Ford Wins More 2025 JD Power Initial Quality Model Awards Than Any Other Brand

While moving up the ranks overall, Ford managed to bring home four individual model awards in the 2025 JD Power Initial Quality Study.

It’s no secret that Ford has struggled with initial quality for years now, leading to soaring warranty costs and The Blue Oval securing the not-so-prestigious honor of being the most recalled automotive manufacturer on more than one occasion. That trend has continued into 2025, as Ford issued more recalls than any other automotive brand through the first half of 2025 – and it isn’t even close – but that also somewhat conceals the fact that the company has made great strides as of late. In fact, the 2025 JD Power Initial Quality Study (IQS) was just released, and it contains some very welcome good news for Ford and its fans.

After posting some strong improvements year-over-year in the 2024 JD Power IQS, Ford continued that upward trend in 2025, landing just above the industry average with a score of 193 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) overall, which places it behind Lexus, Nissan, Hyundai, Jaguar, Chevrolet, Honda, Dodge, Kia, Buick, Genesis, Jeep, Subaru, and Porsche, but also, ahead of every other automotive brand that sells vehicles in the U.S.

That alone is an impressive feat, given the fact that Ford ranked near the bottom of the heap in more than one recent JD Power IQS, but the automaker also managed to bring home a total of four individual model segment wins – the most of any automaker. The list consists of the Ford Mustang, which ranked first in the sports car segment, as well as the Ford Escape in the compact SUV space, the Ford F-150 in terms of large light-duty pickups, and the Ford Super Duty in the large heavy-duty pickup segment. In addition to these wins, Bronco Sport also ranked in the top three of the small SUV segment, too.

The 2025 JD Power Initial Quality Study is based on the responses of 92,694 purchasers and lessees of new 2025 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership, and incorporates repair visit dates from dealers as well. It presents those owners and lessees with 227 different questions centered around 10 specific categories —

• infotainment
• features, controls, and displays
• exterior
• driving assistance
• interior
• powertrain
• seats
• driving experience
• climate
• unspecified (unique to repair)

“Customers expect new vehicles to make their lives easier, more fun, or both right from the first mile,” said Josh Halliburton, executive director of quality at Ford Motor Company. “Four segment-topping finishers and overall improving vehicle quality scores for most nameplates show that while we have to remain laser-focused on earning the trust of our customers, we’re headed in the right direction. We are making progress improving quality, but we know quality is a marathon, not a sprint – and we’ll keep working to deliver even better-quality vehicles for customers.”

Photos: J.D. Power, Ford

Join the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums now!

Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.