Ford tops Toyota in quality
Ford Takes Top Spot in J.D. Power and Associates' Vehicle Quality Ranking
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
AP
DETROIT -
Ford Motor Co. supplanted Toyota as leader of the pack in J.D. Power and Associates' annual initial quality rankings released Wednesday, grabbing more individual awards than any other automaker for the first time since 1998, when it tied for the top spot.
Ford ranked highest in five of 19 segments in this year's survey. That's two better than in 1998 - the last time a U.S. automaker was on top - when Ford tied with Toyota and Honda.
The Dearborn automaker earned segment awards for the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan and Mazda MX-5 Miata. Mazda is 33.4 percent owned by Ford.
Porsche again dominated the overall ranking of brands, averaging 91 problems per 100 vehicles, as it had last year. That compared with a 2007 industry average of 125 problems per 100 vehicles. Last year it was 124.
Toyota Motor Corp., which grabbed the top spot in 11 segments last year, captured only four this year - the 4Runner, Sequoia, Tacoma and Lexus RX350/RX400h.
Ford's Lincoln brand, which jumped from 12th to third in overall vehicle quality, averaged 100 problems per 100 vehicles. It was behind Porsche and Toyota's Lexus luxury brand, which averaged 94 problems per 100 vehicles.
"We saw dramatic improvement from Lincoln," said Neal Oddes, J.D. Power's director of product research and analysis. "It was a fantastic year for the Mercury Milan, with dramatic improvements in terms of defects."
Overall, he said, Ford's strength came from new launches such as the Edge, MKX and MKZ.
Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said those launches "speak volumes about what we're doing right."
"What we saw today is the result of several years of adhering to our design and manufacturing processes with complete discipline," she said. "It took some time for the results to be evident."
Toyota had seen its list of quality leaders decrease in a quality study released Monday by Strategic Vision Inc., a San Diego-based market research company and consultant to automakers. Despite improving its overall quality, Toyota led in one category in that study - down from four in 2006. South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co. led in five categories, outperforming its Japanese, European and U.S. competitors. Last year, it had no winners.
Joe Ivers, J.D. Power's executive director of quality and customer satisfaction, said there's no clear answer for Toyota's drop. But several vehicles brought its quality performance down this year, including the Corolla, Prius and Lexus models.
It is worth noting, he said, that Toyota executives have been speaking publicly about their concerns about maintaining its historically high quality during a time of rapid growth.
"We're not used to seeing their vehicles go backward from a quality standpoint, and several of them did," he said. "It's no big change, but when things go backward for Toyota, it's unusual."
Toyota spokesman Mike Michels said the company was pleased with its results, adding that Toyota was the second-ranked non-luxury brand and stayed in the top 10 overall. Lexus also maintained its second-place ranking overall.
Michels said the LS460, which for the first time was not the top-ranked in its segment, came in a close second to the Audi A8 and Mercedes Benz S-Class, which tied for first. Still, the company also was pleased with that showing, since it was a redesigned model and had just been shipped to dealers before the survey-taking began.
Michels said small shifts such as these make a huge difference as the quality gap has narrowed among automakers.
"In our view, if you really look at this, we're starting to see differences that are not statistically significant," he said.
"The (Initial Quality Survey) is not the whole picture when it comes to customers' perceptions and the information they have on quality. We think that long-term quality and durability are what people base their buying decisions on."
In the J.D. Power survey, Hyundai fell from third overall to 12th. Oddes said relaunched vehicles such as the Santa Fe did not do as well as the automaker had hoped. On the plus side, the redesigned Elantra performed well in its segment.
Lincoln was followed by Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Toyota. Honda, with the fewest problems per 100 vehicles among non-luxury brands, improved in the ranking to fourth from sixth in 2006.
The most improved nameplates in the study are Land Rover, Saab and Mercedes-Benz.
Ivers said Mercedes-Benz's improvements have been significant and speedy across its product line. It grabbed the top spot in three segments, and notable was its S-Class going from "worst to first" as it launched a redesigned model.
"A lot of people avoid buying a vehicle in its first year of production, but Mercedes, with its S-Class, got everything right," he said.
J.D. Power also gave the Platinum Plant Quality Award for producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects to Ford's Wixom Assembly Plant, which stopped making cars May 31. The Detroit-area plant produced the Lincoln Town Car, which averages 35 problems per 100 vehicles.
It was the first North American assembly plant to receive the honor since 1999.
For the study, Westlake Village, Calif.-based J.D. Power collected responses from more than 97,000 buyers and lessees of new 2007 model year vehicles after 90 days of ownership.
This year's survey included 228 questions and asked for information specifically about design and production, such as defects and malfunctions.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
AP
DETROIT -
Ford Motor Co. supplanted Toyota as leader of the pack in J.D. Power and Associates' annual initial quality rankings released Wednesday, grabbing more individual awards than any other automaker for the first time since 1998, when it tied for the top spot.
Ford ranked highest in five of 19 segments in this year's survey. That's two better than in 1998 - the last time a U.S. automaker was on top - when Ford tied with Toyota and Honda.
The Dearborn automaker earned segment awards for the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan and Mazda MX-5 Miata. Mazda is 33.4 percent owned by Ford.
Porsche again dominated the overall ranking of brands, averaging 91 problems per 100 vehicles, as it had last year. That compared with a 2007 industry average of 125 problems per 100 vehicles. Last year it was 124.
Toyota Motor Corp., which grabbed the top spot in 11 segments last year, captured only four this year - the 4Runner, Sequoia, Tacoma and Lexus RX350/RX400h.
Ford's Lincoln brand, which jumped from 12th to third in overall vehicle quality, averaged 100 problems per 100 vehicles. It was behind Porsche and Toyota's Lexus luxury brand, which averaged 94 problems per 100 vehicles.
"We saw dramatic improvement from Lincoln," said Neal Oddes, J.D. Power's director of product research and analysis. "It was a fantastic year for the Mercury Milan, with dramatic improvements in terms of defects."
Overall, he said, Ford's strength came from new launches such as the Edge, MKX and MKZ.
Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said those launches "speak volumes about what we're doing right."
"What we saw today is the result of several years of adhering to our design and manufacturing processes with complete discipline," she said. "It took some time for the results to be evident."
Toyota had seen its list of quality leaders decrease in a quality study released Monday by Strategic Vision Inc., a San Diego-based market research company and consultant to automakers. Despite improving its overall quality, Toyota led in one category in that study - down from four in 2006. South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co. led in five categories, outperforming its Japanese, European and U.S. competitors. Last year, it had no winners.
Joe Ivers, J.D. Power's executive director of quality and customer satisfaction, said there's no clear answer for Toyota's drop. But several vehicles brought its quality performance down this year, including the Corolla, Prius and Lexus models.
It is worth noting, he said, that Toyota executives have been speaking publicly about their concerns about maintaining its historically high quality during a time of rapid growth.
"We're not used to seeing their vehicles go backward from a quality standpoint, and several of them did," he said. "It's no big change, but when things go backward for Toyota, it's unusual."
Toyota spokesman Mike Michels said the company was pleased with its results, adding that Toyota was the second-ranked non-luxury brand and stayed in the top 10 overall. Lexus also maintained its second-place ranking overall.
Michels said the LS460, which for the first time was not the top-ranked in its segment, came in a close second to the Audi A8 and Mercedes Benz S-Class, which tied for first. Still, the company also was pleased with that showing, since it was a redesigned model and had just been shipped to dealers before the survey-taking began.
Michels said small shifts such as these make a huge difference as the quality gap has narrowed among automakers.
"In our view, if you really look at this, we're starting to see differences that are not statistically significant," he said.
"The (Initial Quality Survey) is not the whole picture when it comes to customers' perceptions and the information they have on quality. We think that long-term quality and durability are what people base their buying decisions on."
In the J.D. Power survey, Hyundai fell from third overall to 12th. Oddes said relaunched vehicles such as the Santa Fe did not do as well as the automaker had hoped. On the plus side, the redesigned Elantra performed well in its segment.
Lincoln was followed by Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Toyota. Honda, with the fewest problems per 100 vehicles among non-luxury brands, improved in the ranking to fourth from sixth in 2006.
The most improved nameplates in the study are Land Rover, Saab and Mercedes-Benz.
Ivers said Mercedes-Benz's improvements have been significant and speedy across its product line. It grabbed the top spot in three segments, and notable was its S-Class going from "worst to first" as it launched a redesigned model.
"A lot of people avoid buying a vehicle in its first year of production, but Mercedes, with its S-Class, got everything right," he said.
J.D. Power also gave the Platinum Plant Quality Award for producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects to Ford's Wixom Assembly Plant, which stopped making cars May 31. The Detroit-area plant produced the Lincoln Town Car, which averages 35 problems per 100 vehicles.
It was the first North American assembly plant to receive the honor since 1999.
For the study, Westlake Village, Calif.-based J.D. Power collected responses from more than 97,000 buyers and lessees of new 2007 model year vehicles after 90 days of ownership.
This year's survey included 228 questions and asked for information specifically about design and production, such as defects and malfunctions.
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GO FORD! 0 -
That's what happens when the free market comes in and bites you on your complacent rear - you get better or you die.
I'm glad to see that an American company decided to face up to the challenge. Good for them.0 -
I like the escape,anyone got one before I buy??? 0 -
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]Take that all you people that just love all that junk made by the people that brought you World War Two.[^][^] 0 -
i never really understood, or took the time to, but who the hell is JD power, and who are his associates? 0 -
J.D Power hands out awards like candy on halloween 0 -
You'll notice that Ford's stock has about hit bottom over the last 2 years while Toyota's has continued to rise.
This leads me to think that this is nothing more than a sales/marketing save-the-company ploy by Power & Ford execs in an attempt to salvage their investments.
Really glad I swapped that POS Ranger for a Tacoma!0 -
quote:luvberetta Posted - 06/07/2007 : 10:41:35 PM
J.D Power hands out awards like candy on halloween
All these "awards" don't mean squat.
Ever notice how J.D. Power will give one company like Ford "Truck of the Year", and MotorTrend will give another company like Chevy "Truck of the Year", and another like Car and Driver will give even another like Toyota "Truck of the Year". If a person looked hard enough they could probably find a Nissan, Honda, etc. Truck of the year award.
I think its like a lot of gun magazines, whoever pays the most for advertising.0 -
Thats a crock of crap!!!! Ford better than a Toyota???? Ain't gonna happen!!! I bought my last Ford in 2000, biggest piece of crap I ever owned!!!
Love my Toyota it's 11 years old and still running strong, with very few problems!!!0 -
quote:Originally posted by phillip
I like the escape,anyone got one before I buy???
They are SMALL on the inside & very rough riding. Just spring the extra $$$ for an Explorer. Trust me. We test drove an Escape, and we are going to keep our Exploroer. It has much more room and is suprisingly a much better ride.0 -
let me guess, ford paid to do the study.[:I] 0 -
You couldn't pay me to own a Ford.
After seven of them as company cars, after driving nearly a half-million miles in them, after all of the tow trucks, electrical problems, etc., etc., etc., I have no desire to own one.
As for the Escape, go ahead and look at the competitor models (Jeep Liberty is a good one) instead. For the same money, you'll get better comfort, more reliability, better gas mileage and more standard equipment.0 -
quote:Originally posted by luvberetta
J.D Power hands out awards like candy on halloween
+10 -
quote:Originally posted by bobski
let me guess, ford paid to do the study.[:I]
+10 -
The best vehicle I've ever owned is my 1993 F150. For as hard as I run the truck and how much neglect it gets, it has given me very few headaches. My buddy's 99 GMC 1500 is pampered, has half the miles as my 93, and has spent more time in the shop having mechanics chase gremlins. My old Ford has held up quite when for a 1/2 ton that gets worked like a 3/4 ton. In fact, I'm planing on replacing the rear leafs with heady 3/4 ton springs to ease some of the burden when I pull my car trailer. 0 -
"Ford's Lincoln brand, [edit], averaged 100 problems per 100 vehicles."
This is third best?
Am I reading this wrong or is there something wrong with every car?
"Porsche again dominated the overall ranking of brands, averaging 91 problems per 100 vehicles, as it had last year. That compared with a 2007 industry average of 125 problems per 100 vehicles. Last year it was 124."
Are they proud of this? I mean, is this the best any manufacturer can do? I'm glad they're not making pacemakers!0 -
quote:Originally posted by catpealer111
The best vehicle I've ever owned is my 1993 F150. For as hard as I run the truck and how much neglect it gets, it has given me very few headaches. My buddy's 99 GMC 1500 is pampered, has half the miles as my 93, and has spent more time in the shop having mechanics chase gremlins. My old Ford has held up quite when for a 1/2 ton that gets worked like a 3/4 ton. In fact, I'm planing on replacing the rear leafs with heady 3/4 ton springs to ease some of the burden when I pull my car trailer.
We've got an '05 Chevy Malibu and an '04 Jeep Liberty.
Neither have given us an ounce of problems.
However, the first Taurus that I was given needed to be towed with less than 50 miles on it. That car was subsequently towed 12 more times before the company issued me a second one.
The second one dropped a tranny in less than 5000 miles. It was plagued with electrical problems.
The third one came from the dealer with no air filter, which was discovered at the first oil change. Let's just say that this vehicle was not a fun one to drive.
The fourth one was plagued with ghosts. I'd be driving down the road, and the door locks would engage and disengage at will, windows would roll down but not up, the power steering would go out at 75mph (always a nifty surprise), etc.
The fifth one suffered electrical problems. I never knew if turning the key would result in the engine starting or not. Many times, turning the key would result in "click" and nothing. No, it wasn't a dead battery.
The sixth one wasn't bad. However, it had a clock that would lose two minutes each hour. So, every morning, you were resetting the clock in the car.
The seventh one I had for only two months before I quit my job. It didn't give me any time to have problems.0 -
quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
quote:Originally posted by catpealer111
The best vehicle I've ever owned is my 1993 F150. For as hard as I run the truck and how much neglect it gets, it has given me very few headaches. My buddy's 99 GMC 1500 is pampered, has half the miles as my 93, and has spent more time in the shop having mechanics chase gremlins. My old Ford has held up quite when for a 1/2 ton that gets worked like a 3/4 ton. In fact, I'm planing on replacing the rear leafs with heady 3/4 ton springs to ease some of the burden when I pull my car trailer.
We've got an '05 Chevy Malibu and an '04 Jeep Liberty.
Neither have given us an ounce of problems.
However, the first Taurus that I was given needed to be towed with less than 50 miles on it. That car was subsequently towed 12 more times before the company issued me a second one.
The second one dropped a tranny in less than 5000 miles. It was plagued with electrical problems.
The third one came from the dealer with no air filter, which was discovered at the first oil change. Let's just say that this vehicle was not a fun one to drive.
The fourth one was plagued with ghosts. I'd be driving down the road, and the door locks would engage and disengage at will, windows would roll down but not up, the power steering would go out at 75mph (always a nifty surprise), etc.
The fifth one suffered electrical problems. I never knew if turning the key would result in the engine starting or not. Many times, turning the key would result in "click" and nothing. No, it wasn't a dead battery.
The sixth one wasn't bad. However, it had a clock that would lose two minutes each hour. So, every morning, you were resetting the clock in the car.
The seventh one I had for only two months before I quit my job. It didn't give me any time to have problems.
I'm not saying that Ford doesn't make any junk cars. I consider a vehicle to be decent based on what kind of repairs I've had to do on them and how difficult it was to diagnose the problem in the first place. I take the age of the vehicle and the conditions it was operated in into consideration. Everything breaks eventually. In my experience, it's been my Fords cars and trucks that have given me the best reliability and best turn around time from being broken to back on the road. I do all of my own repairs and I'd like to add that every one of my vehicles(except my 00 Explorer and 06 Taurus) was a gnat's hair away from the junk yard from the day I bought it. I expect my vehicles to break, and I purchase them on availability of parts and how easy it will be to repair them.0 -
Toyotas must be real pieces of crap if Ford is rated a better quality vehicle. Ford used to be A #1 in my book for more than thirty years but their new line of vehicle since 2004 are junk. Who needs an on board computerized engine monitoring system and CD stereo and 9 cup holders for a six passenger vehicle if it is always in the shop for warranty work, recalls, and breakdowns.
We got a replacement 2004 F150 4x4 through the lemon law and we are about to do the same with this one.0 -
Hmmm.
Lincoln has an average of 100 problems out of 100 cars.
That, to me, is a 100% average rate of faulty vehicles.
Is this REALLY something to be proud of?
Well, ok--if the average is a 124% faulty vehicle rate, maybe...but...you gotta be kiddin' me!!!0 -
quote:Originally posted by p64mak
Hmmm.
Lincoln has an average of 100 problems out of 100 cars.
That, to me, is a 100% average rate of faulty vehicles.
Is this REALLY something to be proud of?
Well, ok--if the average is a 124% faulty vehicle rate, maybe...but...you gotta be kiddin' me!!!
I don't think that's what it means.
It means that for every 100 cars, 100 total problems were found.
IOW, one car might have six problems, another car might have four, and 20 cars might have none. Of those 100 cars, a total of 100 problems in all were found.0 -
All I know is My Ford truck has 106,000 + miles on it and has never had one problem. Original spark plugs and tires also. It is at a point where I just want to see how long it will run on the original plugs (still runs so smooth you wonder if its running) and tires (I will get new tires before my planned trip to Montana).
Ford products have always been great running equipment for me.0 -
quote:Originally posted by MVP
All I know is My Ford truck has 106,000 + miles on it and has never had one problem. Original spark plugs and tires also. It is at a point where I just want to see how long it will run on the original plugs (still runs so smooth you wonder if its running) and tires (I will get new tires before my planned trip to Montana).
Ford products have always been great running equipment for me.
Wait a second... 106k on a set of tires?
Does your truck see anything besides your lawn?0 -
The only major repair I've had to do to my '90 Ranger has been leaf springs and axle seals. That truck has 155,000 miles on it. If that isn't a well-built vehicle, then please, by all means, tell me of one that doesn't need any work at 155,000 miles.
My '94 Escort needed a new transmission because the old one had almost no fluid in it when I bought it, and I didn't know about it. It was a 5-speed and it worked very well for almost a year. I didn't get any hint that there was a problem with it until a day or two before the transmission went out.
As for my '01 Mercury, there's not a damn thing wrong with it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
quote:Originally posted by MVP
All I know is My Ford truck has 106,000 + miles on it and has never had one problem. Original spark plugs and tires also. It is at a point where I just want to see how long it will run on the original plugs (still runs so smooth you wonder if its running) and tires (I will get new tires before my planned trip to Montana).
Ford products have always been great running equipment for me.
Wait a second... 106k on a set of tires?
Does your truck see anything besides your lawn?
I posted a pic of my tires on here a couple weeks ago.
I have no idea how they lasted that long.0 -
You may or may not know it but Ford Co supports the queers in the United States. They have donated many thousands of dollars to their "adjenda". The AFA (American Family Associatin)started a bouycott a few years ago and Fords sales went south. Personaly I will never own a Ford piece of junk again after the last screwing they gave me.[:)][:)][:)][:)] 0 -
I have owned:
Toyotas
Honda
Pontiacs
Chevys
Suzuki
Opel
Geo
Oldmobile
Datsun
REO
GMC
VW
And Ford.
I now own 4 fords because out of all the vehicles I have owned they have given me the least amount of problems.0 -
quote:Originally posted by MVP
I have owned:
Toyotas
Honda
Pontiacs
Chevys
Suzuki
Opel
Geo
Oldmobile
Datsun
REO
GMC
VW
And Ford.
I now own 4 fords because out of all the vehicles I have owned they have given me the least amount of problems.
I've owned the following:
1972 VW Super Beetle <== lasted about two months before the floor boards collapsed in 1984.
1973 Chevy Impala Custom <=== only car I was really sad I sold. Gave me zero problems when I owned in from 1984-1986.
1987 VW Golf GL <=== complete POS but it was fast as hell
1992 Mazda Protege <=== saved my life in a 110mph head-on impact, never gave me a stitch of problems admittedly.
(I do not count the Ford Tauruses as I did not own them)
1996 Dodge Stratus ES <==== I enjoyed this vehicle, but didn't own it for all that long, my dad totalled it when he borrowed it
1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue <===== complete POS, nothing redeeming about this vehicle.
2004 Jeep Liberty <======= ton of fun, zero problems, although a few recalls. Wife drives it every day and won't drive anything else.
2005 Chevy Malibu <====== ton of fun, great V6, fast as hell, doesn't look like much but it has given me zero problems and we drive it all over the country.0 -
Not so Rucky this year [:D][:D] 0 -
I can't imagine that being accurate, but it is good news for Ford and the U.S auto market. 0
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