Ford has achieved a major milestone by ranking first among mainstream car brands in JD Power’s 2026 Initial Quality Study. However, the company’s CEO, Jim Farley, says Ford still has a long way to go before it can truly be called a top-quality automaker.
Speaking to CNBC, Farley said he is proud of Ford’s performance in the quality study, but admitted that the company is not fully satisfied. According to him, Ford wants to become the number one quality brand in every area, and there is still a lot of work left to do.
One reason for Farley’s cautious approach is Ford’s recall record. So far in 2026, the automaker has issued 56 recalls affecting around 12.1 million vehicles, the highest in the industry. While the number of recalls is lower than last year, the affected vehicle count remains very high.
Since 2023, Ford has been working to improve quality by increasing vehicle testing, hiring more technical experts, and encouraging better teamwork across departments. These efforts appear to be helping, as reflected in the latest JD Power rankings.
Ford’s quality issues have also attracted attention from regulators. In 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined the company for not handling certain recalls properly. As part of the agreement, Ford was required to review several years of past recalls and make sure any safety issues were addressed correctly.
The company’s recall problems have also been expensive. In 2023, Ford spent a record $4.8 billion on warranty-related costs. Although these costs have started to decline, they remain a major concern for the automaker.
Farley says Ford will continue focusing on reducing recalls and improving vehicle reliability. While leading the JD Power quality rankings is a positive achievement, Ford knows that rebuilding customer trust and improving its reputation will take time. The company’s goal is not just to perform well in studies, but to consistently deliver dependable vehicles to customers.
Speaking to CNBC, Farley said he is proud of Ford’s performance in the quality study, but admitted that the company is not fully satisfied. According to him, Ford wants to become the number one quality brand in every area, and there is still a lot of work left to do.
One reason for Farley’s cautious approach is Ford’s recall record. So far in 2026, the automaker has issued 56 recalls affecting around 12.1 million vehicles, the highest in the industry. While the number of recalls is lower than last year, the affected vehicle count remains very high.
Since 2023, Ford has been working to improve quality by increasing vehicle testing, hiring more technical experts, and encouraging better teamwork across departments. These efforts appear to be helping, as reflected in the latest JD Power rankings.
Ford’s quality issues have also attracted attention from regulators. In 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined the company for not handling certain recalls properly. As part of the agreement, Ford was required to review several years of past recalls and make sure any safety issues were addressed correctly.
The company’s recall problems have also been expensive. In 2023, Ford spent a record $4.8 billion on warranty-related costs. Although these costs have started to decline, they remain a major concern for the automaker.
Farley says Ford will continue focusing on reducing recalls and improving vehicle reliability. While leading the JD Power quality rankings is a positive achievement, Ford knows that rebuilding customer trust and improving its reputation will take time. The company’s goal is not just to perform well in studies, but to consistently deliver dependable vehicles to customers.