Jim Farley’s Ford quality strategy is producing major results, with the automaker reaching No. 1 in initial quality while continuing its recall recovery.
Key Highlights
- Ford reaches No. 1 quality.
- Quality improves by 41 points.
- Veteran engineers strengthen testing.
- AI helps detect defects.
- Recalls remain a challenge.
Ford CEO Jim Farley is seeing early results from a multi-year effort to improve vehicle quality, reduce defects and change how the automaker handles problems before they reach customers. The latest 2026 data shows a major improvement, although Ford still faces challenges from recalls involving older vehicles.
Ford Reaches No. 1 in Initial Quality
The most significant achievement for Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, is the company's top position among mainstream brands in the 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study.
Ford recorded 152 problems per 100 vehicles, improving from 193 a year earlier. That 41-point improvement was the largest year-over-year gain among mainstream brands.
For Jim Farley Ford CEO, the result marks an important milestone. Ford had ranked No. 15 in the previous years of its quality push before reaching the top position in 2026.
A Major Change Inside Ford
Under Jim Farley Ford CEO, quality control has become a company-wide responsibility. Ford brought engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and quality teams closer together.
The goal is simple. Instead of fixing problems after vehicles are built, Ford wants to identify potential failures much earlier.
Jim Farley Ford CEO has also backed weekly engineering reviews designed to catch weaknesses before they reach the factory floor.
Experienced Engineers Return
One of the most notable parts of the strategy involves experienced engineers.
Ford has hired around 350 veteran engineers and technical specialists over the past three years. Many are former Ford employees or experienced supplier engineers.
These experts help younger engineers identify potential failure points and improve Ford's quality processes.
For Jim Farley Ford CEO, experience remains important even as Ford increases its use of artificial intelligence.
Ford Combines AI With Human Expertise
Ford uses AI-powered vision systems to inspect vehicles during production. More than 1,000 cameras are reportedly performing millions of inspections across Ford plants.
However, Jim Farley Ford CEO has made it clear that AI cannot replace experienced engineers.
Ford found that AI works best when trained and supervised by people who understand vehicle engineering and manufacturing.
Software Quality Also Improves
Modern Ford vehicles rely heavily on software, making software testing another major focus.
Ford has expanded automated testing and uses over-the-air updates to fix certain problems without requiring customers to visit dealerships. Its 2026 quality gains were particularly strong in infotainment, although connectivity problems remain an industry-wide concern.
Recalls Still Challenge Ford
Despite the progress, Jim Farley Ford CEO has not completely solved Ford's recall problem.
Ford continues to deal with recalls involving older vehicles. In August 2026, NHTSA upgraded an investigation involving about 135,000 older Fiesta, Focus and EcoSport vehicles over potential timing-belt failures.
These issues highlight why initial quality and long-term reliability must be viewed separately.
Newer Vehicles Show Improvement
Ford says newer model years are already showing fewer recalls and warranty problems. Jim Farley Ford CEO has described recalls as a lagging measure because many problems surface years after vehicles enter service.
That means the full impact of Ford's current quality strategy will take time to measure.
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The Road Ahead for Ford
For Jim Farley Ford CEO, the 2026 J.D. Power result is a milestone, not the finish line.
Ford now needs to prove that better initial quality leads to fewer recalls, lower warranty costs and stronger long-term reliability.
Jim Farley Ford CEO has made quality a central part of Ford's strategy. If newer vehicles continue performing better over the next several years, the company's current quality push could become one of Farley's most important achievements.
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