You can depend on Ford for recalls and huge depreciation (#1), not much else.
In recent years, Ford has faced its fair share of quality issues – not to mention ones that have prompted more recalls than any other manufacturer. These woes have been well documented in J.D. Power’s U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study over the past couple of years as well, with Ford ranking above average in the 2022 VDS before plummeting significantly in 2023 to the point where it ranked well below the industry average. Unfortunately for The Blue Oval, its position in that regard didn’t change over the past year, though there is some slight improvement worth noting.
In 2022, Ford averaged 188 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), which ranked it above the industry average of 192 problems per 100 vehicles, as well as 16th among all automotive brands. However, in 2023, FoMoCo fell all the way down to 29th place with 249 problems per 100 vehicles. Now that the 2024 U.S. VDS has been released, it reveals that the automaker moved up to 23rd among 29 brands with a slightly better score of 239 PP100, though that still places it near the bottom of the pack and well below the industry average of 190 PP100.
The 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study is based on the responses of 30,595 owners of 2021 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership, and was conducted between August and November, 2023. The VDS focuses on 184 specific problem areas across nine categories – climate; driving assistance; driving experience; exterior; features/controls/displays; infotainment; interior; powertrain; and seats. This year’s study found that overall, nearly two-thirds of all automotive brands suffered a decline in dependability year-over-year, with the average PP100 increasing by four versus 2023.
“Historically, VDS model results mirror the results of the respective model year in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, so a deterioration of vehicle dependability is unusual,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. “This can likely be attributed to the tumultuous time during which these vehicles were built, and owners are keeping their vehicles for much longer. In fact, the average age of vehicles on American roads today is approximately 12 years, which underscores the importance of building a vehicle designed to stand the test of time. Automakers must ensure new vehicle technology introduced today will still meet the customer’s needs years down the road.”