articles like this keep the consumer cycle going. As per many other comments left, quality cannot be established by consumers in the early years of ownership. Enjoy them while they are new because they will be destined for blast furnace feed by 2015.
Posted by: Alan | Jun 21, 2021 1:39:53 PM
I've got an 2007 Focus ZX5 it's 3.5 years old and I've driven it 102,000km, and I couldn't be happier. I got it brand new and I've never had to do anything more than basic warranty required maintenance. Everything has worked right from day one.
Another thing to remember about cars nowadays, they aren't "made" by Ford, GM, or any other "manufacturer". They're ASSEMBLED. Most "manufacturers" are sourcing parts form who-knows-where. They provide the specs and their quality control folks have to catch the problem parts, BUT not all parts are checked. FACT, only samples are taken, you couldn't possibly check tens of thousands of engines or cans of paint. All they can do is reduce the amount of bad parts, if one pops up in a batch the rest are checked.
I'm not saying that the lemons are acceptable, rather that one should consider that there is more to a bad car than the badge on the hood. Sure you might get a bad car, but the transmission in one car is likely made by different company than the transmission in another. Look at the reviews PER VEHICLE, look at where its assembled and things like that, a plant in Michigan might have a higher quality output than one in Ontario.
I'm buying another Ford when mine finally bites the dust, because I like the new Ford ethos, designs, current quality, and my local dealer.
I went to Toyota to pickup a brochure and was patronized by a sales associate, went to GM got this spiel about the Pontiac Wave being way better than the Aveo or Yaris (ya right). Just shop around it's your right, and remember that Ford doesn't tell their dealers how to operate (most of the time) and the quality awards are based on customer feed back. If more people praise than complain then they're more likely to win an award. Just like Ford wins in JD Power because fewer people complained about them than their competitors.
Posted by: Joe | Jun 21, 2021 2:19:32 PM
I own a 2003 Ford Escape with 205,000 kms and I'm lovin it. Simple maintenance goes a long way
Posted by: Sabina Ho | Jun 21, 2021 2:24:58 PM
2 months after I brought my Ford Focus in 2006, I told myself that my next new car would be a Ford for sure. I have never had this comment with any other car manufacturers like Nissan and Toyota. Today, I'm still loving my Ford Focus!
Posted by: Al | Jun 21, 2021 2:25:46 PM
2004 ford focus wagon with 158,000 km and no break downs or repairs besides regular maintenance, still on original brakes, I've owned it since new. One recall and one broken heated seat, everything else is 100%. Ford may not have caught Toyota or Honda yet but the gap has gotten very narrow.
Posted by: Stefan | Jun 21, 2021 2:29:54 PM
I bought a Ford Focus SE three years ago, never had a problem. My dad also bought a 2007 Ford Focus and he never had a problem.
Posted by: D. Heaven | Jun 21, 2021 2:46:04 PM
Just bought a 2010 F-150 and a 2011 Shelby GT-500, the fit and finish on both are immaculate, about the equivalent to the Nissans that they replaced. The F-150 already has 10,000 hard km's on it ( I work in the oil industry so the truck bounces along some pretty rough roads) and nothing but oil changes and a windshield replacement. The shelby does everything it should, The problem I had with the Asian companies is that they would not work with you on pricing, I was buying 2 vehicles totalling over $100k, and they wouldn't drop pricing from MSRP, and made it fell like they were doingme a favour by allowing me to buy one of their cars, Ford and Chevy bent over backwards to try to get the order.
Posted by: DR | Jun 21, 2021 2:56:08 PM
Drive a Ford Free Star 2005, so far 126,000 ks runing well, not ready to declare it a good van, but certainly ready to say it hasn't been the worst Ford I have owned. No problems so far. If it goes to 300,000 k without transmission or major engine problems I will declare Ford good. Little concerned transmission seems to shift ruff, but in fairness it always has.
DR
Posted by: Chris | Jun 21, 2021 3:24:18 PM
I love FORD. I love their trucks and the mustang
Ford is #1
Posted by: Freddie B | Jun 21, 2021 3:34:06 PM
Own a 2010 MKZ and 2009 Escape. Have had the Escape for over 1 year and there was a TSB for my tranny on the Escape. Other than that, no problems. Dealer treats me well and hopefully will continue to run well. The MKZ has the sports package and handles pretty good. Good ride with enough power and NO issues. Had the MKZ for 9 months. Also, the Escape was at least $5,000 less than comprable CRV and it will blow it off the road. The MKZ was about $8,000 less than an ES350 but nowhere near as boring to drive. The Ford haters should actually give them a try. You might be surprised.
Posted by: B B | Jun 21, 2021 4:01:48 PM
Someone made reference to haveing a Hyundai given to them becasue their truck was stolen....wellI dont know if you have realised but Hyundai has surpassed many since their atrocious products. They have come a very ong way and are even considered to be some of the best vehicles out there now. cheers.
Posted by: Peter | Jun 21, 2021 4:10:50 PM
I have owned both Japanese and American cars. My Honda Civic lasted only just over 110 00 km . It had three transmissions and ate brakes and mufflers. It was a complete mystery to me why while waiting in the Dealership for my car other people told me that their Honda was great even though then had the same problems . I think that people are reluctant complain about their Japanese cars and the Corporate Culture of the Japanese Automakers is to treat the customer fairly and make sure warranty repairs are done without a fight.
Posted by: Victoria | Jun 21, 2021 4:40:07 PM
We owned a Ford F150 for 12 years (bought new) and we really got our moneys worth. So much so that we recently purchased another one. We have every confidence in Ford. Another reason we decided to stay with Ford is that they didn't ask for bail-out money.
Posted by: CLAYTON AND SHELDON DUBNYK | Jun 21, 2021 4:47:38 PM
HERE IS QUALITY CONTROL, WE HAVE A 8-MONTH OLD F-350 SUPER DUTY DIESEL TRUCK SITTING AT ROBLIN FORD WITH 30,000KL.WHERE WE HAD TO HAUL IT IN FROM A DEALER IN REGINA SASK. THAT PULLED OUT OUR MOTOR,TORE IT ALL APART,SET IT IN A WOOD BOX IN THE RAIN AND MADE US PAY $2,100 TO GET IT OUT OF THERE SHOP,AFTER THEY FOUND THE AIR FILTER WAS PUT IN BACKWORDS AT THE FACTORY AND RED FLAGED THIS TRUCK AND WE SIT IN PIECES WITH NO WARRANTY??? THAT IS HOW FAST IT CANE HAPPEN.
Posted by: James McGowan | Jun 21, 2021 5:56:17 PM
I drove rent a wrecks for five years. All of these cars had over 300,000 kilometres on them. There were 4 Fords, 5 GMs, 5 Chryslers, 5 Toy(autos), and 2 Hondas. Now I have been a Ford man life long; but this was an eye opener.
Are you ready ? Ford 1200 Km add a litre of oil. GM 1100 Km add a litre of oil. Chrysler, didn't last long enough to get readings, - they usually broke down and had to be replaced by the rent a wreck company. Toy(auto) 600 Km add a litre of oil !! (all 5 of them!!) Finally, Honda. Honda number 1, 7,500 Km add a litre of oil !! Honda number 2, 15,000 Km add a litre of oil !!! I dvery much doubt if Mercedes makes engines that GOOD !!
Posted by: David | Jun 21, 2021 5:59:11 PM
I'm with the sceptics... Wait for a few years and see how well they stand up. I've always said who cares about the first year or two. It's a brand new vehicle (Doesn't matter what make.) So everything should work. Wait for the 3rd year or longer and see how well it stands up. That's when it matters.
Personally I don't really care about the J.D. Power surveys. It probably has alot of bias etc. People are happy with Ford because they didn't take gov money etc. So they say good things about it. Toyota went through trouble so it's getting bad stigma from people. I'll talk to people myself or look at sites with comments and what people say about their cars before I'd believe a J.D. Power survey.
Posted by: Melvin Glad | Jun 21, 2021 6:38:56 PM
bought a 2010 ford flex, have a 1996 250 Truck, have had a 1986 and a 1995 town car. all where and are great. guess Ime a ford man.!!!,
Posted by: jr | Jun 21, 2021 6:58:53 PM
Noticed better quality? NO. Frig I have to analzye the problem and then research the internet to find what the problem is, then when i tell them, they either deny it, or claim they've never heard of that problem with anyone else. Yet, there is an entire website devoted to the problem. "smokin edge" is one example. I've been with ford for 15 years , but after this one, I think I'll be looking else where.