Ford and Porsche may have very different pricing strategies, but they do have one thing in common. They both topped the most recent JD Power 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2026 IQS measured the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) experienced in the first 90 days of ownership.
In total, 78,514 purchasers and lessees of new 2026 model-year vehicles were surveyed by JD Power. Porsche ranked highest overall and the highest in the premium brand segment. Ford ranked highest in the mass market segment.
According to the 2026 IQS, the initial quality of vehicles has improved across the industry over the past year. In the 10 categories evaluated, fewer problems were cited in nine of them than in the 2025 IQS. The lone exception is the Infotainment category. The fact that infotainment is a trouble spot is no surprise.
“As more technology is introduced into vehicles, keeping the experience simple matters more than ever,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at JD Power.
The story behind the rankings
The biggest quality gains in nearly 30 years
Ford and Porsche may have been the big winners this year, but the data has other interesting stories to tell. For example, the total number of reported problems with new vehicles last year was 192 PP100. In 2026, that number dropped to 175 PP100. That is the biggest year-over-year improvement since 1997 and the fourth-best overall performance in the study’s 40-year history.
The feature that led the charge on improved scores is a simple one that many take for granted: cupholders. Better locations and the ability to accommodate various sizes were the main reasons people felt cupholders had gotten so much better.
Driving-assistance alerts, electric-vehicle range, road-noise improvements, and the fit and finish of body panels also contributed to the overall score improvement.
Porsche sets the premium segment benchmark
The 911 dominates, BMW racks up wins, and Land Rover surprises
Porsche outdid everyone with a score of 138 PP100. The venerable Porsche 911 was ranked the highest-initial-quality model in the entire survey. Second in the premium brand segment was Genesis with 151 PP100, and taking the last step on the podium was Lexus with 156 PP100. Overall, BMW ranked just below the industry average with 178 PP100. However, they had six vehicles ranked highest in their respective segment.
The BMW 2 Series was the top-ranked Small Premium Car. The top-ranked Large Premium Car was the BMW 8 Series. The BMW 5 Series was the best Upper Midsize Premium Car. The BMW X2 was the best Small Premium SUV. The Large Premium SUV award went to the BMW X7, and the Upper Midsize Premium SUV winner was the BMW X6.
What might be the biggest surprise in the premium brand segment is that Land Rover, with a score of 173 PP100, beat the industry average. They outranked Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Acura. That is a significant improvement for the British automaker as they ranked near the bottom of the 2025 IQS with a score of 208 PP100.
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Ford leads the pack, others stumble
The best and the worst of the mass market brands
Ford has been struggling with vehicle recalls recently, but with a PP100 score of 152, it ranked highest in initial quality among all mass-market brands. Nissan came in second with a score of 156 PP100, and Buick took third with a score of 162 PP100.
The Ford Mustang was the top Sporty Car; the Ford Expedition was the third-ranked Large SUV; and the Ford Explorer was the second-ranked Upper Midsize SUV. Unsurprisingly, it is the pickup segment where Ford really shines. The F-150 was the highest-ranked Large Light Duty Pickup, and the Super Duty was the top-ranked Large Heavy Duty Pickup. The smallest truck in Ford’s lineup, the Maverick, ranked third in the Midsize Pickup segment.
Even with the industry-wide improvement of scores, there were some automakers who didn’t fare so well in the 2026 IQS. Dead last is Infiniti with a score of 235 PP100. Volkswagen isn’t much better with a 233 PP100 score, and Cadillac was the third worst with a score of 229 PP100.
Cadillac may be the biggest surprise here. Infiniti and Volkswagen were both near the bottom of the 2025 IQS, while Cadillac was just below the 2025 industry average (192 PP100), with a score of 200 PP100. However, it should be noted that the Cadillac CT4 and XT5 were the highest-ranked Compact Premium Car and Midsize Premium SUV, respectively.
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The factories behind the quality
Toyota’s Kyushu Plant sets the standard
Manufacturing plants are also recognized in the JD Power IQS. These awards are based solely on defects and malfunctions and exclude design-related problems and repair incidents. Toyota’s Kyushu 1 plant, where the Lexus NX and UX are produced, took home the Platinum Plant Quality Award.
The road ahead
The 2026 JD Power IQS shows that manufacturers are making meaningful progress, with new vehicles proving more reliable than they have in decades. While infotainment systems continue to frustrate owners, improvements across nearly every other category are encouraging.
Porsche and Ford deserve recognition for leading their respective segments, but perhaps the biggest takeaway is how quickly fortunes can change. Land Rover made one of the largest leaps forward, while Cadillac took a surprising step backward.
Either way, as vehicles become increasingly complex, delivering a dependable ownership experience remains one of the most important ways for automakers to earn and keep customer loyalty.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
