Ford Models Top New J.D. Power Quality List; Mercedes Radically Improves

J.D. Power released its annual Initial Quality Study today, and it reveals some remarkable shifts in what buyers think of different brands after 90 days of ownership. We always point out that this study needs to be read in context — 90 days isn’t a lot of time for something to go wrong, but the study also includes how happy buyers are with a vehicles interior and exterior design.

To us, the more important aspect is the problems per hundred vehicles. In that category, Mercedes-Benz improved roughly 20 percent and is now the fifth-ranked automaker in the study. Land Rover actually improved more but still ranks dead last on the list. 

Ford brands topped the individual segment awards with the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ, Mazda MX-5 Miata and Mercury Milan. Toyota and Mercedes-Benz topped three segments each. For a full list of segment and brand winners, click below. 

Comments

Wow lincoln #3, not bad.

Surprising to see Mazda near the bottom. I place more stock in the long-term J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study than I do in this short-term one, though.

Segfault,
The RX-8 usually kills the entire Mazda brand in these types of surveys/awards.

Good to see my Accent is (tied as) the highest ranked sub-compact. I would agree as after 13 months with my '06 so far, the only problem I've had was an alignment issue that the dealer fixed under warranty. That's it. I wonder though why Hyundai as a whole seemed to slip in the ratings this year? Were they not higher than Honda and Toyota (and Lexus, etc.) in the last survey?

What does it mean by (Total)? I mean what is the difference between (Total) and Highest ranked?

aren't acuras hondas?

I think that this type of survey can produce somewhat misleading results as usually people buying a BMW or Audi may have different expectations than those buying a Hyundai or Kia.

For Mazda, the Tribute and B-series trucks are bringing them down. They need to either update them or dump them.

How does the Mazda 3 rank in quality? You guys may be right that only certain veichles such as the rx-8 and the B-truck may be bringing down the mazda quality rating but how does the mazda 3 in terms of quality and reliability stack up?

Interesting that the range (91 for Lexus and 170 of Land Rover) seems to be narrowing. (it's now under a factor of 2) However, the industry average seems to be climbing (118 in 2005, 124 in 2006 and now 125 in 2007) after years of declining.

Considering the very few comments on this post, I think it is pretty clear J.D. Power does not hold much weight.