Ford shares lifted by positive consumer quality survey

Ford shares lifted by positive consumer quality survey highlights a boost for the automaker after JD Power’s 2026 US Initial Quality Study. On Thursday, Ford was ranked first among mass market brands, based on a survey of more than 78,000 consumers assessing vehicle performance after 90 days of ownership. The article ties the favorable ranking to “improvement” following multiple recall and compliance issues, noting Ford had the most recalls in 2026 per US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. Shares rose 2% in afternoon trading. Ford executives said the JD Power results also reflect repair visit data and point to lessons learned from problematic launches. The company cited a new software quality assurance team and strategies to improve collaboration across engineering, supply chain and manufacturing, plus hiring over 350 experienced engineers. Recent recalls included nearly 1.4 million F-150s (2014–2017) for unintended downshifts, about 420,000 vehicles (2017–2022) for seatbelt defects, and a $165 million civil penalty settlement.