MERCEDES-BENZ ranked fifth in the recent JD Power Initial Quality Study in the United States, up from No. 25 last year. On the back of a renewed focus on quality, Mercedes garnered 111 defects for every 100 cars sold - 28 fewer than last year. The top four performers in the study were, in descending order, Porsche, Lexus, Lincoln and Honda. BMW ranked No. 22.