Ford Tops GM’s Buick in JD Power 2026 Initial Quality Rankings
GM•Ford dethroned Toyota and Honda to claim top mainstream placement in JD Power’s 2026 US Initial Quality Study, outperforming Nissan and GM’s Buick in first-90-day reliability for the first time in 16 years. Ford also reported lower warranty costs in 2025, highlighting financial benefits of improved quality.
1. Ford Claims Top Position in 2026 JD Power Study
Ford achieved top mainstream placement in the 2026 US Initial Quality Study, ranking third overall behind Porsche and Genesis, and surpassing Toyota, Honda, Nissan and GM’s Buick with its fewest problems per 100 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership.
2. Buick Falls Behind in Reliability Rankings
GM’s Buick trailed Ford in JD Power’s ranking for the first time in this study, highlighting a need for Buick to address quality gaps after previously holding a stronger position among mass-market brands.
3. Lower Warranty Costs Signal Financial Upside
Ford reported a decline in warranty costs in 2025 following improvements in production quality, suggesting potential margin benefits; GM may face pressure to reduce its own recall and warranty expenses to remain competitive.
