Posts Tagged ‘ford quality’
Maker remains committed to MyFordTouch despite problems.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Dec.19, 2012
Ford Chief Operating Officer Mark Fields insists recent quality problems are "isolated incidents."
Ford has long claimed that “Quality is Job 1,” though it has taken a drubbing in recent months for some nagging problems that have seen it tumble on quality and reliability surveys.
The maker intends to aggressively address such “isolated incidents,” Ford’s new Chief Operating Officer Mark Fields insists. That notably includes the maker’s Sync and MyFordTouch infotainment technologies which have come in for some of the sharpest criticism. But Ford will also have to deal with a variety of other problems that have seen some of its newest models repeatedly recalled in recent months, including a variety of recalls.
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“We’ve had a few issues,” acknowledges Fields, who until a few weeks ago served as Ford’s President of the Americas. “When we see a problem we go at it proactively to address the issue as quickly as possible.”
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Tags: Ford, Ford Escape, Mark Fields, MyFordTouch, auto news, car news, ford escape recall, ford fusion recall, ford news, ford quality, ford recalls, ford sync, infotainment, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
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Second recall in a week for new sedan.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Dec.07, 2012
The 2013 Ford Fusion faces a second recall.
Ford Motor Co. plans to recall more than 19,000 of its new Fusion midsize sedans to replace faulty headlamps, the second service action hitting the new and well-publicized vehicle in just a week.
Last Friday, the automaker announced that it would recall about 80,000 vehicles, including nearly 16,000 Fusions, because of a potential fire risk.
The latest recall was triggered by the discovery of a manufacturing defect at a Ford supplier that could result in the vehicle’s headlamps dimming and becoming hazy over time, according to documents the automaker filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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A company spokesman said the headlamp problem was discovered during internal testing of the Fusion sedan, which was completely redesigned for the 2013 model-year and which went on sale in September. The maker says it has received no reports of accidents or injuries related to the problem – though NHTSA warned that the defect could nonetheless increase the possibility of a crash.
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Tags: 2013 ford fusion, auto news, car news, ford escape recall, ford fusion, ford fusion fire, ford fusion headlamps, ford fusion hybrid mileage, ford fusion recall, ford news, ford quality, ford safety, honda recalls, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, toyota recalls
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VW, Ford, Chrysler lead in "Things Gone Right."
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Aug.27, 2012
The Chevy Volt proves a surprise winner in the midsize segment, according to the 2012 TQI.
As it has so often over the years, Toyota is coming out tops in the new Total Quality Index – at least when measured according to the least problems per vehicle – what is often referred to as “Things Gone Wrong,” or TGWs, inside the auto industry.
But that’s only one way to measure things, cautions Alexander Edwards, president of the California-based consulting firm, Strategic Vision. Consumers don’t just look at what’s wrong, he stresses. They’re also looking for the features that surprise and delight – like an unusually powerful engine, better-than-expected fuel economy, or a well-appointed interior.
When you add in those factors which are commonly referred to as “Things Gone Right,” or TGRs, the picture is quite different, and Volkswagen surges to the top of the 2012 Total Quality Index. Perhaps equally surprising, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler tie for second by that measure.
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“This is ultimately, how people think about vehicles and spend money,” stressed Edwards, echoing a growing sense in the industry that with most makers now delivering near-perfect out-of-the-box quality those manufacturers who can delight the customer who will eventually win out.
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Tags: Chevrolet Volt, Strategic Vision, auto news, auto quality, car news, chrysler news, chrysler quality, ford news, ford quality, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, things gone right, things gone wrong, total quality index, toyota news, toyota quality, volkswagen news, volkswagen total quality
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High-tech issues now the most serious issue for most manufacturers.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.20, 2012
The newly redesigned Porsche 911 posted the best score in the history of the IQS.
Forget the flats, the rattles and wind noise, even the balky transmissions. These days, the biggest headache for a new car buyer is likely to be the voice controlled infotainment system.
The good news is that the latest crop of new cars, trucks and crossovers are “better than ever,” according to the 2012 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. But while manufacturers have largely overcome the defects and malfunctions that traditionally plagued buyers, motorists are experiencing more issues with the latest in-car technologies, such as voice-controlled navigation and Bluetooth hands-free phones.
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The annual IQS asks owners to report on both defects and design-related issues during the first months after they’ve driven their new products home. On average, the 2012 study found an average 102 “problems” for every 100 new vehicles. That’s down from 107 “PP100” in 2011, to use Power-speak.
“This is, without doubt, the best level of quality we’ve ever seen,” noted Dave Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates, or JDPA.
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Tags: 2012 iqs, FordMyTouch, auto electronics, auto news, auto quality, car news, ford quality, ford sync, high-tech problems, infotainment problems, initial quality study, initial quality survey, j.d.power, jd power initial quality study, jd power iqs, jdpa, new car quality, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, vehicle quality
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Lawsuit claims maker advised dealers, ignored customers.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.16, 2012
The suit alleges the lining of the F-Series fuel tank can flake off and cause engine stalling.
A lawsuit filed this week in federal court in New Jersey claims Ford Motor Co. hid problems with the fuel tanks in its big F-Series pickups that reportedly can lead to a loss of power or stalling.
The complaint, Coba et al v Ford Motor Co., seeks to be certified as a class action. The automaker had no immediate comment and it is not clear if federal regulators are now looking into the issue as it could be considered a potential safety hazard.
The problem could be a significant one for Ford if the courts agree with the complaint. The F-Series is not only the automaker’s best-selling product but has been the most popular product in the U.S. market for the last 30 consecutive years. (F-Series Tops the Sales Charts. Click Here for more.)
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According to the papers filed with the U.S. District Court, Ford was aware that the linings of the F-Series pickups and E-Series vans built between 1999 and 2008 could “separate and flake-off,” which could clog the fuel lines, leading to a loss of power or even stalling.
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Tags: auto news, car news, f-150 engine stalling, f-series, f-series engine stalling, ford class action, ford f-150, ford f-series, ford f-series fuel tank, ford fuel tanks, ford lawsuit, ford news, ford quality, ford recalls, fuel tank defect, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
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Japan still tops "Automotive Report Card," but lead shrinking.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.28, 2012
The 2012 Impreza helped position as the new leader in the Consumer Reports Automotive Report Card.
In another setback for longtime Japanese quality leader Honda, it has been knocked out of the top spot according to the annual Consumer Reports Automotive Report Card by up-start Subaru. Honda had topped the study for the last four years but has taken sharp criticism, of late, for a variety of problems, notably with the latest version of its long-popular Civic model.
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Subaru, the maker of all-wheel-drive products like the Outback and Forester also topped industry giant Toyota in the yearly measure of performance, comfort, utility and reliability.
Japanese makers retained their lead, overall, in the annual automotive study. But, “While Japanese automakers still hold the top five spots, their lead is shrinking. In some of Honda’s and Toyota’s recently redesigned models, cost-cutting has become more noticeable,” said David Champion, senior director of the Consumer Reports Automotive Test Center.
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Tags: 2012 honda civic, auto news, auto quality, auto reliability, automotive report card, car news, consumer reports, consumer reports autos, cr autos, ford consumer reports, ford news, ford quality, honda news, honda quality, honda reliability, mazda news, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, subaru consumer reports, subaru news, subaru quality, thedetroitbureau, toyota news
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New R&D center part of shift in thinking about car as mobile “platform.”
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.06, 2012
Ford's new Silicon Valley center will be located near key tech giants like HP, Microsoft and Google - as well as Stanford University.
Ford Motor Co. is setting up a new research lab in California’s fabled Silicon Valley, underscoring the Detroit maker’s efforts to turn the car into a mobile “platform,” rather than just a mechanical conveyance.
The new facility will help Ford develop a variety of new features and apps for its future products, from high-tech safety systems to advanced infotainment systems, company officials note. It will be used to develop partnerships with both established technology firms – such as Microsoft, which developed the underlying software behind Ford’s popular Sync system – and start-ups.
The lab, which will be located near Stanford University, in Palo Alto, will help by “ushering in a new era of collaboration and finding new partners to help us transform what it means to be an automaker,” explained Ford’s Chief Technical Officer Paul Mascarenas, who suggested the move is “a very natural extension” for the second-largest of the U.S. makers.
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Ford has put a heavy emphasis on technology in recent years – as have many of its competitors. Mark Fields, Ford’s President of the Americas, frequently talks about “democratizing technology,” by taking high-tech systems previously found in limited use on luxury products and putting it into high-volume production on mainstream models like the new Ford Fusion.
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Tags: FordMyTouch, auto high tech, auto news, car news, democratizing technology, ford fusion, ford microsoft, ford news, ford quality, ford silicon valley, ford sync, ford technology, microsoft news, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
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Technology problems led to sharp slump in quality ranking.
by Marty Bernstein on Nov.07, 2011
The new fixes should make the MyFordTouch system faster and easier to use.
A quarter-million U.S. motorists will be getting an envelope in the mail from Ford Motor Co. early next year. Inside they’ll find a small flash drive that the maker says will fix problems owners have been reporting with vehicles equipped with the MrFordTouch and MyLincolnTouch infotainment systems.
Ford has been one of the most aggressive makers in the industry when it comes to rolling out the latest in-car technologies. It’s helped draw in customers who might have otherwise steered away from the domestic brand – but flaws with the latest MyTouch systems have also resulted in serious customer frustration which, in turn, has hammered Ford’s quality rankings.
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Ford plunged from 10th to 20th place in the latest Consumer Reports Reliability Index, while also taking a tumble in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey..
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Tags: MyFordTouch, MyLincolnTouch, auto news, car news, ford consumer reports, ford infotainment, ford news, ford nuance, ford power iqs, ford quality, ford sync, ford technology, marty bernstein, thedetroitbureau
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Detroit makers slip, European show serious problems.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Oct.25, 2011
Ford's Lincoln MKX came in for criticism in the latest Consumer Reports reliability study due to technical problems with its infotainment system.
Japanese automakers dominate the latest annual automotive reliability study by Consumer Reports magazine –- while Detroit makers suffered some unexpected setbacks and European brands, including those producing some of the marker’s most luxurious products, experienced significant reliability issues, according to more than 1 million owners who responded to the survey.
Led by Scion, the low-priced, youth-oriented Toyota brand, Japanese marques captured the top nine spots in the widely-followed study. Ford, meanwhile, which had become a benchmark for Detroit’s comeback in quality, suffered a sharp decline, plunging from 10th to 20th among the 28 brands covered by the study.
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“The fortunes have changed for the Big Three” overall, noted David Champion Consumer Reports’ chief of automotive testing, during a presentation to the Detroit Automotive Press Association.
Based on the results from 1.3 million surveys completed by CR subscribers, the data found Ford’s Explorer SUV, compact Focus and subcompact Fiesta models all coming in below average during their first year on the market, while several previously well-rated models dropped to below average due to a mix of problems.
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Tags: auto news, auto quality, auto reliability, car news, consumer reports, consumer reports auto reliability, consumer reports reliability, ford news, ford quality, ford reliability, japanese quality, japanese reliability, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, scion news, thedetroitbureau
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Ford leads with seven product wins.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Aug.16, 2011
Porsche's iconic 911 snags the top rating in the latest Ideal Vehicle Awards.
Porsche topped the chart as the most desirable brand in the latest Ideal Vehicle Awards from AutoPacific, Inc., but Ford claimed victory of its own by capturing more individual segment wins than any other manufacturer.
The annual IVA is an effort by the California consultancy to go beyond traditional automotive quality surveys – which traditionally focus on what are known, in the industry, as “Things-Gone-Wrong,” or TGWs. These days, there’s a relatively modest gap when it comes to such problems between even the best and worst makers. So the Ideal Vehicle Awards balance quality problems with the sort of features that surprise and delight customers – such as comfort, ride and handling, fuel economy and performance.
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“This research recognizes the vehicles that owners want to change the least. In other words, the vehicles that already match their owner’s demands,” explained AutoPacific President George Peterson.
Porsche, which typically does well when it comes to classic Things-Gone-Wrong surveys, also topped the Ideal Vehicle chart – for the fourth time since 2008. But in a significant illustration of how initial quality isn’t always the final word for customers, Chrysler was tops among mainstream brands. The maker has shown improvement in recent quality surveys – such as the widely-quoted J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey — but still lags the industry average.
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Tags: auto news, auto quality, auto reliability, autopacific, autopacific ford, car news, car quality, chrysler news, ford ideal vehicle, ford iva, ford news, ford quality, ideal vehicle awards, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, porsche iva, porsche news, porsche quality, thedetroitbureau
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