For 2010 the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study’s results appear to provide insight into the volatile automotive industry’s changes over the last year, displaying a dramatic shift in rankings for several brands.

Porsche took the top spot (up from second place last year) with only 83 problems per 100 vehicles – 26 problems below the industry average of 109. The next four brands were also luxury brands, as Acura, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus nearly rounded out the top five – save for a newcomer: Ford. Ford has recorded the top spot for any non-luxury brand, something it has achieved for the first time ever.

Ford’s strong performance in the study was aided by its segment leading Focus, Mustang and Taurus models, which helped propel the average of the domestic brands to just 108 problems per 100 vehicles – besting the import brands’ average of 109 problems per 100 vehicles – something domestic brands have achieved for the first time in the 24-year history of the study.