Associated Press | U.S. automakers have surpassed imported brands
for the first time in a survey that measures the quality of new cars
and trucks.

J.D. Power and Associates said Thursday that owners of domestic cars
reported fewer problems on average in the first 90 days of ownership
than foreign cars and trucks.

That’s the first time that has happened in the 24 years the industry research group has conducted the annual quality study.

J.D. Power said Ford showed some of the biggest gains in quality among individual brands, moving into the fifth spot. Porsche was the top scorer. Toyota, which has suffered through huge safety recalls earlier this year, saw its score drop.

“Domestic automakers have made impressive strides in steadily improving vehicle quality,” said David Sargent, J.D. Power’s vice president of global research.

The study ranks vehicles according to the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles. The overall average for the industry was 109 problems per 100 vehicles. That industry average has fallen steadily in the last decade.

U.S. manufacturers scored an average of 108 problems, while imports posted 109 problems. That is a marked difference than just 10 years ago, when imported brands had far fewer initial problems than those made by U.S. companies.

Luxury brands topped the list of brands, with Acura and Mercedes-Benz holding the second and third spots. Daimler, which makes the Mercedes-Benz, had the best performing plant, an assembly facility in East London, South Africa.

Land Rover had the highest overall number of average problems with 170.

Ford was the best scorer among non-luxury brands, with 93 problems per 100 vehicles. J.D. Power said Ford has improved steadily in the last nine years.

The rankings are closely watched by automakers, which frequently use them in advertising. Ford vice president of quality Bennie Fowler said in a statement that the survey shows Ford’s “steady and meticulous attention to new model launches.”

Toyota’s ranking dropped to the 21st spot, from sixth in 2009. The Japanese automaker  has seen its image suffer after wide reports of unintended acceleration and other problems with its vehicles.