Ford replaced Toyota as the industry leader in initial quality rankings, taking the top spot in five of 19 segments in the 2007 survey by J.D. Power and Associates, the Associated Press reports.
Porsche again dominated the overall ranking of brands, averaging 91 problems per 100 vehicles as it had last year. That compared with a 2007 industry average of 125 problems per 100 vehicles. Last year it was 124.
Ford Motor Co. earned segment awards for the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan and Mazda MX-5 Miata. Mazda is 33.4 percent owned by Ford.
Toyota Motor Corp., which grabbed the top spot in 11 segments last year, captured only four this year -- the 4Runner, Sequoia, Tacoma and Lexus RX350/RX400h.
Ford's Lincoln brand took third in overall nameplate rankings, averaging 100 problems per 100 vehicles. It was behind Porsche and Toyota's Lexus luxury brand, which averaged 94 problems per vehicles.
The most improved nameplates in the study are Land Rover, Saab and Mercedes-Benz.
According to the AP,Mercedes-Benz's improvements have been significant and speedy across its product line. It grabbed the top spot in three segments, and notable was its S-Class going from "worst to first" -- in a launch year.
Top ranked vehicles:
Subcompact: Kia Rio/Rio5
Compact: Honda Civic
Compact sporty: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Compact premium sporty: Porsche Boxster
Entry Premium: Lincoln MKZ
Midsized premium: Mercedes-Benz E-class
Large premium: Audi A8/Mercedes-Benz S-class
Premium sporty: Mercedes-Benz SL-class
Midsized sporty: Ford Mustang
Midsize: Mercury Milan
Large: Pontiac Grand Prix
Compact SUV: Honda CR-V
Midsize SUV: Toyota 4Runner
Lage SUV: Toyota Sequoia
Midsize Premium SUV: Lexus RX
Large Premium SUV: Lincoln Mark LT
Large pickup: Chevrolet Silverado Classic HD
Midsize pickup: Toyota Tacoma
Van: Chevrolet Express
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