Overview & Reviews

For more than 100 years now, Ford Motor Company has been selling mass-produced automobiles in the United States and around the globe. Known as one of the Big Three American manufacturers, Ford has attracted millions of loyal customers with a wide range of vehicles that offer considerable value. The automaker's trucks and SUVs have been especially popular. For decades, Ford's F-Series truck has been the best-selling vehicle in America.

The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford dreamed of building a car for the masses, and that's precisely what he did, most notably with the immortal Model T of 1908-'27. The latter was bought by 16.5 million Americans during its 20-year lifespan and was affordable enough for Ford's own factory workers to purchase. Ford's early years were also distinguished by its introduction of the moving assembly line. It was the first to utilize this more cost-effective method of production, and its innovation became a mainstay of the manufacturing process.

Ford expanded into the luxury-car market with its purchase of Lincoln Motor Company in 1925. Over the next few years, the company broadened its focus even further by creating the Mercury division to produce mid-priced cars. By the late '30s, Ford had unveiled the stylish Lincoln Zephyr, introduced a low-priced V8 engine and built more than 25 million vehicles.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the legendary Thunderbird. Offering sleek styling and spirited performance wedded to available luxury features like power windows and a signal-seeking radio, the car was a huge hit. Another model of that decade, the Edsel, met with a somewhat less enthusiastic reception. In the wake of abysmal sales, the Edsel was discontinued just a few months into its third model year.

Ford regained its footing in the early 1960s with the introduction of the compact Falcon, a model that was warmly received by the public. By the middle of the decade the automaker had given enthusiasts something to cheer about with the launch of the sporty Mustang, a car that went on to become one of the biggest sellers of its day. Buyers adored the Mustang's low price, available powerful V8 engines and sporty styling. The Mustang even created a brand-new vehicle category: the pony car.

By the 1970s, Ford, like other domestic automakers, was starting to suffer the effects of changing consumer tastes and new government regulations. Many of its cars became shadows of their former selves. But the seeds of rebirth were planted in this decade. In 1979, the company acquired a stake in Mazda; this move would later aid Ford significantly in co-development projects. The company also emerged with a new mindset of global competitiveness.

By the mid-to-late '80s, Ford was showing new strength with its popular Escort and Taurus models while further expanding its empire with the purchase of the Aston Martin and Jaguar brands. Meanwhile, its full-size LTD sedan (later renamed the Crown Victoria) remained a staple of taxi companies and police forces throughout America.

Ford rode a wave of popularity in the 1990s, thanks in part to the huge success of its Explorer midsize SUV. The truck played a huge role in ushering in the era of the SUV. In 1999, Ford expanded its family yet again with the purchase of Volvo's car division, and, in 2000, it acquired Land Rover. For awhile, there was talk of Ford even taking General Motors' spot as the No. 1 automaker in the world.

But the new millennium initially saw a downturn for Ford. Increased competition, a continuing operating loss for Jaguar, legacy costs and a reliance on SUVs for profit took their toll. To compensate, the company sold Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo and introduced a wave of successful new products. Models like the F-150, Fusion, Fiesta, Focus, Flex and Mustang have allowed Ford to regain its health and standing as a very competitive manufacturer.

User Reviews:

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  No spare part avelable - 2020 Ford Transit Connect
  By Allan zamzam - January 6 - 4:55 am

  No spare part avelable (INSIDE DOOR HAND ) Waiting 2 month for inside hand Dealer said not avelable He told me some people waiting for 3 month

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  exhaust fault - 2017 Ford Ecosport
  By Robert Morgan - April 29 - 3:36 am

  My Ford Ecosport apparantly needs new exhaust parts at £700.00 after only 21000clocked miles, what a rip off!

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  So Many Problems Over the Years - Big and Small - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By KP - December 13 - 12:39 pm

  I bought this vehicle used (the 3.6L model) with fairly low mileage. After just a couple years of owning it, the transmission failed. So I ended up having to spend $1,700 on having the transmission rebuilt. Just a couple days ago it wouldnt start and it wasnt a battery issue. I had to have it towed to the shop and found out it was done...I would need a new engine. So I ended up having to salvage it. After all that was done I wrote down a list of the problems I experienced over the years with it. Its a long list: 1. Had to have the transmission rebuilt at less than 70,000. It might have been 50K but I cant remember. 2. ABS lights would come on and off for no apparent reason 3. Dashboard gauges would constantly flicker and youd have to bang on the dashboard to get them to display properly, but that only worked occasionally. Most of the time the fluttering happened every day. This was an issue for years. 4. Power locks would fail/not be consistent and constantly would have to unlock/lock manually 5. Sliding doors for backseat wouldnt easily open. Heavy lubrication would help for a while but then the problem would recur 6. Air conditioner failed several years ago and was too expensive to fix 7. In the winter, the heat would not come on until at least 15 or 20 minutes of driving and even then it wasnt always consistent 8. The air/heat would suddenly come on in the back even when the back vents were turned off 9. The windshield wiper fluid reservoir sprung a leak so no windshield wiper fluid would stay in it 10. The rear axle had to be replaced in a Ford recall 11. The body, especially the undercarriage and the lower part of the drivers and passengers side sliding doors started to rust and corrode 12. Would constantly go out of alignment, wearing tires out. 13. The drivers side tire, in particular, would lose air and even when I would replace it, whatever new tire Id put on it would start losing air over the course of the next months. I never could figure that one out. 15. The power windows on both the drivers and passengers side doors had to have their motors replaced more than once. After the motor went out on the passenger side window, I just gave up and dealt with it. 16. One of the power windows in the rear stopped working years ago. I also didnt bother to get it fixed. 17. I had to have a new exhaust flex pipe put on it, which cost several hundred dollars. 16. There were issues with the struts and suspension but I didnt bother to get them fixed. 17. The engine hydrolocked/seized and we found out the head gasket blew, meaning the engine needed to be replaced. It was then that I decided to get rid of it. If I had gotten every broken item on the aforementioned list fixed, I would have spent thousands of dollars more on the van than what I originally paid. I wont buy another Ford.

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  Made a Huge Mistake - 1996 Ford Windstar
  By Don Benson - December 5 - 10:07 am

  Growing up my family never had Fords. I never knew why and when we needed the space of a minivan we thought we’d try the Windstar as our thinking was it was based on the Taurus so how bad could it be? Well it was bad ... really , horribly bad. In the 4 years of ownership ( bought Executive dealer car with 15k miles ) it went through 2 head gaskets , 3 transmissions, 1 AC compressor , 2 water pumps , an alternator and power steering pump. Ford covered the first transmission and head gasket but after that we were on our own. Every time we thought it was repaired another issue would surface. It was a horrible mistake and the final straw was the brake system. We found out the brake lines were rusted to the point that it was leaking and unsafe to drive. I drove it across the street to our local Honda dealer and traded it for a used Odyssey..which I should have purchased in the first place. We haven’t even considered a Ford since and with the latest news of countless transmission failures in their Focus , we probably won’t ever buy a Ford again.

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  In the shop - 2013 Ford F-150
  By Justin Brockway - January 19 - 12:31 pm

  My F150 ecoboost has been nothing but a mechanical debacle. Ive had it in the shop more times than I can count with very costly repairs. I dont go off roading it doesnt pull anything and imbolder and pretty mild on the pedal. I also do regular tuneup oil changes with synthetic etc. Although it performs well (when it runs ) ill never buy an ecoboost again...Ford had really disappointed me with there reliability.....

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  Worst car I ever bought. - 2013 Ford Focus
  By Teri Raia - May 6 - 2:52 pm

  Do not buy this car. The transmission shudders, radio stopped working and the blind spots are horrible. This is the only car that I have owned that I am terrified to drive. Such an unpleasant experience driving this car. The only saving grace was the bluetooth and radio and now they are not working. Forget about the dealer fixing these problems. The warranty is for 35,000 miles and the problems start quickly after you have reached that mark.

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  Transmission troubles are real - 2014 Ford Fiesta
  By Cliff Warren - January 22 - 11:32 am

  I rented this car. The transmission problems that people speak of, they were present in my rental. If I was trying to turn left with oncoming traffic, I would press the accelerator and wait... wait what seems a lifetime, but perhaps about one second... then the car would lunge forward and clumsily across the road. Waiting a second when traffic is coming is downright dangerous, and when the car does start to move it really moves in a scary lunge. Just adding my two cents. Its been about a year since I rented it, but it was so bad I will never forget it!

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  Pig with Lip Stick! - 2015 Ford F-150
  By Eddy A - January 21 - 8:53 pm

  I bought a Lariat almost fully loaded FX4 package, 4x4, LED headlights, Heavy Tow Package, deployable running boards (love that feature), box side steps (handy), tail gate step, and all the LED lights around the perimeter of the truck (have helped me a great deal when working at night.) I came from a BMW 530i Sport, so I actually enjoy the stiffer suspension. The only reason I would say its a little too stiff is the rear end can jump over large bumps. If you tow or load the bed then the suspension works perfect. I have towed 5500 lbs and the truck can pull like a train you wont even know you have a load being towed. I bought the truck because I am starting a new business and cant afford the time to go to a repair shop even if its warrantied. In the first 2000 miles: the 1. Driver side mirror shakes above 45 MPH, the glass jiggles in the wind while the passenger side is firm. 2. Started hearing a bearing noise from the front end and getting vibrations. 3. Transmission slams into 1st gear, almost feels like the car behind bumped you. 4. Passenger side deployable running board makes a whining noise, driver side does not make the same noise. Took to the dealer. Dealer replaced driver hub bearing, and 4x4 actuator. LESS THAN 5000 miles. Re-program transmission computer, transmission shifts better, but still bumps intermittent. All other complaints were said to be normal, LOL, even when one side does not have a shaky mirror and one side the deployable running board is smooth quiet. This is what you will be dealing with if you buy one of these seducing trucks. Fuel mileage is poor, 16.3MPG driving like a gentle giant. Highway mileage is 25MPG cruising steady below 60MPH, if you drive above 65MPH you will average 16-18 MPG, at least I do in my truck. I do not have confidence in reliability long term. I am also tired of lazy warranty techs saying everything is OK, when it is not OK. If you love pigs with lipstick then this is the truck for you!

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  I wish I could Escape from this car - 2013 Ford Escape
  By Marc Bahm - January 21 - 12:52 pm

  I drive this car as my company provided vehicle for me to use because I drive it for work to go to customers. I mostly do highway driving so I am in the car for long periods of time. There are so many things I dislike about the car, but Ill try and not to ramble on and keep it simple. The interior, poor seat fabric, not very roomy at all for leg room, in fact the amount of space between the brake pedal and gas pedal is so small that I can barely fit my foot between the brake and the console that runs down to the floor. The seats are very uncomfortable for longer trips than 45 minutes, the seats are not long enough and hit your thigh mid way and create a cramp in your leg. The engine is the worst, I have had this in the shop for so many recalls I have lost count. The latest trip to the dealership was because the engine light came on again, now the turbo has stopped working and it must be replaced. Dealer said its a 10 hour job. Im glad I dont have to pay for this as it is a fleet lease vehicle, but if I had to pay for this I would be very upset after only 89K miles. If I would have bought a GM, Kia, or Chrysler they at least have 100K warranty on there power train and transmission. Come on Ford get with the program, if you are going to put these turbos on more of your vehicles step up and add more warranty to them.

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  This is by far the worst work truck I have ever ow - 2015 Ford F-150
  By Nick - January 21 - 11:38 am

  Where do I start. Truck started out brand new and the heat and ac didnt work. 3 weeks later waiting for the part to come from China, it worked. Second the doors dont close right. Dont try to slam it shut it wont close. Third the seat doesnt adjust up or down and being 6ft 1 my knees hit the steering wheel. Fourth the truck comes with 2 ac plug outlets. Well they are useless unless you want to charge your phone. They wont charge my drill batteries at all. It over loads it and just blinks yellow. Why do I have 2 plugs if one cannot handle a 12v 3 amp battery. 5th the truck take 20-25 minutes to actually put out hot air in 20 degree temps, really? 6th the radio signal is week, the radio stations I listen to in my personal vechile which is a chevy work fine. The range on this pos is short. All in all this truck if you want to call it that... Ford went real real real cheap on this heap of junk. If your not delivering flowers this truck is not for you.