Ford Ranks No. 1 in J.D. Power's 2026 Initial Quality Study
Ford just earned bragging rights 16 years in the making. In the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), Ford ranked as the No. 1 mass-market brand in North America, its first time atop the mainstream rankings since 2010. For shoppers at Arrow Ford in Abilene, TX, that milestone isn't just a headline. It's independently verified proof that the trucks and cars on our lot are built to last.
What the Study Found
J.D. Power's IQS measures problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) reported by owners in their first 90 days of ownership, making it one of the industry's most trusted benchmarks for out-of-the-box vehicle quality. Ford's climb from No. 15 in 2023 to No. 1 among mainstream brands this year reflects a 41-PP100 improvement, the largest year-over-year gain of any mainstream automaker in the study. Ford also ranked second overall among all corporations and third overall among all brands, premium nameplates included.
Three Ford models you'll find on our lot ranked highest in their respective segments for the second year in a row: the Ford F-150, Ford Mustang and Ford Super Duty. Four more models, Escape, Explorer, Expedition and Maverick, landed in the top three of their segments, meaning seven of Ford's 10 tested vehicles placed among the best in their class. Lincoln, Ford's sister brand, also climbed to No. 6 from No. 8 among premium brands.
No. 1 Mass-Market Brand
Ford ranked first among mainstream brands in North America in the 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study.
41-PP100 Improvement
Ford posted the largest year-over-year improvement of any mainstream automaker measured in the study.
Seven Models Recognized
Seven of Ford's 10 tested vehicles placed among the top three in their respective segments.
How Ford Got There
Ford's turnaround wasn't an accident. Starting in 2023, the company merged its vehicle engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and quality teams into one unified organization under Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra, built around a simple mandate: quality comes first. Ford brought back roughly 300 veteran engineers to run weekly design reviews that catch failure points before they ever reach the factory floor, pushed suppliers to validate designs earlier in development, cutting launch issues by 30% year over year, and rebuilt its software testing process to stress-test vehicle code through hundreds of thousands of simulated real-world scenarios before it reaches a customer's dashboard.
The result, according to J.D. Power's Thomas King, is a brand where the F-150, Mustang and Super Duty aren't just sales leaders. They're quality leaders too.
What It Means for Abilene Drivers
For anyone weighing a new truck or car, an independently verified quality ranking is one of the clearest signals available that a vehicle will hold up over years of ownership, not just the first few miles. At Arrow Ford, that translates directly to our inventory: our new Ford lineup includes the award-winning F-150, Mustang and Super Duty, each backed by the same engineering and manufacturing improvements J.D. Power measured this year.
Want a closer look at what's new? Check out our breakdowns of the 2026 Ford F-150, the 2026 Ford Mustang and the 2026 Ford Super Duty, or stop by our service department to see how Arrow Ford keeps every vehicle running at its best long after the sale.
Read the full results in J.D. Power's 2026 Initial Quality Study press release or Ford's own account of how it reached No. 1.
Ready to see the quality for yourself? Browse Arrow Ford's new inventory or contact our team in Abilene, TX today.
Shop Award-Winning Ford Quality at Arrow Ford
Arrow Ford in Abilene carries the Ford trucks, SUVs, and performance vehicles recognized in the 2026 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. Browse new Ford inventory, schedule service, or contact our team to learn more about current availability.