The Fords on our D’Iberville lot just topped the quality rankings. Nationally.
J.D. Power moved Ford from No. 15 to No. 1 among mainstream brands in its 2026 Initial Quality Study. We didn’t build the trucks, but every model that earned this sits on our lot off I-10 in D’Iberville, and every one gets serviced here after the sale — not shipped somewhere else for warranty work.
The numbers behind the headline
J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study asks new-vehicle owners what actually went wrong in the first 90 days. This is what Ford owners reported in 2026.
No. 1
Mainstream-brand ranking. Ford sat at No. 15 as recently as 2023 — this study puts it ahead of every other mass-market brand we compete with on the coast.
41 fewer
Reported problems per 100 vehicles versus last year, the steepest one-year drop of any mainstream brand — the kind of improvement owners notice by their second Gulf Coast summer, not just at delivery.
7 of 10
Ford models tested finished in the top three of their segment — a track record across the lineup, not one standout model carrying the brand.
Which Fords actually led their class
Three nameplates topped their segment outright, for the second year running.
Ford F-150No. 1, light-duty full-size pickup — 2nd year running
Our highest-volume trade-in and our highest-volume sale, whether it’s pulling a boat out of Biloxi’s harbors or hauling debris after a Gulf storm. It posted the fewest reported problems in its class for the second study in a row.
Ford MustangNo. 1, sporty car — 2nd year running
Still the car people drive down Beach Boulevard on a Friday night, and still the quality leader in its segment for a second straight study.
Ford Super DutyNo. 1, heavy-duty pickup — 2nd year running
The truck our commercial, marine and trade customers spec for towing and job-site work held its class lead again — the kind of reliability that matters when a breakdown costs a shift, not just an inconvenience.
Escape, Explorer, Expedition & MaverickTop three in segment
Four of the family and commuter models we keep stocked for Gulf Coast buyers rounded out seven of the ten Ford nameplates J.D. Power tested landing in their segment’s top three.
What this actually tells a Gulf Coast buyer
The study ends before our climate starts working on a vehicle
J.D. Power measures the first 90 days — before Gulf Coast humidity, salt air off the Sound, and a full summer of triple-digit heat go to work on trim, seals and electronics. Fewer defects at delivery is a stronger starting point for everything our climate does afterward.
It affects what happens after you buy
Fewer early problems generally means fewer trips back to a service bay in year one, and initial quality tends to track with how a vehicle holds up — which matters when you eventually trade or sell it.
It’s a brand result, not a promise on one VIN
No study guarantees an individual vehicle problem-free. It tells you how the average owner of that model fared — useful context when you’re comparing a Ford against another brand on our lot or anyone else’s.
It matters most when you’re buying sight unseen
Families relocating to Keesler AFB on a short PCS timeline often buy before they’ve seen Mississippi humidity in person. An independently measured result is one more thing to point to when you can’t kick the tires first — and if you’d rather talk through a specific model before deciding, book a short call and we’ll walk you through it.
Serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast from D’Iberville
On the auto mall corridor, just off I-10
Astro Ford is at 10350 Auto Mall Pkwy in D'Iberville, MS 39540. It’s a short drive on I-110 from Biloxi and Gulfport, on I-10 from Ocean Springs and Pascagoula, and a few minutes down Beach Boulevard from Keesler Air Force Base. Sales hours are 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM weekdays and 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday — call (228) 275-3673 if you want us to have an award-winning model pulled up front before you drive over.
What Ford leadership said
“This is a proud day for everyone at Ford, and the result of years of intensive work across our company.”
Jim Farley, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company
“Are we proud? You bet. Satisfied? Not even close. This is a milestone, not a finish line.”
Kumar Galhotra, Chief Operating Officer, Ford Motor Company
About the study
Real owners, not engineers, reporting what went wrong — from a glitchy screen to a rattle — in their first 90 days with a new vehicle. J.D. Power tallies it as problems per 100 vehicles across every major automaker, so a lower score wins.
Ford Motor Company’s, measured the same way at every Ford dealer nationally. We’re sharing it because it’s good, independently verified news about the vehicles on our lot — Astro Ford itself wasn’t individually rated.
Indirectly. The study covers new-vehicle ownership in the first 90 days, so it speaks most directly to current and recent model years. A strong result is still a reasonable signal for a slightly older used Ford of the same generation, since most of the engineering carries over.
No — it means Ford owners reported fewer problems than owners of other mainstream brands, on average. Any individual vehicle can still need service, which is exactly what our D’Iberville service department is for.
F-150, Mustang and Super Duty move fast, so stock shifts week to week. Browse current inventory or call and we’ll tell you what’s on the lot in D’Iberville today, or have something pulled up front before you drive over.
See the models that led their class, in person
F-150, Mustang, Super Duty and more are on our lot in D’Iberville, ready to look at or drive.
Astro Ford · D'Iberville, MS
Rankings, figures and quotes on this page describe Ford Motor Company’s result in the 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, a manufacturer- and model-level study conducted by J.D. Power and reported by Ford Motor Company. They are not claims made by, or about, Astro Ford specifically. Astro Ford is an independently owned and operated dealership and is not affiliated with J.D. Power.
Segment rankings and problems-per-100-vehicles figures reflect the study as published; results can change in future study years and do not guarantee the performance, reliability or service history of any individual vehicle. See a member of our team for current inventory, pricing and availability.
