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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  Mix of strengths and weaknesses - 2013 Ford Focus
  By GB - January 29 - 8:51 pm

  I bought my 2013 SE 5-speed manual with 2.0 engine used w/ 18,000 miles a year ago. Its a small, snazzy car that does most everything you need, but with flaws. Handles very responsively, but the ride is too stiff. Good engine and wind noise isolation, but significant road noise. Great gas mileage if you take it somewhat easy. Decent power from the 2.0L, like a go cart on the highway. Strengths: + Gas mileage (average 33-34, can get 40 on the highway) + Power from standard 2.0L engine + Stick shift (short throws) + Trunk size + Stability around turns + Interior (buttoned down, but... read below) + Steering feel (not numb, you can actually feel the road) + Engine and wind noise (not much of either) + Driving range (can get 400 miles on the highway) + Cruise control works excellently + Nice that it has auto-headlights and ALSO allows you to manually turn them off Weaknesses: - Ride (stiff! like a sports car) - Clutch (very tricky from 1st to 2nd, etc) - Road noise (LOTS of it) - Low-speed driving dynamics (wtf...) - Ergonomics (Ford doesnt get it) - Gear spacing on 5-speed - User interfaces (instrument panel, radio...) - Stereo (standard. May be the worst sounding, tinniest stereo Ive heard in a car, ever. Reception is also very disappointing) - Oversteers (very touchy, you can be in a ditch if youre not careful) - Back seats dont fold flat - Seat comfort (front seats seem experimental and wear on you) - Too much vibration at idle Ford got so many things right here - bravo for that. Great gas mileage. Decent power for a small car, though like most small engines, when you *really* punch it... nothing happens. Mostly good visibility. Buttoned down interior styling. Very nice shifter. Good road feel through steering (though perhaps a little too much feel). No lumbar adjustment, but seems to be Ok w/o it. Reliability has been good through 33k miles, only had the a seat belt retractor replaced for slight stickiness and a rattle fixed. Headrests are adjustable - a big deal for some. Happy with trunk space. The cruise control is one of the smoothest Ive ever seen. Steering wheel is excellently sized and has good grip material. Dash is Ok on the eyes. Unfortunately, Ford also got many things wrong, too. Ergonomics are off - I cant really get comfortable. E.g., place your left arm on the door rest and its too low, but place it on the window ledge and its too high. Seats are not flat bottomed but have a strange cavity design that eventually cuts off your circulation. Right arm rest doesnt extend fwd far enough, can barely anchor my elbow to shift gears. Stereo and basic control menus are inconsistent and make little sense. Stereo has tons of good stuff like USB, Bluetooth connection, etc, but ... it just sounds terrible. Its reception is, I must say, a joke, actually took it in to the dealer for a look (they said its operating as designed). Noise levels for engine and wind are very low but way too loud for road noise... changed tires, somewhat better now, but still quite loud. Turning the dome light on/off is unnecessarily complex. Ride in first gear is VERY jerky, is NOT fun driving through a parking lot. Suspension is just too stiff, resulting in a harsh ride like a Mustang (do people really want that in a basic car like the Focus? I doubt it). Low beam headlights simply dont illuminate well enough, feel like I might hit something at night. Burns some oil, ~ 0.7 quart every 1000 miles, which is surprising given it only has about 30k miles. Finally, watch driving at night when you might be drowsy - the steering is very touchy. This is good at slow speeds in a parking lot, but steering *should* become LESS sensitive at highway speeds - it does not.. you could be off the road with 1/8 to 1/4 of a wheel turn.

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  Think twice - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By MattPugs - January 28 - 10:00 am

  There has been a lot of mechanical issues with this vehicle. I have brought it to 3 different Ford dealerships, (as well as contacting Ford directly) and none of them will repair the vehicle. I was told by Ford in MI "I should of checked that feature when I bought it". I am currently considering filing under the Lemon Law. The vehicle is nice, but Ford doesnt back their product, and either does their dealerships. I dont recommend this vehicle.

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  Never another Explorer - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Bill - January 26 - 9:56 pm

  This is my second Explorer with a bad transmission, the first one was a 1996. When I wanted to have the tranny fluid changed my Ford dealer told me it wasnt a serviceable item. Funny, the owners manual says to change fluid every 30K miles. Also, at 75K miles the back wheel bearing went bad. I also had to have the rear axle seals replaced at 60K miles since I was leaking axle fluid on my garage floor. Brakes wear quickly as well. Too many problems to consider this vehicle dependable and/or economical. Will not buy or recommend another.

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  A former loyal Ford Customer - 2005 Ford F-150
  By Ray Lane - January 25 - 9:59 am

  Have had a lot of problems with the drive train on this vehicle. Rear end problems started at around 13,000 miles. Had 2 rear end rebuilds on this truck. Engine problems began around 60,000 miles. Had cam problems. Cam eventually broke at 85,000 miles. Apparently a problem with this model Ford. Ford has not offerd to help repair.

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  Looks are deceiving - 2005 Ford F-150
  By Mike R - January 21 - 5:43 am

  Best looking truck on the road. Probably the worst truck to tow with Ive ever owned. Very dissappointed. I can tell when I have a dirt bike in the bed while driving. Forget pulling a boat or trailer, its horrible.

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  Good old reliable truck - 1998 Ford Ranger
  By AZSoonerfan - January 19 - 3:50 pm

  I have owed this truck for 8 years now. I have not had any major issues with the truck. My only issues with the truck are that the interior light will sometimes say on after the driver door is closed and the brakes are a little weak. Other than that, the truck has been great. I would recommend the truck to any of my friends.

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  tempo from hell - 1993 Ford Tempo
  By striker5799 - January 17 - 11:08 pm

  i rather like the tempo. it has started to break down on me though, it only has 55k on it. but i put it through alot. i put a custom air intake in it though. it actually made it feel like it had more power. it also has an awesome sound system with a sony xplod stereo, 4 aftermarket speakers, and two 12 inch subs in the trunk. my oil pan gasket is bad and causing tranny fluid to slightly leak through so i had to keep adding more though. and it vibrates alot over 60 mph. also alot of screws have worked their way out of their holes, mostly due to vibrations from my sound system. i dont think itl last me much longer though

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  Not So Good - 1992 Ford Taurus
  By karmcden - January 16 - 6:12 pm

  I have a lot of miles on this thing and it is not holding up well. I have put more money into it in repairs than what I bought it for. Would have trashed it if I didnt need a car.

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  Not so fortunate as others - 1996 Ford Aerostar
  By Al - January 15 - 8:50 am

  Look out for used ones with leaking head gaskets. Typical problem for these. I liked the size and how it ran and even got about 20 mpg on the highway. But the upkeep is too high. Spent $3000 in 30000 miles. And now it is not running at all because of a head gasket which will cost $1000 to fix. And it only has 110000 miles on it. Why cant they make a minivan that is reliable?

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  MY CAR - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Steph119 - January 15 - 12:36 am

  I have been through 2 Mustangs. The first one the engine locked up at 400 miles and now I have another one and the transmission is messing up. I love my car but it seems that they have too many problems.