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Ford’s “Good Enough” Era Is Over, Jim Farley Says
Ford CEO Jim Farley has revealed just how far the automaker has gone to repair its troubled reputation for vehicle quality. After years of recalls and a particularly difficult Ford F-Series Super Duty launch, the company replaced roughly two-thirds of the senior leaders across its industrial system, including engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain operations.
Farley traced much of the change back to the redesigned 2023 Super Duty. In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, he described the launch as a turning point for Ford, one that exposed deeper problems with how the company handled defects before vehicles reached customers.
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The Super Duty Launch That Forced Ford to Change
The fifth-generation Super Duty arrived with hundreds of issues, ranging from software problems to larger production concerns. Instead of sending unfinished or questionable trucks to dealers, Ford held tens of thousands of vehicles in storage and marshaling yards while workers inspected, repaired, and completed them.
The decision came at a price. Farley previously said slowing the Super Duty launch contributed to roughly a $1 billion hit to Ford’s 2023 earnings before interest and taxes. But he now argues that absorbing the cost internally was preferable to letting customers uncover problems after purchasing their trucks.
Farley said Ford previously might have released vehicles and dealt with defects later through recalls. That mindset had to change.
“We didn’t want to pass along any of the problems to the customer,” Farley said. Doing so meant slowing production and even delaying launches. He also recalled resistance from people who argued vehicles were “good enough” to ship.
Ford Overhauls Its Quality-Control Culture
The response went beyond inspecting vehicles more closely. Ford replaced about two-thirds of the senior leadership across engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing over the past few years. Some positions went to outside hires, while others were filled through internal promotions. Ford has also brought in hundreds of experienced engineers and technical specialists.
The company has increased testing of engines and transmissions, introduced more frequent design reviews, involved suppliers earlier in vehicle development, and changed how employees report defects. Workers are now encouraged to flag problems so teams can identify their root causes rather than simply repair individual vehicles.
There are signs that the changes are producing results. Ford ranked first among mass-market brands in the 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, climbing from 15th place in 2023. The F-150, Mustang, and Super Duty also ranked highest in their respective segments.
Still, Ford’s recall record makes the turnaround more complicated. The automaker issued 152 recalls affecting nearly 13 million vehicles in 2025, and recalls have continued into 2026. Ford maintains that many involve older vehicles designed or built before its newer quality procedures took effect.
Farley has acknowledged that one strong quality ranking does not erase the problem. After the J.D. Power results, he said Ford still had “so much left to do” before it could claim to be the top quality brand across the board. The bigger test will be whether Ford can turn its recent gains into a long-term record of fewer defects, fewer recalls, and more reliable launches.
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