2025 Maverick refresh model will be held at production for quality checks, says Jim Farley

[cavemold]

Via Bloomberg:

Earlier this year, Farley pioneered this “build-and-hold” approach with the newly redesigned F-150 pickup — Ford’s best-selling vehicle. More than 60,0000 fully built F-150s sat in parking lots around Detroit for weeks so engineers could check them for quality problems. Ford reported a 65% decline in earnings before interest and taxes in its internal combustion engine unit while holding one of its most profitable models.​

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But the extra quality checks also allowed the automaker to avoid 12 recalls, Farley said, including software glitches and assembly problems.​

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Now, Farley is holding another marquee model, a redesigned version of the Explorer sport-utility vehicle, for extra tests. He plans a similar approach later this year with updated editions of the Bronco Sport compact SUV and hot-selling Maverick small pickup.​

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[Timothyd]

Better lumpy earnings than lumpy quality.

 

[Scott Asheville]

Yea, an article this week showed improvement. Ford went from #1 in the most recalls to #3. It is at least moving in the right direction (I always look for the positive). Hard to reform a huge, responsibility-averse bureaucracy like that. Possibly impossible. Too loosely quote from the Vietnam war, "we might have to destroy Ford to save it".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bến_Tre

 

[fossil]

since a lot of problems only surface after sale I'm skeptical.

 

[Connect]

I think this is a good thing.... even though a pain for those anxious to buy. Hopefully it will root out some QC issues.

I did not realize Farley had come from Toyota. It seems Toyota has fallen a bit in recent years (I have never owned a Toyota so based on forums etc) for quality but my ford quality experience over the years has been less than average compared to others I have owned. Honda has been average over all.... the current one my wife drives has been better than in past. My best experience so far has been Nissan which I did not expect at all.

 

[710-oil-614]

All of my Hondas have required some significant maintenance (suspension, $1k+) before 100k miles and have maintenance milestones that are pretty necessary and pricey to maintain your Honda properly.

Toyotas seemingly get worse as the years go on but they don't require the maintenance Hondas do. I've had 3 Toyotas go over 150k without any major issues pop up.

Pre-CVT Nissans were also pretty reliable

 

[bgn]

I'm sure this will increase quality at Ford, where "Quality has been Job 1" since the early 1980s.

I believe they're well on their way to being the most recalled manufacturer in America for the 4th straight year.

 

[dc73pdsgt]

https://fordauthority.com/2024/06/ford-to-delay-refreshed-explorer-bronco-sport-maverick/

 

[710-oil-614]

This is just lip service. The vehicles have already been designed, test, and built to a price point for absolute value at the expense of any quality or durability. Holding completed vehicles for additional QC would not solve any of the inherent underlying issues with Ford or their vehicles.

This additional QC check might have caught the gas tank issue back in 2022 but I highly doubt it.

 

[Tyler]

This is just lip service. The vehicles have already been designed, test, and built to a price point for absolute value at the expense of any quality or durability. Holding completed vehicles for additional QC would solve any of the inherent underlying issues with Ford or their vehicles.

This additional QC check might have caught the gas tank issue back in 2022 but I highly doubt it.

The cyinic in me feels like the main purpose of this "holding" is to create an artificial shortage to increase demand.

 

[Red Ryder]

The cyinic in me feels like the main purpose of this "holding" is to create an artificial shortage to increase demand.

That, and they "know" they have an issue with inventory already manufactured but not delivered and know it is cheaper to fix and less damaging to the their stellar reputation that yet more recalls.

 

[Connect]

All of my Hondas have required some significant maintenance (suspension, $1k+) before 100k miles and have maintenance milestones that are pretty necessary and pricey to maintain your Honda properly.

Toyotas seemingly get worse as the years go on but they don't require the maintenance Hondas do. I've had 3 Toyotas go over 150k without any major issues pop up.

Pre-CVT Nissans were also pretty reliable

Yeah my 2014 Nissan had a CVT and 213K miles in no issues with it. I think I had the fluid changed at least 4 times over those miles and 10 years

 

[sundog]

Interesting. They kind of did this last November with a week or two of trucks piling up in Mexico around the turn signal recall and that was a bit of a mess.

 

[Dad]

I think this is a smart move by Ford. My main question is what took so long?

 

[23grayXLT84]

This is just lip service. The vehicles have already been designed, test, and built to a price point for absolute value at the expense of any quality or durability. Holding completed vehicles for additional QC would not solve any of the inherent underlying issues with Ford or their vehicles.

This additional QC check might have caught the gas tank issue back in 2022 but I highly doubt it.

Like you said, this will catch obvious issues but things such as software which have been majority of maverick recalls (might be stretching that a bit here ) won't be caught and will pop up after some miles.

Oh wait, same for the failing CV axles . Those for sure will be caught at 3 miles.

You can have a well put together product with crap parts...think about that.

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