Quality Awards and Ratings

The high quality of Ford vehicles has been recognized via a range of third-party awards and ratings. For example:

2009 Initial Quality Study

• Ford Motor Company, Kentucky Truck plant: "Bronze Plant Quality Award, North/South America"
• Ford Edge: "Highest Ranked Midsize Multi-Activity Vehicle in Initial Quality in a Tie"
• Ford Mustang: "Highest Ranked Midsize Sporty Car in Initial Quality"
• Ford F-150: "Highest Ranked Large Pickup in Initial Quality in a Tie"
• Mercury Sable: "Highest Ranked Large Car in Initial Quality"

Source: J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study.^SM For award information visit JDPower.com.

2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL)

• Ford Flex: "Most Appealing Midsize Multi-Activity Vehicle"
• Ford F-150: "Most Appealing Large Pickup in a Tie"

Source: J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL).^SM For award information visit JDPower.com.

Interior Quietness Awards

According to the RDA Group's GQRS survey:

• In 2009, Ford surpassed Honda and Toyota in key measures of interior quietness.
• The F-150 was ranked No. 1 in quietness customer satisfaction.
• The Lincoln MKZ surpassed the current Lexus ES350 in key interior quietness attributes, such as road noise at 30 mph and wind noise at 80 mph.
• The Ford Escape tied with the Honda CRV for first place in the small utility segment for interior quietness customer satisfaction.

Kelley Blue Book Awards

• The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, Taurus and Flex are among the "Top 10 Family Cars for 2010," according to the editors of Kelley Blue Book's Web site.
• The Ford F-150 won the 2009 Brand Image Award for the "Most Rugged Truck Brand," based on a survey of 12,000 shoppers on Kelley Blue Book's Web site.
• The 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid was listed among the 10 "Best New Family Vehicles," based on criteria including fuel economy, resale value, capability and kid-friendliness.
• The 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid and 2009 Fusion Hybrid were named among the top 10 "Green Vehicles," based on their fuel economy, comfort, convenience, safety and value for the money.

Strategic Vision Awards

• The Ford Focus Sedan topped its segment in Strategic Vision's 2009 Total Quality Index.
• Five Ford vehicles topped their segments in Strategic Vision's 2009 Total Value Index: the Ford Focus Coupe for the small multi-function vehicle segment, the Ford Mustang convertible for the convertible segment, the Ford Flex for the midsize crossover segment, the Ford Expedition for the large sport utility segment and the F-250/350 for the heavy-duty pickup segment.

Automotive Lease Guide

• Ford improved more than any other automaker in the Automotive Lease Guide's "Perceived Quality Survey," released in the fall of 2009.

American Customer Satisfaction Index

• Ford Motor Company brands fared very well in the 2009 American Customer Satisfaction Index, gaining 5 percent in customer satisfaction over 2008. Since 2005, Ford's satisfaction has increased by 10.6 percent, the biggest improvement in that period of any automaker.
• Ford brand customer satisfaction increased to 83 percent in 2009 from 80 percent in 2008. Lincoln and Mercury customers' satisfaction rose to 88 percent in 2009 from 83 percent in 2008.

AutoPacific

• Four Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles won their segments in AutoPacific's "Vehicle Satisfaction Awards:" the Lincoln Town Car in the large luxury segment, the Ford Fusion in the midsize segment, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac in the compact pickup segment and the Ford Explorer in the premium midsize SUV segment.
• Ford won AutoPacific's "Ideal Mainstream Brand Award," and the following vehicles won their segments for AutoPacific's 2009 "Ideal Vehicle Awards:" the Ford Taurus, F-150, Explorer Sport Trac and Explorer and the Lincoln Navigator.
• In the large car segment, the Lincoln Town Car tied with the Cadillac DTS for AutoPacific's 2009 "Motorist's Choice Award."

Safety Ratings

• Ford holds the most Top Safety Picks (awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS) of any vehicle manufacturer. Nineteen Ford vehicles earned this honor in 2009, including the Ford Taurus, Taurus X, Fusion, Focus, Edge, Flex, Escape and F-150; the Lincoln MKS, MKZ, MKT and MKX; the Mercury Sable, Milan and Mariner; and the Volvo S80, C30, C70 and XC90. To earn a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must receive a rating of "good" in offset frontal impact, side impact and rear impact evaluations, and offer electronic stability control. For 2010, vehicles will also be expected to earn a "good" rating in roof strength tests.
• For the 2010 model year, 23 Ford vehicles received five-star ratings for both frontal impact and side impact from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in its U.S. New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) ratings, compared with 24 for the 2009 model year.
• The 2010 Ford Taurus is one of the safest-rated large sedans sold in America, with five-star NCAP crash ratings for frontal and side impact and "good" IIHS ratings in offset frontal impact, side impact, roof strength and rear impact evaluations.
• The 2010 Ford F-150 is America's safest full-size pickup. It's the only full-size pickup to earn five-star crash test ratings in all categories from NHTSA.
• The 2010 model year Mustang Convertible earned five-star ratings in all categories of NHTSA NCAP.
• For the 2010 model year, the IIHS awarded 30 Ford vehicles with "good" ratings for frontal offset performance and 19 Ford vehicles with "good" ratings for side impact performance.
• In Ford's most recent EuroNCAP assessments, the Ford Kuga and Ford Fiesta achieved Ford's first three-star ratings for pedestrian protection. These cars also joined the Focus, Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy in having best-in-class, five-star adult protection and four-star child protection ratings.
• The Ford Mondeo was the second Ford car (after the Focus) to be awarded a five-star rating in the Chinese New Car Assessment Program.
• The Ford Falcon was the first Australian-built car to be awarded five stars in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).