Ford has struggled with high quality points for some time now, however regardless of its efforts, the automaker has earned yet one more undesirable file: For the third 12 months in a row, The Blue Oval is the most-recalled automaker in america, issuing 54 remembers by means of December 18.
Whereas most of the automakers with a number of remembers did so due to electrical system points, Ford’s most-recalled part class was powertrains. The corporate recalled 5,692,135 autos in 2023, greater than twice the variety of the subsequent closest automaker on the checklist, Stellantis. As Automotive Information identified, Common Motors recalled extra autos, however they had been unfold throughout different manufacturers within the firm’s portfolio. Tesla had the biggest single recall of the 12 months, with greater than 2 million autos just lately recalled for Autopilot’s driver monitoring points.
Although it’s nonetheless “main” the pack, Ford is making progress. By this time final 12 months, the automaker had issued 68 remembers with greater than 8.7 million autos affected. This 12 months’s numbers are clearly higher than that, however they’re worse than in 2021 when the corporate had 53 remembers involving 5.4 million autos.
Ford’s efforts will take time. The corporate is simplifying its manufacturing course of and has applied extra testing and high quality management procedures. Ford additionally stated that its suppliers are offering higher traceability and famous that related autos and higher guarantee practices enable it to establish and repair issues a lot faster than earlier than.
To be honest to Ford, it sells tens of millions of autos every year, so there’s loads of alternative for issues to go unsuitable. A few of its remembers contain easy points like software program glitches, however some are extra critical. Although the quantity is one thing Ford want to scale back, it additionally reveals that the automaker is critical about figuring out and fixing issues. Specialists agree, with one telling Automotive Information that Ford’s willingness to recall autos for even minor points is promising and must be thought of optimistic.