Every year J.D. Power and Associates conducts their U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, tracking the problems per 100 vehicles that occurred over the previous 12 months in cars owned by American drivers. It’s meant to assess the experience of owning a vehicle in the long-term, covering up to three years of driving as opposed to the first few months after purchase. For this year’s 2024 study, the 2021 Ford Super Duty was lucky enough to be named the most dependable large heavy-duty pickup truck in the country.
“The Ford Super Duty is a deserving winner in the Large Heavy-Duty Pickup segment, and it exemplifies outstanding dependability in the first three years of ownership,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking, J.D. Power.
The Dependability study is now in its 35th year, and covers 184 problem areas across nine major vehicle categories, the problem areas being climate, driving assistance, driving experience, exterior, features/controls/displays, infotainment, interior, powertrain, and seats.
“Vehicle owners are experiencing lower levels of vehicle dependability after three years of ownership,” the study reports. “The high number of problems owners encounter indicates a decline in long-term vehicle dependability, with increased levels of problems reported for nearly two-thirds of brands included in the study. The industry average has increased 4 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) year over year to 190 PP100 from 2023.” In this climate of declining dependability, the Super Duty’s accomplishment becomes even more important.
“Historically, VDS model results mirror the results of the respective model year in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, so a deterioration of vehicle dependability is unusual,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. “This can likely be attributed to the tumultuous time during which these vehicles were built, and owners are keeping their vehicles for much longer. In fact, the average age of vehicles on American roads today is approximately 12 years, which underscores the importance of building a vehicle designed to stand the test of time. Automakers must ensure new vehicle technology introduced today will still meet the customer’s needs years down the road.”
For the Super Duty and its team at Ford, being recognized in this tough climate is a great honor. “Every day, F-Series trucks are put to the test to get the job done, whether it be work or recreation,” said Tim Baughman, general manager, North America, Ford Pro. “Like all Ford trucks, Super Duty is Built Ford Tough. It’s more than a moniker for us, it’s our purpose. We are proud to receive this important recognition. It means we are building dependable trucks our customers can rely on.”
The 2024 Super Duty was also named the 2024 North American Truck of the Year by the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year jury in January. If you’re interested in trying out this award-winning vehicle for yourself, Dunphy Ford can help you today!
