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. 

2007 Automotive Brand Rank

Problems Per 100 Vehicles

•   Porsche                  91
•   Lexus                     94
•   Lincoln                  100
•   Honda                   108
•   Mercedes-Benz       111
•   Jaguar                   112
•   Toyota                  112
•   Mercury                 113
•   Infiniti                   117
•   Ford                     120
•   Scion                    123
•   Hyundai                 125
•   Kia                        125
•   Industry Average     125
•   Buick                     127
•   Chevrolet               129
•   Volvo                    129
•   Acura                    130
•   GMC                      131
•   Nissan                   132
•   Saturn                   132
•   BMW                     133
•   Pontiac                  133
•   Saab                     133
•   Subaru                   133
•   Cadillac                  135
•   Audi                      136
•   Chrysler                 151
•   Suzuki                   153
•   Mitsubishi              155
•   Dodge                   156
•   Volkswagen            160
•   Jeep                     161
•   HUMMER                162
•   Mazda                   163
•   Land Rover             170

  NOTE: Not included due to small sample size are: Isuzu and MINI.

Top Three Models per Segment

Sub-Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Kia Rio/Rio5 Honda Fit
Hyundai Accent (Total)

Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Honda Civic (Total)
Toyota Corolla
Hyundai Elantra Sedan

Compact Sporty Car
Highest Ranked: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Scion tC
Subaru Impreza (Total)

Compact Premium Sporty Car
Highest Ranked: Porsche Boxster
Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

Entry Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Lincoln MKZ
Acura TSX
Cadillac CTS

Midsize Premium Car
Highest Ranked:  Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Total)
Lexus GS 350/GS 430/GS 450H (Total)
Infiniti M-Series (tie)
Volvo S80 (tie)

Large Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Audi A8 (tie), Mercedes Benz S-Class (tie)
Lexus LS 460

Premium Sporty Car
Highest Ranked:  Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Porsche 911 (Total)
Lexus SC 430

Midsize Sporty Car
Highest Ranked: Ford Mustang
Toyota Solara (Total)
Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Midsize Car
Highest Ranked: Mercury Milan
Honda Accord (Total)
Ford Fusion (tie)
Mitsubishi Galant (tie)

Large Car
Highest Ranked: Pontiac Grand Prix
Toyota Avalon
Ford Five Hundred (tie)
Mercury Montego (tie)

Compact MAV (Multi-Activity Vehicle)
Highest Ranked: Honda CR-V
Nissan Xterra
Hyundai Tucson

Midsize MAV
Highest Ranked: Toyota 4Runner
Toyota Highlander (Total)
Mercury Mountaineer

Large MAV
Highest Ranked: Toyota Sequoia
Chevrolet Suburban
GMC Yukon (Total)

Midsize Premium MAV
Highest Ranked: Lexus RX 350/RX 400h (Total)
Lincoln MKX
Lexus GX 470

Large Premium MAV
Highest Ranked: Lincoln Mark LT
Lincoln Navigator
HUMMER H2

Large Pickup
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Silverado Classic HD
Ford F-150 LD
GMC Sierra LD

Midsize Pickup
Highest Ranked: Toyota Tacoma
Honda Ridgeline
Dodge Dakota

Van
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Express (Total)
Kia Sedona
Ford E-Series