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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  Mediocrity at its best - 1999 Ford Escort
  By Kuri - January 3 - 3:13 am

  Bought my 99 Escort with 24k on it, thinking it was a good buy. Less than a month later I had bad vibrations in the car during idle. Had to rip out and replace the motor mounts, a problem that Ive read other people having online. Horrible console design, cup holders wont hold anything bigger than a 20 ounce cup. Bad acceleration and Im already having transmission problems thanks to it. For some reason gas mileage plummets with city driving from 30-35 mpg to about 25 or so. I like small cars so this is actually a bit big for me Id have preferred a ZX2 if anything. Back seat has no room for comfort. My issues with the exterior looks were solved with a body kit. Speakers didnt even survive 2 months.

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  I hate my Exploder! - 2000 Ford Explorer
  By jonesthai - December 28 - 9:14 pm

  I have taken this excuse of a SUV into the dealer 12 times under warranty (thats including 3 recalls)! Door ajar light has been "fixed" three times and still comes on to this day. All problems include transmission, rear window, rear window washer, tires, ball joint, knocking engine noise (dealer said this was normal!), starter, rusty step bar, etc. I will never buy another Ford, anything owned by Ford, or anything that looks like a Ford again! Please do yourself a favor and look at another company besides Ford.

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  Cheap & overpriced! - 2005 Ford Escape
  By jdevens - December 19 - 10:25 pm

  Will get you from a to b thats about it. Trading it in on the Nissan Pathfinder I should have bought. Had an 01 & 03 Pathfinder -- should have stayed with them! Have an 05 Escape with 11000 miles and I really DO NOT LIKE this vehicle. Has been reliable & exterior looks great -- everything else is cheaply made, poorly assembled -- terrible materials on the inside. Ford wonders why nobody wants their cars?

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  Our Last Ford - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By vcp - December 13 - 5:22 pm

  This is without a doubt our last Ford. Thank goodness we have an out to turn this thing in after 36 months. It has been a headache. The electric sliding doors dont close properly. Its been at various dealers 3 times and has to go back again. The traction control light came on for no reason and the dealer had to fix it twice. This car also is built terribly. The materials are at best 2nd rate. The service is another issue, Three dealers cannot get this car right. Ive had it. Our Last Ford!

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  If safety is not important - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By teresa - December 5 - 1:42 pm

  Ive taken my car in to have my seatbelts checked several times, starting in the first year - I never got any satisfaction and the seatbelts still release spontaneously while Im driving and Ive even had it come unfastened before I could even start my car. I wouldnt recommend it to drive your family in, especially if you love them. The side mirrors stink they are difficult to adjust and dont really give adequate coverage. The blind spot is pretty large when Im looking for cars in the mirror and checking out my window. I wouldnt buy another one and I especially would not count on Ford to follow-up on their "warranty", I guess you have to consider your new truck purchase to be "as is".

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  free advertising for Ford Lemons - 2002 Ford Windstar
  By dunigan - December 2 - 3:58 pm

  Van is noisy, vibration in front at 55 mph, steering column pops, had rear wiper motor replaced, I also have grinding on start-up service workers never hear it. Inside interior along windshield loose, lots of wind through windows. Never again will I own a Fix Or Repair Daily!

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  25 is to young to die. - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By young - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I have a 3.8L 99 windstar with 25,000 miles on it. I have always followed the schedueled maintainance. While driving 45 mph suddenly the van lost power and the engine light came on. Today the engine was diganoised with no compression in two cylinders. The dealer recomended I replace the long block for around $5,000.00.

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  Why 15-16 mpg on V6, 2018 F-150 Platinum? - 2018 Ford F-150
  By Joe Turner - November 24 - 3:51 am

  I just took ownership of a Ford F-150 Platinum. Edmunds didnt allow me to state I have a V6, it forced me to say V8. Anyway, I just drove 600 highway miles between Santa Fe and Ft. Worth area. No a/c, no unusual wind. No speeding or unusual driving. Ford says this truck should get 23 mpg-highway. I got between 15 and 16. Im not dumb enough to expect exactly 23, but this is so far off, I have to lodge a complaint. I know the fuel history gauge has to be sorta broken in, so I calculated mileage the old fashioned way, dividing miles driven by actual fuel used. What the deal with this $60,000 truck that gets the worst gas mileage of any truck Ive ever owned? By the way, Edmunds would let me enter year 2018. It forced me to enter 2017, but truck is new 2018.

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  POS - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By jdwk - November 24 - 2:00 am

  The car is very useful, and is one of the few cars I dont mind riding in the back of. However, it has been terribly unreliable. It is in the shop every other month. While it has been relatively swift in the past, it currently is painfully slow and is getting less than 10 mpg! I just got it out of the shop again, and although the strange noise during acceleration is gone, it is still slow and I havent noticed an improvement in gas milage.

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  Fix Or Repair Daily - 2001 Ford Focus
  By M MAY - November 24 - 2:00 am

  This is absolutely the worst car I have ever purchased. The title says it all.