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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  First Truck - 2010 Ford F-150
  By wick stanley - September 9 - 9:10 pm

  Love it. Smooth as silk. Tough, but stylish. Quiet and powerful. What else could you ask for? I have a black one. They should call it "The Panther" :-)

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  Should be better - 2014 Ford Focus
  By james carlson - September 9 - 3:26 pm

  This car mostly delivers as expected. It has great gas mileage, up to 40 mpg hwy, and decent power from the 2.0L 4 cyl. The ride is quiet, but rough. Visibility is poor, as this car sits very low to the ground, and has obstructive A pillars blocking the view to the sides at intersections. Rear seat is unsuitable for long rides. The trouble areas are the quirky My Touch entertainment/navigation system, and the faulty 6 speed automatic transmissions (expect a recall). If Ford would just fix a few things, it would be a really good small car.

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  Great Family Car - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By Helpful Ford Owner - September 7 - 10:11 pm

  Bought this car used with 14,000 miles on it back in 2008. I have the "Advance Trac" version with the 4.0ltr V6, they were the really base model and I dont see many of them around. They also didnt have the gobs of chrome the other models came with, which means mine has aged pretty gracefully and looks a lot like the more recent Expeditions. Its been garaged kept and I have given it regular recommended maintenance. I have managed to put over 90,000 miles on it since I purchased it, aside from a leaky thermostat housing which I replaced myself at 50,000 miles for about $80 total, its been a good truck. First Ill start with the negatives. At very low speeds the transmission feels like there is a guy in there with a sledge hammer shifting gears. The back seat is not really that comfortable for adults, its really sad, I think my 01 2dr Explorer sport had a more comfortable and roomy back seat than my 06 4dr. The motor has a lot of low end torque at low city speeds which is great, but at highway speed the V6 struggles when it comes to passing. I am a pretty easy driver but I can barely coax over 16mpg out of it with a mix of highway and city driving. My car is pretty bare bones and I like it that way, not much to go wrong. AC works great, so does the heat power windows are nice and so is cruise control. Front seat is very comfortable for me and I like the commanding view. Its very torquey on the low end so it does well around town. Ive never towed anything but I bet it would do ok at low speeds, Id hate to take anything heavy on the highway though. For the last 5 years it has been the commuter vehicle for my family, fits two children in the back comfortably and 3 in a pinch. LOTS of room in the trunk for stuff, and believe me I have needed every inch. I dont have the fold flat 3rd row of seats, but I do get some pretty nifty storage compartments under the deck instead. Im very happy with my Explorer, its been pretty dependable. I had an 01 Explorer Sport which had over 170,000 miles on it when I got rid of it (still ran well too) so I hope that this one will last as long.

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  Great car so far. - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By Matt - September 6 - 12:44 am

  The thing about the transmission this is not your typical automatic transmission. If you let off the gas at low speeds in between gears, it will shift. Once you get past 2nd gear, it acts more like an automatic. Keep this in mind when you buy this car. Treat it like a you would a manual with no clutch petal at low speeds because that is what this is. It took some getting used to but I am willing to deal with it for awesome fuel economy that it gets. Comfort is great up front. Gadgets are really nice to have. Steering is like second nature. Maybe Ford should explain that the transmission is brand new technology and there is a technique to making it shift more smoothly at lower speeds.

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  238,000 miles and going strong - 2001 Ford Escape
  By Steven - September 3 - 3:27 am

  My parents gave me this vehicle for free when they got a new lincoln mxX, ive had zero issues with it other than A/C and a rear door lock, other than that no engine troubles whatsoever theyre was an accident with someone standing still and me hitting them 10-15 mph and the bumper bar saved the radiator, otherwise zero damage other than bumper cover, this car is 11-12 years old of constant transportation whether its a 2 hour trip or to work everyday, i love this car and am gonna use it till it rots.

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  Still loving my 2003 Explorer at 188,000 miles - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By Jennifer - September 2 - 12:42 pm

  This has been a very reliable vehicle for my family. It is my daily runner back-and-forth to work (22 miles each way), as well as our long distance driver (frequent trips out-of-state). With almost 200K miles, I thought maybe Id start having problems, but so far Ive had to put very little into it. I bought it at 100K miles and since then have had issues with electronic things like the security alarm would go off when the doors were locked and after trips to local dealerships with no answers, out local repair guy disconnected two sensors in the doors. The lights dont come on now when you open those doors, but it also fixed the issue with the alarm going off for no reason. Other fixes have included a new starter just a few miles ago, but mostly Ive only ever had wear and tear things need replaced like brakes and rotors. I have a third row seat that isnt used often, but when we do haul other family and friends with us, I love that extra seating. The storage is fantastic and the front seats have plenty of leg room. The back seat isnt as roomy as my daughter would prefer, but she travels well back there. I average 16-18 miles per gallon between high way and city driving. I am struggling with how long to keep this great vehicle. I paid $7500 for it in 2009 and the KBB value is currently $3600. It has very little rust (although a problem of this year Explorer is the back hatch cracking under the glass). It did have one crack when I bought it and now it has two. I really do love this trust worthy vehicle!

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  AC problems - 2015 Ford Expedition
  By Matt Sprenger - September 1 - 1:10 pm

  Our 15 XLT El has all the options we could want, and is almost as loaded as a Limited. However the AC cycles from icy cold to warm all the time every few seconds or minutes. We have had the vehicle in the Ford dealer to repair it 4 times. On the final repair they indicated that the EL is such a large vehicle that the AC compressor will cycle on and off constantly and that this operation is normal. We are very disappointed as this cant possibly be normal. Help!!

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  Well made little economy car - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Eric by the Bay - August 27 - 11:50 pm

  First, never buy a new car that is used by rental companies. After 1 year these rentals flood the market and while you have one that isnt a rental the value of the car depreciates 50% 23k car worth 13k as a trade in. Thats my main gripe with the car. Now those that complain about fit/finish... My interior is leather and it is super comfortable. and all the interior parts except the part the door are quality. Go drive a Toyota or Honda (quality/fit not happening) It also has sound proofing. I have had larger expensive cars that are more noisy than this car. Door closes with clunk not a hollowed clang like the Honda I traded in to purchase. Mine isnt a base one but one with all the goodies except a sun roof (not a Titanium) I would say the Navigation system has a lot to be desired. Voice activated and sometimes (most times) it dosent get where I want to go.. My IPhone is easier to operate for this function. Sony stereo is great and duel A/C is nice. My interior is black so it gets hot and the a/c cools down the car nicely. I commute to work across the SF Bay Bridge each day and this car has plenty of pick up and no problems getting around others when needed. Its actually a quick little car and very comfortable. It has a funky engine which you get used to its semi auto transmission routine. Kinda has its own little personality. It does as people mention here get jerky and some hesitation in stop/go. It reminds me of a manual transmission in an old VW. Mine has now 5200 miles on it and no real problems.. I dont know that i will keep it more than 1-2 years/or when warranty expires. I would recommend if your thinking about buying one to maybe look for 1 that is a year old with low mileage as its cheaper than buying new. Car easily gets over 30-35 mpg on freeway. Around town a bit less, but who does in City traffic or hills of SF.

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  Beware before you buy - 2015 Ford Fusion
  By Melissa C. - August 27 - 2:54 pm

  As far as the looks of my 2015 Ford Fusion, it is a very nice sporty looking vehicle, however, it has a lot of blind spots which makes me very nervous when changing lanes. I have a new teen driver in the house also and it makes it hard for him to see also when switching lanes. We took this car to Orlando, Florida from N.Carolina (9 hour trip) it was not a very comfortable ride. However it didnt seem as bad when we took another vacation that was only a 4 hour drive. I would not suggest this car to really tall people due to leg room and the roof being so low. My son who is 59" tall has a really hard time sitting in the back seat because of leg room. This is a nice vehicle for your average size person who dont travel alot.

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  Dreadful headlamps...almost like driving by flashl - 2015 Ford F-150
  By Jim - August 23 - 5:48 pm

  I traded my 2013 which had, what think were HID headlights...so bright...and when on at night the area lit was stunning...this truck has halogen lights...terrible, and I am being generous...for some unknown reason, Ford has decided to eliminate the HID, an replace with weak LED...this was told to me by my salesman...he is trying to find out if there is a replacement kit...I am completely disappointed with these headlamps