This year, the makers of Ford vehicles are able to add two prestigious accolades to the long list of Ford awards that have already been received from reviewers like Edmunds.com and JD Powers and Associates. The 2011 Ford F-150 and Ford F-250 have each earned a top award in their respective size categories by these respected reviewing organizations. This further solidifies the position of both the F-150 and the F-250 as top of the line vehicles that are sturdy, reliable and well built. Read on for a brief overview of the two awards.

Ford F-150 Award

The 2011 Ford F-150 was recently named as the first place winner of the 2011 Initial Quality Study by JD Power and Associates in the large pickup category. This survey, sent out to new owners of vehicles, is designed to detect and measure problems related to design and maintenance that occur or become noticeable in the first 90 days of ownership of a vehicle. It is considered throughout the industry to be one of the best ways of determining the overall quality and craftsmanship behind a vehicle.

Though the average number of problems per 100 vehicles was 107 this year, meaning that new vehicles tend to have 10 percent more problems than they did for last year's design group, Ford nonetheless was able to beat the odds with the F-150, which was found to have the fewest problems. The most recent time that the F-150 was designated as the winner of the Initial Quality Study was in 2009, the year after it was fully redesigned, when it received the same score for a first place tie with the Toyota Tundra.



Ford F-250 Award

Edmunds.com provided a second award to a Ford pickup truck, with its 2011 Consumers' Top Rated series. This review system is designed to provide owners of vehicles with a way of reviewing their cars when they have owned them for a longer period of time than for the Initial Quality Study from above. The Ford F-250 was designated as the top rated large heavy-duty truck. In the award, the website praised this vehicle for its massive power and excellent towing and hauling ability. It also commented on the quiet cabin and smooth ride, as well as the wide range of standard and optional features for the F-250 Super Duty. The vehicle was docked slightly for its high cost and low fuel economy, but reviewers stated generally that customers of the F-250 are typically aware of these drawbacks when selecting this vehicle.

Overall, the F-250 was named as the top large heavy-duty pickup truck without any serious competition from other vehicles, making the consumers' number one choice for large scale projects and towing. This award is likely to keep sales and interest soaring in F-250 trucks as well as the other trucks in Ford's product line for years to come.